1967 Straight 6 Issues!

[Anonymous]

I am now at a complete loss and require some outside assistance. Needless to say, the car is a 1967 with a 200. Being a work-in-progress, I had garaged the car about three to four years ago in perfect running condition. I had replaced the timing chain, most major gaskets, and replaced the stock distributor with MSD 6 Ignition. I was driving the car daily, with the above work done to the engine, for over 2 years without any problems. I then placed the car in the garage and ran the engine every other month...then never turned it over for at least three years.

Four years later and now I decide to get the car running again. I did the following to prepare the engine to be turned over: Changed the oil and antifreeze and drained all of the old gas. Figuring that the car was running perfectly when I parked it in the garage, I assumed that just adding new gas would allow me to drive right out....WRONG!

This is what I have come up with as to the problem at hand: With either the MSD 6 OR the old Stock Ignition system (I kept the old distributor), I cannot get the car to start when I time the engine at TDC (compression stroke on Cylinder 1). If I turn the distributor as far as I can turn counter-clockwise (from TDC), the engine will semi-idle (about a minute or two)and will eventually backfire through the carburetor if I even try to give it any gas.

I have rebuilt the carburetor (Autolite 1100), checked the compression (~86 in each cylinder), checked plug wires, replaced spark plugs, checked and replaced the coil....I am preparing to do a leak down test tomorrow, but I don’t think I need to as the compression seems good enough.

Has anyone out there seen this?!?!?!

 

[Ronbo]

Are you sure the distributor was'nt installed 180 degrees out? Its pretty easy to do if you are'nt paying attention.

 

[rbohm]

8) i think ronbo is right. it sounds like the dist is 180 off.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you sure the distributor was'nt installed 180 degrees out? Its pretty easy to do if you are'nt paying attention.

Just to make sure I was not going crazy, I did try the 180 degree trick and it did not work...

 

[CobraSix]

Check your firing order. Also check that each wire is getting spark. Just use a spare spark plug and pull each wire one at a time and put the spare plug on the wire (leaving the other plug in the engine) and see if it arcs.

Also, if it has been 3 years since it was last run, think about a new coil and go back to original dizzy, just to eliminate possibily of the MSD going bad after sitting for so long.

Slade

 

[Anonymous]

Check your firing order. Also check that each wire is getting spark. Just use a spare spark plug and pull each wire one at a time and put the spare plug on the wire (leaving the other plug in the engine) and see if it arcs.

Also, if it has been 3 years since it was last run, think about a new coil and go back to original dizzy, just to eliminate possibily of the MSD going bad after sitting for so long.

Slade

I have given this one a shot as well. I placed the original distributor in yestarday with a new coil and wires (all tested OK) and I was receiving a spark from each wire.

What are the chances that the valves could be sticking? Is it possible for a valve to open and close only part way? With the compression, I would assume that could be ruled out....however I have had a few people tell me that this could be a valve related problem.

 

[addo]

It is well possible for valves to stick.

 

[Anonymous]

It is well possible for valves to stick.

If I find this to be the problem tomorrow, does anyone have any suggestion as to the "best" method for fixing this?

 

[AzCoupe]

I'm guessing fuel pressure, or carb problem (even if just rebuilt), combinded with a timing issue. Check the float level, idle mix, etc. If the dizzy were out 180, it wouldn't even start, much less idle.