This forum is great! I bought a '55 Chevy 2nd series 3100 truck w/ a 235 and 3spd a couple of weeks ago. When I bought it the PO said he had it about one year, but had never started it. He said he could not get any spark. The PO said that the PPO (previous prior owner) had it sitting in the yard for a couple of years without starting it.
I am not a mechanic, but I can swap parts and follow instructions pretty well. Fortunately, I found this site and this forum. I did a search and found ample information on what to do to try and revive "the six". First order of business was fuel. I plan on relocating the gas tank, so I ripped it out and went to the local marine store and bought a six gallon fuel tank and 8' of fuel supply line. Two carbs came with the truck and the one installed looked to be recently rebuilt, so I left it in place. I sprayed some carb cleaner down it.
The PO (or PPO) had cut all of the wires in the engine bay (possibly due to an electrical problem - the wires on the generator are melted). I bought a new battery and sat it in the tray. The battery cables appeared to be backwards. The red cable was hooked to the engine block and the black cable went to the starter (foot starter). I "sat" the black cable on the positive post and the red cable on the negative post. I bumped the starter and the engine seemed to turn over easily (I had turned it by hand prior to attempting the starter - I just needed to know if the starter was going to work).
I bought a new coil, distributor cap, points, condensor and plug wires. The plugs looked new, however after reading many posts on this site I went and bought a new set of AC 45s. I installed everything and then changed the oil.
It was time to try to start the motor. I hooked the "+" coil wire straight to the battery (I read a couple of posts saying that you should not leave it in this set up very long because the coil might get hot??). I then tried to start her... I then tried to start her... I then tried to start her... (get the point?!?). Anyway, I was back to reading posts. I was getting plenty of fuel (I disconnected the fuel line going into the carb and placed it in a bucket and then turned the motor over - good fuel flow). I figured it must be a timing problem. I tried all of the tricks on finding the proper plug wire configuration. Teh plug wires appeared to be right from the start, however it still would not start. I knew from the posts that the firing order was 1-5-3-6-2-4 and that #1 cylinder was closest to the radiator. I eventually worked my way around the distributor cap trying every possible location for #1 - it never once even sputtered.
Finally, I pulled a plug. Placed the plug in the plug wire and held it close to ground and had my wife push the foot starter pedal. It sparked, but it looked yellow. I ran back in the house and got back on the internet. I did a search for "yellow spark" (and many other combinations), but came up empty. I was getting very discouraged, especially after reading so many posts that went something like "...after 15 years sittin' in the field I threw a fresh battery in her and she fired right up...".
I thought for a while and realized that yellow spark was not good and that must be part of the problem. I was just about to start taking parts back and swapping in other "new" ones when I decided to tighten down the battery cables on the posts. I had just "sat" them on there before because the bolt on the positive cable was broken. I tightened the battery cables up, hit the foot pedal, and it "fired right up" - UNBELIEVABLE!!! It sounds good.
I could not have got this far without this forum. THANKS!!
Now I have a couple of questions.
1. I noticed that the entire distributor moves as the engine runs - almost like it is "dancing" to the sound of the motor. Is this normal? It is not moving like you would move it to adjust the timing.
2. I noticed a steady flow of white smoke coming from the oil fill cap. Is this just excess "junk" in the engine burning away after years of sitting? It does not appear to be smoking out of the tailpipe.
3. I am going to switch to an alternator. Is the only mounting option to pay $50 for a bracket conversion kit from American Classic or Chevy Duty?
Thanks,
Depewtee
1955 Chevrolet 2nd series 3100 w/235 cid and 3spd
