Hey guys I need some help getting my car started. I recently rebuilt the 289 and just got the motor back in. I have everything wired up and it seems to all be working properly. I am getting spark and getting fuel but it just won't fire. It has popped a couple times but that was it. I took the #1 plug out and made sure that #1 cylinder was at TDC then made sure the rotor was facing the #1 wire. Still won't start. Any ideas?

 

Sounds like you have the main components of an internal combustion engine, (fuel, spark, and air). If you have Number 1 at TDC, it should be on enough to start. CAn you see the fuel squirting? PUll a plug and see if its wet.

 

I haven't tried to pull a plug and check if it is wet but I do see the carb squirting and I have fuel pressure on the gauge. I will check the plug and see.

 

im guessing its 180 off.....

if its getting spark
its getting fuel

must be 180 off......

i would check all connections and make sure they are clean and on...not halfway on.

the other thing to mention is......dont keep cranking it over and over for a long period of time.....if you do....take out the spark plugs and crank the engine over to get the fuel out.....i have heard too many horror stories of the pistions poping right out of the engine.

just my 2 cents

 

Make sure you arent 180 deg. out on the distributor, I would pull the #1 plug again, wait till the blow stroke, then stab the distributor back in.

 

YA beat me to it ford65stang.

 

[sm=icon_cheers.gif]

 

Thanks guys I will give it a shot and get back to you.

 

O.k. Now that I am extremely frustrated, it still won't fire. I have tried swapping the distributor 180 and I can get a couple of pops from the exhaust but that is it. The spark plugs don't seem to be wet either as asked above. I can smell a slight gas smell on the #1 plug, but not like I would think there would be. Could this be a valve problem?

 

well i cant see them not opening. do you have adjustable rocker arm studs? if so are they set right? if not did you make sure there was some lifter plunge when you assembled it? to make sure your dizzy is correct, have someone turn the engine over in the right direction while holding your finger in the plug hole - make sure its on the compression stroke when your getting to TDC. or you can pull a valve cover and watch the intake open and close, then when it comes back up to TDC your there. you DO know that fords #1 is on the other side from a chevy right? #1 is the head that sticks out further in the front. also there are two different firing orders. one for old 289's / 302's and another for 351w / later model 302's

if your seeing fuel squirt into the intake that cant be the problem, it has to be an ignition issue of some sorts