Engine wont start

[bigbadchev72]

Ok, I got a real headscratcher here. My 67' has a 400sbc in it. The thing has ran like a top, I dont drive it a whole lot, maybe once or twice a month. I hoped in it to move it the other day and it just cranked and cranked. I was in a hurry so I grabbed the dodge and went to work.

I have put it off for a while now and finally got back to it, Same thing just cranks, I shot some ether in it and nothing. It does crank faster/easier if i have the gas pedel pushed down. I figured it was a bad module, threw a spare in I had, nothing. Changed out the cap/coil with a known good one, nothing.

At this point I pulled the one out of my Jimmy(a running one) and threw it in there, put power to the cap straight from the battery and cranked, nothing. It dosent even kick or sputter. I checked the grounds and they are new cables and clean.

Where do I go from here?

[fastwillie 696969]

coil putting out ?

[bosco200]

You check for a spark?

[Hubscrub]

i have seen the little wires inside the dizzy have a break in them, also the harness that plugs into the cap be a problem.

[Autoblueprint]

You need to check for spark first. Also HEI's require 12.5 volts at the BAT terminal at the cap...use meter...if less than 12.5 volts then trace wire harness for open or leakage to ground. The check to see if you have proper rotational movement of distributor rotor...if not then timing chain might be the cause.

[Autoblueprint]

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

i have seen the little wires inside the dizzy have a break in them, also the harness that plugs into the cap be a problem.

X2...the yellow and green pick-up coil wires.

[cdowns]

have you checked to see if the rotor rotates while you turn it over

[bigbadchev72]

Ok, The rotor does turn around, I have 12.4volts at the terminal, I am getting a weak spark. I also just threw the Hei that was in the 67' into the jimmy and it fired right up.

I also checked the spark, it is weak. I am leaning towards fuel fouled plugs. The dizzy that is in my 67' now is the one that was in the Jimmy(it ran fine).

Would this be logical? The thing that concerns me is the plugs arent wet. can they still be fouled?

[Alex Hayley]

Yes. I have found that once my plugs foul they are done. I have heard the term "gassed" used to describe plugs that are fouled yet dry.

I have had moderate success by using a spark plug sandblaster.

[Autoblueprint]

Originally Posted by alex hayley

yes. I have found that once my plugs foul they are done. I have heard the term "gassed" used to describe plugs that are fouled yet dry.

I have had moderate success by using a spark plug sandblaster.

x2

[bmfm64]

So you swapped them and both trucks run fine now? I'd lean towards the pickup coil in the bottom of the questioned distributor. I've had one go bad and work intermittently so keep that in mind. Hope it helps.

[bigbadchev72]

Ok Im still at it. The dizzy taht is in the 67 now came off of my running Jimmy. It has no issues. I just changed out the plugs and still no fire. I have double checked grounds and connections, all are clean and tight. The dizzy is spinning for sure and the oil pressure comes up while cranking.

I just tried another shot of starting fluid to eliminate no fuel. There was no sign of it even trying to take off.

Any other ideas?

[bmfm64]

Ok, so with this distributor in have you checked for spark? Plugs are new? Moved the throttle while looking down carb to make sure you are getting fuel? Obviously you have air... Gotta be one of the three. Figure out which one and head that way. Start with spark, then fuel. If you have both, make sure you have spark when you should (I.E. wires are on the right plugs) Verify voltage next to make sure you have enough power. If all that's good, move to the fuel... Too much can be as bad as not enough. Maybe swap carbs if the other truck has the same or close...

[bigbadchev72]

Just checked spark with a grounded plug, Good and strong. Brought the balancer to tdc and dizzy was right there by the #1 terminal, another shot of starting fluid and nothing, pulled the cover and all rockers are moving like they should be. My brother is bringing back my compression tester so I can get a reading on that.

Also added another ground to the block to the battery.

[bigbadchev72]

Just checked compression, they are all between 125-135psi and double checked tdc with my finger over the hole, and the balancer is right there on the mark as well.



Got a good purple/blue spark on a grounded plus as well. Also tried some gas down the carb as well. Not even a hiccup. Also tried moving the dizzy back and forth while cranking and it didnt even try to fire.

[68gmsee]

hmm...Three things needed to start the engine: fuel, compression and ignition. If all of these check out, then engine should start.

Since you have good compression and all the mechanical aspects of the engine check then we can eliminate that.

You had weak spark but now it's strong so we can eliminate that as well.

You sprayed the carb with starter fluid and poured gas down the throat and still no start.

Can we for sure say that the gas is going down to the cylinders?

The reason I say this is that I remember someone having a similar problem and it turned out to be a blockage in the intake manifold. Sadly, I don't remember what it was though. If you ever left the breather and top off the carb I'd remove the carb and look inside just in case.

[Autoblueprint]

Originally Posted by bigbadchev72

Just checked compression, they are all between 125-135psi and double checked tdc with my finger over the hole, and the balancer is right there on the mark as well. Got a good purple/blue spark on a grounded plus as well. Also tried some gas down the carb as well. Not even a hiccup. Also tried moving the dizzy back and forth while cranking and it didnt even try to fire.

Get some WD40 and spray it along the intake manifold for each bank of cylinders while someone cranks the engine and see if you get something...if the WD40 seems to help then you may have an intake manifold gasket leak which is creating too lean a condition for the engine to fire. That's about the only thing I can think of when your spark and fuel are ok.

Also try spraying around the carb base.

[bigbadchev72]

Well I got it, Feel like an idiot for not actually checking, but figured the starting fluid would have let it fire, or the gas I dumped down the carb.



Pulled the Edelbrock off the jimmy and stuck it on the 67' I didnt think about it at the time, but still have the hardline going into the quadrajet. I hit the pedal and cranked it, she fired right up. But there was no fuel spraying out of the old quadrajet fuelline thank god, could have been a bad oversight.



So thanks all for the help and sorry I drug this out like I did, Should have checked it to begin with, but figured the starting fluid would have made it fire. It has always taken a few cranks to get it to fire up, always figured it was from sitting for so long and losing prime. Must have been going out for a while now.



I have been leaning towards a worn out torque converter since it dont have much go from about 55mph up, might have been the pump this whole time.