engine n00b questions

[Anonymous]

The other day we towed my girlfriend's 66 Mustang (3spd, Inline Six, 200in^3) to our house which has spent at least 4 years parked at her mother's place. The car needs some minor body work and certainly some paint and interior as well. Her stepdad put in a new or rebuilt "heavy duty" transmission shortly before she stopped driving it and he said that the engine was running fine. I haven't gotten to discuss it with him at length but considering he has about 8 cars including 2 hot rods that he's built himself, I'll believe him for now.

I've never worked on any engines short of changing my oil a few times and this is an entire new expierience for me. Odering a shop manual ASAP. QUESTION - Which one is best for this vehicle.

Replaced battery and oil so far, checked other fluids but I'm certain they'll need a change.
Here's my first problem (of I'm sure many).

The engine is trying to turn over but it can't. It cranks but doesn't start.
Removed air cleaner housing and filter and it sits on top of what resembles the throttle body on a modern car. QUESTION - What is this throttle-body-like part called?

Well, this part seems to have a small problem, the cable allowing it to open and close the throttle plate is not attached, it looks like it has a pin that goes through a hole and the pin rides up and down on a bar. The pin looks like it is supposed to have a retention mechanism attached once inserted correctly. QUESTION - How should this be held in place? Part number? Size? Where to buy?

Thanks.

 

[250mav]

the throttle body thingy is the carburator. where a throttle body lets air in to mix with the gas coming from the fule injectors in the heads, the carb mixes the air and fule before the cylinders suck the mixture in

 

[addo]

Buy the genuine Ford factory service manual in print form. Don't piddle about with Chitlins or Haynes books as they will get you into trouble but not necessarily out again. CD's are fine as a backup source but first choice is always a greasy-edged, well-thumbed factory manual. Available new from many older Mustang parts suppliers.

As for the carby - got a camera? That will help the troubleshooting. Check you have a good spark - at the right time - before blaming too much on the carburetion.

Cheers, Adam.

 

[Anonymous]

intersting screen name....I have a friend that uses JConXTC..

nice car to "inherrit" and if you get it road worthy (easy to do) you will be veyr happy for years to come ...if not, I will take off yer hands!

chaz

 

[Mustang Boy]

since it sat for so long u may wanna drain the gas and make sure there r no leaks in the lines and put som fresh gas in it cause the gas in it now is probably old and stale