The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Rebuild Engine Won't Start

Long story short, tried to fire up the rebuilt 216 for the first time this weekend and had no luck not even a sputter. I'm getting spark to the number one plug, and played with the timing still no luck. During the rebuild I replaced the points and condenser with an electronic system. Any suggestions on what to try next?

Thanks
Charlie
1953 3100 1/2 ton

are you getting fuel? fuel + air + spark = fire

I used a spay bottle to spray gas into the carb.

I used a spay bottle to spray gas into the carb.

Take off the valve cover & turn the engine watching # 6 rocker arms. When the ex. valve is almost closed & the intake is just starting to open, stop & remove the dist cap. The rotor should be pointing at #1 wire. The points should be just opened or about to open. The ball in the flywheel should be viseable in the opening over the starter. If all that is lined up it should run. If not are your valves adj. too tight? Is your spark strong & blue? Pull the high tention coil wire out of the dist. hold it near a ground & crank it. It should get good sparks as the engine rotates. Check these & let us know.

Do as instructed above, I was in the same situation. Is it turning over smooth? I had to put some oil down each cly.as mine had sat for a while since rebuild. Turned over with plugs out to lube the walls, put plugs in, gave it a snort of propane from a small propane bottle, six pumps on the gas pedal cranked over about three times and she was running!! never so happy in my life. She smoked a bit but purs like a kitten. Good luck, Keith

Propane? never heard of that trick, how is that done

I don't know that this method is approved, but seemed to do the trick for me. Take your little 2.5lb propane torch commenly used for soldering or heating something small. Stick the end of the torch (NOT LIT) into the carb open valve 3 - 5 seconds, remove, try starting engine. Better then spilling gas all over. Like I said, I don't know if this method is approved, as with any experimental drug, always keep a fire extinguisher handy. As I mentioned it was 5 -6 yrs ago that I rebuilt my engine, which I bought from a guy that told me it hadn't run in about 15 yrs. When it started, I was in shock, what a good feeling!! I was even happier to find that I had a beer in the refrigerator! Good Luck, Keith

I use acetyline instead of Propane- - - -comes in really handy for finding vacuum leaks, too.
Jerry

Does it have compression? A quick check is easy and most likely if low to be tight valves or dry rings. Also check for a large vacuum leak. If very low compression and valves adjusted right a worst case would be the cam timed wrong.

Thanks boys, I'm out of town until next weekend, I'll try everything and let you know.

Thanks

Charllie

Hi Charlie. When I had my 235 rebuilt the mechanic came over a few times to get it running. No luck. He was hanging a gas can from the hood and said gravity would provide the truck with gas. I put a hose from the intake on the gas pump into the gas can. The truck started and I have had not problems since.

I did have my carburetor rebuilt by Mr. Carburetor in Dallas and had to set the timing. But other than that the truck runs good.

When you get it running come back and help me get the OD working.

Best of luck

Hey Dennis, Thanks for the info, I'm looking forward to helping you with the OD, if I could just find the time.

nice red truck, what is written on your black cap that
you are wearing in your photo with your hand on the air breather in your photo album

have you ever made it to the El-Reno small town event first week of June......some of us Tx folks meet up with you Okies there, wife and I are planning on being there in June.. would be nice to see you and your truck there...

let us know when you get your truck running, looks like the suggestions made should do it...

Fred

I've been thinking (trouble I know) How much fuel should one add to the carb before and during trying to start the engine? Do I need to plug the wiper motor vacuum line or any other vacuum lines. Once the engine is started how is the engine timed with no marking on the engine to work with.

Can't wait to get back home on Friday and try starting it again.

Thanks

Charlie

Looks like it's all been addressed above. Good to see another OKIE on the site. If you can't get her going PM me @ [email protected] and I can try to arrange a time to come give you a hand.

Thanks for the offer, the truck is located in Denision TX, I drive down every other weekend to work on it. I just moved to Oklahoma City and still looking for a place to store it.

Charlie. You said you get spark to the number one plug. I have run a braded ground line from my engine to the frame. I am a ground freak since bad grounds continuously give me trouble. Are you sure the distributor is right - not 180 degrees off? You can check this by pulling the #1 plug then turning the engine until you feel the compression - check the rotor direction under the distributor cap. Oh. Make sure you have the plug wires in the right order.

As for fuel in the carburetor. I will shoot a little starting fluid in my carburetor when mine is hard to start. I do not put gas in it.

And I would plug the vacuum wiper end of the plug in the manifold.

I hope this helps. Let us know

Recheck the plug and point gaps. If the gap is wrong, it might not fire under compression.

She's alive, I followed WrenchedBender procedures and noticed that I was 180 off on the distrip rotated it to the correct location and she started right up. Thanks guys. I was jumping around like a kid in a candy store. LOL Next question will the fuel pump, pump gas out of a gas can? The fuel line is below the pump.

Charlie