My car won't start!

[69greenleaf]

I have a 69 satellite 440. The car has been sitting for a while due to lack of money. Well I put the car back together finally and tried to start it. Everytime I turned the key on the coil started firing like crazy even before I tried turning it over. So I ended up tracking that back to a bad ecm. Well now that that problem is fixed it has spark. I have checked the distributor timing, firing order,pickup air gap, carb adjustment, and just about everything else I could think of. The car turns over smooth and it plops a little when turning it over like it is trying to fire up but it just wont. I know it's got fuel and spark for sure. The only other thing I can think of is that the reason it stopped running in the first place was that it jumped time. If anyone has any advice for me it would be greatly appreciated because I need to get my baby running again.

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

Distributor 180* out of phase???

 

[69greenleaf]

Distributor 180* out of phase???

Yeah I was thinking that but I have never had the distributor out of it. Wouldn't it backfire out of the carb if it was 180 out too?

 

[BigYellaStella]

Firing order right?

Check ballast resistor?

 

[69greenleaf]

Firing order right?

Check ballast resistor?

Checked the firing order a million times lol and it's a brand new ballast.

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

You said it quit running initially, was it just abrupt like that, it quit? or were there other symptoms before it stopped and you tore it apart? What specific repairs did you do and how long has it been sitting?

 

[69Bee]

Go back to the basics. Fuel, spark, correct firing order (1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2), and in the correct direction on the distributor cap. I spent two hours trying to figure out why the car I drove to the carwash wouldn't start after washing down the engine. Right firing order, but in the wrong direction, Lol..... The only other thing I can think of is a bad/intermittent pick-up coil.

 

[69greenleaf]

You said it quit running initially, was it just abrupt like that, it quit? or were there other symptoms before it stopped and you tore it apart? What specific repairs did you do and how long has it been sitting?

Well the reason why it's been sitting is because it blew a head gasket last year. It been down since then due to money issues but I think when it blew the gasket i think it might have jumped timing when it was running ruff.

 

[mopar_man]

You need to do a compression check, but first I would take out #1 plug and bring the piston to TDC on the compression stroke . If the engine never jumped timing , everything should be lined up on crank dampner and indicator or very close . Then remove dist cap and see if rotor is pointing at #1 plug wire .

 

[wsutard]

You need to do a compression check, but first I would take out #1 plug and bring the piston to TDC on the compression stroke . If the engine never jumped timing , everything should be lined up on crank dampner and indicator or very close . Then remove dist cap and see if rotor is pointing at #1 plug wire .

This...is good advice.

 

[mopar_man]

This...is good advice.

thanks , by doing this the OP will confirm that his mechanical timing is ok and if the rotor button is pointing at #1 , then he knows his ignition timing is ok . Then it's only a matter of spark or fuel trouble . If the engine has been lying up for a considerable amount of time , it now may be washed down on the cylinder walls. I would make a mixture of about 30% motor oil and the rest gas and dump some down the carb .It will help to bring the compression up plus make a lot of smoke . lol

 

[69greenleaf]

thanks , by doing this the OP will confirm that his mechanical timing is ok and if the rotor button is pointing at #1 , then he knows his ignition timing is ok . Then it's only a matter of spark or fuel trouble . If the engine has been lying up for a considerable amount of time , it now may be washed down on the cylinder walls. I would make a mixture of about 30% motor oil and the rest gas and dump some down the carb .It will help to bring the compression up plus make a lot of smoke . lol

Thanks for the advice I will try this as soon as I get time between work and school and I will let you know how it goes.

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

I agree with the above checks, that is where I was going with it. One thing to watch for is if you have a stock balancer it is possible for the rubber ring to deteriorate, allowing the outer portion to rotate, therefore the timing marks may not line up properly depending on how much it has slipped, if it has slipped. But if all turns out good with the timing checks then try new plugs, old ones may be fouled from trying to start it repeatedly. Gas may have gotten condensation in it from sitting too long is another possibility.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Back around 76-77, I had a 383 that wouldn't start once and it turned out to be this....

 

[Mike67]

Back around 76-77, I had a 383 that wouldn't start once and it turned out to be this....

Are those plastic teeth???

 

[Ranger16]

Well, nylon not plastic. They used a nylon over steel to reduce gear noise back then. Problem is, they didn't hold up well.

 

[69Bee]

That gear is still serviceable. I see at least 3 good teeth...

Back in the day, this was called a "Silent" timing gear set.

 

[Ron H]

Later...after back in the day it was a ****-set...gimme the gear noise...I always thought the nylon gear was nothing more than a cheaper way to produce cars.

 

[oldbee]

Nope,it was for noise abatement. Saw a number of Pontiacs do it after fueled up at the gas station(when someone actually came out and did it for you)(no extra charge!!!!)

 

[Ron H]

yeah that's when I encountered them in my GTO I had many years ago...