Yet another no-start thread - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

BigAls87Z28 · 03-24-2010, 10:55 PM

Ok, no start from the 72 today. I tried to chage the Optima that was in it, but no go. Picked up a new battery today, and put it in.
It just chug chug chug...nothing. Sometimes it will go slow, then it will slow downlike tis vapor locked.
I am getting fuel, I can see it being squirted from the jets.
Im gunna try to make sure im getting spark. Any tips on exactly where to look on an HEI set up?
Might do a refresh on plugs too. Wires are MSD, and should be in good shape.

chrisfrom nj · 03-24-2010, 11:22 PM

al have someone crank the car while you have a spark plug wire off put a screw driver in the spark plug wire to touch the electrode and keep the screw drive less then a quarter of an inch away to a ground you will see the spark jump to the ground if you dont see a spark somethings wrong

sweetbmxrider · 03-25-2010, 08:32 AM

how does it turn over by hand? check/clean connections?

SteveR · 03-25-2010, 10:56 AM

Not sure if this is a technically correct way to do it, but take one of the spark plug boots off and put a new plug in it and rest the bare metal of the plug against the cylinder head and crank and have someone watch to see if the plug sparks. Only do it for a brief second to check. Maybe do it in a garage or lower light to see better.

SteveR · 03-25-2010, 10:59 AM

Oh yea, another thing to do is check and see if the coil is getting signal. If you have a multi meter, pull the coil wire off the distributor and place the red lead on the coil connector on the distributor and the black lead on a good ground and have some one crank the motor and see what the reading is and make sure the distributor is sending the right signal to the coil.

BonzoHansen · 03-25-2010, 11:55 AM

so is it cranking too slow?

deadtrend1 · 03-25-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

so is it cranking too slow?

I think that's what he's saying.

Starter dragging making it seem like the battery is low??

BonzoHansen · 03-25-2010, 12:47 PM

ok, well, if it is slow, and he changed the battery, are the connections ok, grounds good, etc? did the timing change?

BigAls87Z28 · 03-25-2010, 10:48 PM

No timing change, connections to the leads are good.
Im gunna throw a set of plugs in it, see how that works.

SteveR · 03-25-2010, 11:42 PM

Do you know if the starter solenoid is good?

BigAls87Z28 · 03-25-2010, 11:43 PM

Im assuming thats good. Its cheaper to replace plugs then a starter. Car seems to want to start, and the engine turns.

GP99GT · 03-26-2010, 06:45 PM

i dont see how plugs are going to help you here, if its cranking too slow...check and recheck all your grounds and connections

BonzoHansen · 03-26-2010, 07:39 PM

You run an auto pats store. Bring a starter home and try it.

BigAls87Z28 · 03-26-2010, 08:38 PM

Well, threw new plugs in it, and played with the timing. Now it just has a fast starting, but thats it. Still not starting.
Checked grounds again, still nothing. Ill have to get under it on Sunday.
Fuel is also shooting out of the carb here and there. When I pulled the plugs, they were black and coverd in fuel.

BonzoHansen · 03-26-2010, 08:41 PM

You should call someone who knows about cars.

Got spark?

BigAls87Z28 · 03-26-2010, 09:18 PM

Spark is a go. Checked that. I have consulted several people who know about cars...and then there are you asshats.
I have all 3 basics. Fuel, Air, and Spark. But no start.

BonzoHansen · 03-26-2010, 09:24 PM

What did you do to your timing? Are you just randomly turning the dist? Was the distributor removed & replaced prior to all this? I can;t keep up with what you've done to that poor car.

You also need compression. Just throwing that in there with fuel air spark.

WildBillyT · 03-26-2010, 09:44 PM

Two things:

1.) Before you try and start it make sure your battery is FULL. A weak battery can crank but not fire. Been there, done that.

2.) Keep a fire extinguisher handy just in case you load it with fuel.

What carb is on it? A Holley? Does it have a choke that may be stuck?

BigAls87Z28 · 03-26-2010, 10:25 PM

I pulled the Dist to replace the intake. Its possible that its 180* out, but even with it being 180, it should at least TRY to kick over. Ive done the 180* thing before on this car, and it started like crap and conked out. this is no start
Battery is brand new, checked and even charged off the shelf on weds.
You say poor car like I dropped a bomb in the damn thing.

Compression is the only thing left I could think of.

SteveR · 03-27-2010, 01:59 AM

How old is the gas? Maybe you have water in the lines? You definitely have spark at the tip of the plugs?

BigAls87Z28 · 03-27-2010, 08:46 AM

Tank was dry so I just put in 5gal of fresh fuel in it.
I even added a water separator just in case. .

JL8Jeff · 03-27-2010, 01:22 PM

Sounds like distributor is out of place. You may need to crank it over to no 1 tdc and set the distributor and timing by the book. I've been out 180 and off by a tooth and the engine wouldn't start.

BigAls87Z28 · 03-29-2010, 06:39 PM

I think im 180 out. When i reinstalled the dist. I cranked the engine over to the marker, but that could mean Im 180 out still. Well, Ill have to wait for a free day to do it.

If thats it...anyone want a 72 Camaro?

Pampered-Z · 03-29-2010, 06:55 PM

pull #1 plug, bump it over to the compression stroke until the mark on the balancer it at 0 on the timing tab (TDC #1) drop in the diszy so the rotor is facing ftowards the #1 spark plug, drop on the cap and have the #1 plug wire facing straight forward. That should get you close enough on the timing to start.

If you're 180 out, then you might get some backfiring, bit if you 100-140 degrees out you may not get any type of backfire.

LTb1ow · 03-29-2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

I think im 180 out. When i reinstalled the dist. I cranked the engine over to the marker, but that could mean Im 180 out still. Well, Ill have to wait for a free day to do it.

If thats it...anyone want a 72 Camaro?

Sure, I can swap a nice LT1 in there that starts and what not.

If you are working on it this weekend, lemme know I'll bring some beer or something.