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Grrr! New thermostat and won't run!?? + timing Q's

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Moose33

Moose33

Jedi Hopeful
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Evening all,
(bear with me, long post)
It's officially been a month since I towed my B home in "non-op" condition. and as of noon today I got to take her for a spin around the neighborhood! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

all WAS fine. I got my VIN check done and then I installed a new thermostat, added some water, tightened down some clamps, started the car and drove the 6 feet into the garage so I could do the timing and with a shudder and some puffs of white smoke rolling out of the carb intakes she died.

d-e-d dead.

I checked spark, fuel and got both.
I removed the carbon fouled plugs, cleaned and re-gapped them and she started.. sort of. sputtering and smoking and coughing and dying.

I just wanted to do the timing and go get my plates in the morning.

I tinkered around with the dist. tapping it one way, then the other and managed to get her to run (but shuddering and complaining the whole time). I got down to check with the timing light and it was at least 45 degrees off from where it was supposed to be. The closer I got to the correct "marks" the worse the car runs. I do not understand this at all. That was four hours ago and I cannot for the life of me get it restarted without it violently shaking for a couple of seconds and puffing out more smoke. ideas? anyone?

*sigh*
 
Start with the basics. Try checking the electrical connections to the ignition system, and check the points, Then maybe a once over of the carbs. make sure a float needle isn't stuck dumping fuel into the cylinders or not allowing fuel into the carb at all.
Trying not to jump to conclusions, it almost sounds like it jumped a tooth or two on the timing chain. But I don't see why it would just randomly do that. This could be confirmed by doing a compression test and getting lousy numbers all the way across (if you knew they were good before). and also removing the valve cover and watching the rocker arms while turning the crank by hand (but you need to know when the valves should be opening)Is it all possible that there is a head gasket leak and your freshly added water is now seeping into a cylinder?
But these are major things.. Check the minor things first. they are usually at fault
Best of luck Guv'na
 
Re: Grrr! New thermostat and won't run!?? + timing

thank you for a place to start. I have so many thoughts running through my head I just couldn't get them organized (as you just did). I totally spaced it on the head gasket idea, but I will start with the basics again.

I did forget to mention in my previous post that I eleminated the points w/ pertronix... can I still do a static timing with this (after everything else is checked, of course)?
 
Re: Grrr! New thermostat and won't run!?? + timing

Timing it should work just the same with the Pertonix as with points. That reminds me, with the crank marks at TDC (and #1 on compression stroke) the rotor should be pointing to the #1 cyl on the dizzy cap. This can also be an indicator for the timing (and a good rough place to start)
 
Re: Grrr! New thermostat and won't run!?? + timing

again thanks, I'll post again tomorrow afternoon hopefully w/ a progress report. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Grrr! New thermostat and won't run!?? + timing

guys.. I feel like a fool /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
(1) Battery at 25% charged
(2) Plugs oil fouled
(3) Firing order set wrong.
(4) 50-year old timing light Kaput

== charged the battery, cleaned the plugs, changed firing order to 1-3-4-2

turned the key and everything is fine. Checked the timing with a new inductive light and it's spot on.

Runs And drives like a bat outta.. well, fast.

I'm back on the road (almost legal) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
Sometimes it's nice to be able to show up here and vent.
As I have said before, I certainly appreciate all of you and am sure I will be venting more once I get into the body work.
 
Re: Grrr! New thermostat and won't run!?? + timing

AHHHHH.. Been there, done that, one time I Pulled my hair out for the better part of a morning trying to figure out why a TR3 had no guts. 2 and 3 were switched. Always good to find an easy fix.
 
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