aftershock222
Forum Newbie
Posts: 40
Age: 54
Loc: Bakersfield,Ca
Reg: 10-18-07
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08-08-12 03:36 PM - Post#2257249
I've had my '55 belair for 30 years, and I have never had a problem with it not starting. All of a sudden it won't start. The 265 engine cranks over, there is spark going to the plugs,and it's getting gas, but it won't start. I've installed new plug wires, new plugs,new coil, and even a new distributor. Could it be a bad ballast resistor? I'm at my wits end here. Please help!
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aftershock222
Forum Newbie
Posts: 40
Age: 54
Loc: Bakersfield,Ca
Reg: 10-18-07
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08-08-12 04:08 PM - Post#2257259
In response to aftershock222
Correction: I did not replace the ignition coil yet. The spark does look kind of weak.
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 acardon
"9th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 9458
Loc: DFW TEXAS
Reg: 03-25-05
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08-08-12 05:08 PM - Post#2257279
In response to aftershock222
Try putting a jumper wire directly from the + battery to the + coil and crank it. The ballest resistor is bypassed while your cranking, but the jumper will bypass all the wiring.
Don
66 Corvair (driving)
57 2dr HT (restoring)
56 2dr HT (waiting to be restored)
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aftershock222
Forum Newbie
Posts: 40
Age: 54
Loc: Bakersfield,Ca
Reg: 10-18-07
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08-08-12 05:41 PM - Post#2257288
In response to aftershock222
Thank you, I'll try that.
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Doc Fillem
Forum Newbie
Posts: 72
Reg: 04-17-12
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08-09-12 07:54 AM - Post#2257474
In response to aftershock222
Has it been running since you replaced all the above? If not, it could be your timing, distributor not installed correctly or plug wires not in the correct location. Just some other things to check. If it's got spark and gas it should run, unless......
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aftershock222
Forum Newbie
Posts: 40
Age: 54
Loc: Bakersfield,Ca
Reg: 10-18-07
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08-09-12 04:22 PM - Post#2257666
In response to Doc Fillem
Well,the ballast resistor bypass didn't work, so I again pulled one plug and ground it out. It fired up when I cranked the engine. I pulled another plug, and it was soaked in gas. But how can it be soaked in gas if I never depressed the gas pedal? Could the carb be flooding the engine on it's own? I forgot to mention that the old distributor shaft was very hard to turn almost frozen. I thought that a new distributor would have solved the problem. The car had been in storage for the last 25 years,but like I said before it always started faithfully.
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acardon
"9th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 9458
Loc: DFW TEXAS
Reg: 03-25-05
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08-09-12 08:00 PM - Post#2257733
In response to aftershock222
But how can it be soaked in gas if I never depressed the gas pedal? Could the carb be flooding the engine on it's own?
The car had been in storage for the last 25 years
Yes, after sitting that long, the needle and seat in the carb is gummed up and letting gas past, to flood the engine.
Don
66 Corvair (driving)
57 2dr HT (restoring)
56 2dr HT (waiting to be restored)
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aftershock222
Forum Newbie
Posts: 40
Age: 54
Loc: Bakersfield,Ca
Reg: 10-18-07
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08-09-12 08:10 PM - Post#2257736
In response to acardon
Thank you,I'll check it out.
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 DavidTX
"5th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 994
Loc: Killeen, TX
Reg: 08-11-03
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08-11-12 06:45 AM - Post#2258078
In response to aftershock222
Have you checked your dwell or measured the gap of the points?
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55 Shaker
Member
Posts: 1043
Age: 63
Loc: north central IL.
Reg: 03-13-06
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08-11-12 10:27 AM - Post#2258123
In response to aftershock222
222 maybe you could put your location in your profile, and a willing fellow CT'er near you might be willing to come by and give you a hand. JAT.
| The older I get, the more dangerous, I am !!!! |
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C57Heaven
Senior Member
Posts: 1943
Loc: Ohio USA
Reg: 08-02-00
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08-17-12 04:09 PM - Post#2260365
In response to 55 Shaker
do the smell test on your oil in the pan too. If you've got a lot of flooding it will denigrate your oil and cause bearing damage.
As soon as you make the (flood)repairs change your oil.
Peace,
John H.
55 BA 2dr Sed owned since 1979, sold 6/1/09;
1957 Conv (starting to restore) |
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aftershock222
Forum Newbie
Posts: 40
Age: 54
Loc: Bakersfield,Ca
Reg: 10-18-07
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08-28-12 07:30 PM - Post#2264220
In response to C57Heaven
Hi,everyone sorry for the delay. I changed the oil, dried out the spark plugs,reinstalled the distributor and set the carb float. The car started right up and purred like a kitten. I set the timing and dwell then took her for a drive. She ran great. Well, today it's back to square one. I had just pulled out into the street when the engine began running terribly underpowered. I floored the pedal and no response.The engine then died. Now it's like before. It won't start for nothing. The fuel pump previously showed 4.5 lbs. Could the glass bowl fuel filter have something to do with it? I heard sometimes they cause vapor lock. Could it still be that ballast resistor? I miss my car. Please help!
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acardon
"9th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 9458
Loc: DFW TEXAS
Reg: 03-25-05
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08-28-12 07:36 PM - Post#2264222
In response to aftershock222
I suspect that the carberator float needle is still leaking and flooding the engine. It's fowling out the plugs so it won't start.
Don
66 Corvair (driving)
57 2dr HT (restoring)
56 2dr HT (waiting to be restored)
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aftershock222
Forum Newbie
Posts: 40
Age: 54
Loc: Bakersfield,Ca
Reg: 10-18-07
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08-28-12 07:53 PM - Post#2264226
In response to acardon
I'm seriously thinking of rebuilding or replacing the carb.
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aftershock222
Forum Newbie
Posts: 40
Age: 54
Loc: Bakersfield,Ca
Reg: 10-18-07
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09-04-12 06:37 PM - Post#2266608
In response to aftershock222
Acardon, you were right. I pulled off the carb, and it looked like a lake in there. I never taught a carb could leak so much gas without the engine running. I changed the oil, and put on another carb. All is good now. Thanks to all!
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