SiX-fo SuBuRbAn

[jonzcustomshop]

man, this thing is just fighting me at every turn!
my friend pulled the carb apart, and reported that it was pretty gummed up with old bad gas, mainly on one side (probably from when I had the engine sitting out), he cleaned it as best he could with carb cleaner and told me to give it a try.

there is a thin aluminum spacer between the carb and manifold , it had a gasket on each side, so I went to o'reillys and picked up a couple gaskets.

put the carb on and did get it to run for a few seconds, but not good, so when I was checking under the hood I see "smoke" (exhaust) coming from under the left side of the carb.
I get the carb off and check it out and the manifold has a passage under the carb that exhaust goes through to heat the base of the carb up, one of the gaskets I got did not cover the hole, so I go back to o'reillys to find the gasket, it is marked 65-67 327 and 396 holley carb only. they have to order it.

in the meantime I completely disassemble the edelbrock carb,-but not before checking all the others I have -apparently I have 5 total!!_ but all the others have small primaries and big secondaries, and 2 are electric choke, the one I have for this has the same size primaries and secondaries.
I got it all apart and soaked it with carb cleaner until I could see it streaming through every hole.

.....so yesterday I put it all back together, correct gaskets, carb works, you crack the throttle , and the gas sprays out,and the thing will not fire!!!
just cranks over and tries a tiny bit to fire every few cranks, but will not start up

..call my friend again, with the new problem, and he said now it is probably ignition
so I will pull a plug and see if I am getting spark, and I will probably have to chase this with money -new plugs, wires, cap/rotor-... if this fixes it, at least all that stuff will be new...

[Captainfab]

When you wired in the HEI, did you run a new wire to be sure it has a full 12 volts from the ignition switch? The original coil wire in the Suburban wire harness does not provide enough voltage.

[jonzcustomshop]

I wired it to the "ignition switched" post on the fuse block, there are two of these terminals towards the left top... should I try wiring it to something else?

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

I wired it to the "ignition switched" post on the fuse block, there are two of these terminals towards the left top... should I try wiring it to something else?

I guess it says "ign. unfused"

still trying to fix it without spending lots of $$, and today tried changing the coil out, cursing that I didn't put the engine 1 inch forward, the dist. is super close to the firewall and a ***** to get off!
anyway that did not help, the spark is super weak: with the screw driver in the plug wire to hood hinge test it gives a pathetic little orange spark.
I might run a jumper wire from the battery to the dist. connection to rule out a wiring harness problem?
and I am about ready to "borrow" the cap and wires of one of my running trucks to see if that fixes the problem.

[Captainfab]

That source should be fine. I just didn't know I you knew about having to have a full 12 volts to the distributor. Do you have good grounds to both the engine and body?

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

That source should be fine. I just didn't know I you knew about having to have a full 12 volts to the distributor. Do you have good grounds to both the engine and body?

that is something I should check, I am pretty sure I hooked those up, but might have missed them....

[jonzcustomshop]

Double checked, ground straps are there. Pulled cap and wires off a running truck, and put them on, still no start, put a jumper wire from batt terminal directly to the battery, still nothing.
This wouldn't be so frustrating if it never ran, but last summer I fired it up for a few minutes, and the before I discovered the carb trouble I got it to run. Also, after the first carb cleaning I did get it to run for at least a minute.
The only thing I haven't changed is the plugs, so next I will try a new set of plugs-maybe with the gummed up carb and priming and such the plugs have been fouled.
I hope that is it.

[Captainfab]

Try changing the module in the base of the distributor.

[piratexpress1369a]

Just a shot in the dark ..had a jeep that would not fire up ..turned out the brass part in the boot had moved back to far on the coil ...had use a pick to move it back in place so it could get a better spark

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Try changing the module in the base of the distributor.

will do

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

Just a shot in the dark ..had a jeep that would not fire up ..turned out the brass part in the boot had moved back to far on the coil ...had use a pick to move it back in place so it could get a better spark

good tip, but this is an hei.

got the plugs, haven't put 'em in , but had to laugh at the parts store today.
"I need plugs for a '66 396"
"truck ? "
"sure"
"1/2 or 3/4 ton?"
"1/2"
"2 wheel drive or 4?"
"hmm, lets say 2"
pause....
"they don't show a 396 for a truck"
"Oh yeah, forgot.. make that an impala,66."
"Hmmm, 250?"
"No..... a 396."
"oh OK here they are..."

[1955 mancave]

ok I need more info on this project, and did you ever get it to fire up if not let me know I hade an issue with my 57 and it turned out to be and its been a long time agao but I think I shorted out the coil , not sure if that helps but now my brain will have to try to remember what the heck it was I will get back with you.

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by 1955 mancave

ok I need more info on this project, and did you ever get it to fire up if not let me know I hade an issue with my 57 and it turned out to be and its been a long time agao but I think I shorted out the coil , not sure if that helps but now my brain will have to try to remember what the heck it was I will get back with you.

it got cold outside so I quit messing with it for a while...

I never did get it to run, started changing the plugs out, and got a few done, then a friend stopped by and we messed with it for about a half hour, we got it to fire a little bit, and adjusted the timing, it was real touchy, a tiny bit advanced, or retarded and it wouldn't fire at all....on a warm day I am going to get the rest of the plugs, and chase the rest of the system if needed.

[jonzcustomshop]

.... well the warm day finally came- yesterday I pushed this 'burb into the garage, installed the rest of the new plugs, threw a battery in it, primed it, and it fired up like there had never been an issue at all!! -go figure

now I can get going on finishing up the sheet metal work.

[1972RedNeck]

How's the project coming along?

[1962 Panel]

Following if the project is still going on

[jonzcustomshop]

I was looking at this thread, and realized I hadn't done anything to this in the last 3 years! I always intend to get to it, and something else always comes up! I'll keep trying....

[padresag]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

I was looking at this thread, and realized I hadn't done anything to this in the last 3 years! I always intend to get to it, and something else always comes up! I'll keep trying....

Jon; it is amazing how time flies by!
Ron

[Bill66K1000]

This has been great to read up on. I got on this forum a while back and have hit it up periodically since with little reading and a few questions. My project has been very slow going since I picked up my grandpas old farm truck in 2013, a 66 GMC K1000. I found your thread while seeking axle swap info and it took me a long time to find it again. I love your burb, especially the early hood, and would kill to find a decent one for my truck. I hope you managed some time to get back to it, see it's been a few months since you posted an update.