Cranks, has spark, but no start

Thats right. I just got everything (almost) back together and am to the point where I can try to start it. Brand new battery and hooked up to charger. Cranks like a mo fo and no start. I took a plug out and had my wife crank it, nice blue spark on the plug when it rests on the frame. yes, I put the groud strap back on the back of the engine..

Tell me if I put the distributor in right. I turned the motor over by hand and stuck my thumb over the #1 cylinder. When the piston as coming up, I could feel it pushing air out (versus not pushing air up on the exhuast stroke. Then, I got it to exactly zero degrees on the harmonic balancer. At that point I put the distributor in with the rotor pointing straight back. I then put the cap on and wired that back cylinder to #1 then went through the manual for the H.O. firing order and wired up the rest of the spark plug wires. Is that sounding correct?


The only thing I can think of is that the gas that was in the fuel cell is about 1.5 years old. (ugh, I know) After I ran my electric fuel pump and tested for leaks, I opened the throttle to make sure it squirted. Well, it was light brown gas coming out and smelled like laquer. Should it still run?

I'm guessing my next thing to try is to dump a tiny bit of gas down the carb and try to start it.

Oh, one other thing. I have the choke turned off. (don't ask) Could it be as simple as letting the choke close before I try to start it?


Thanks for any help you can offer! I'll send pics of my new setup when I get it running.

speedytang said:

Smells like you have a Fuel Problem. Change your gas first then you are sure about having something that burns.

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I see a pattern here. Damn, it's already in the carb, what to do? Please don't tell me I need to take it apart, replace the bowl gaskets, and put it back together? I just wanna here it run!

Damn again!

speedytang said:

I would just take the carb off and pour the fuel out and try again after you put in new gas.

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F'ing genius! Why didn't I think of that. I'll let ya know when I get it running otnight if this is the problem. If not, I'm gonna be pissed.


Thanks! Hey at least the oil pressure is about 25-30lbs just cranking. I did something right.

It started! It was the choke on the carb. Holy crap it sounds good. Now I gotta set the timing and find out why it's running so rich.

86bluecobra said:

what did you build? Nice to hear you got it running.

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It's just a stock rebuilt crate engine. I purchased it when I didn't have alot of money to work with.

It's just nice to hear it run again. Now I have to work out the bugs and boy, do I have them:

1. I put a stefs oil pan on and it's leaking at the rear. This sucks, because it's such nice oil pan. I'm guessing it's my fault somehow, but I'm not sure how. I used silicone everywhere except for the round part. SHOULD I have gooped it there too? I already tried tightenting the rear bolts a little, but it's aluminum so I'm not gonna go ape****. This scares me. If I have to take the exhaust off, and tear it all down to get the oil pan off, I'm gonna vomit.

2. I can't get the oil dipstick tube in the side of the block. Could the oil pan be blocking this? It sounds like it goes so far then it hits something.

3. Small drip on my swivel thermistat housing. I think I need to either reseat or replace the o-ring.

4. Need to set timing.

5. Need to run wire for push-button starter on my painless wiring panel. It's sweet to have momentary switch on there, but the wire is currently running outside the car in the door well so I could start it.

6. Have to hang the mufflers. Currently being held by the h-pipe/headers.

Thats what I have at this point... I just wanna drive the damn thing. Ugh!!! This oil leak worries me.

Does sound good though. Little rich at idle. I have a boost referenced carb and not hooked up to manifold vacuum yet.

I have a Wolverine cam that is a little bigger than E303.