64 crank but no start
06-12-2019, 06:01 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: UT
Posts: 9
64 crank but no start
i hope this is the right forum sorry if it’s not
alright here’s a fun one
I have a 1964 1/2 mustang with a 289 swap in that i’ve been working on for the passed 5 days or so. before i started working on it, it ran but it was burning coolant so i thought head gaskets and sure enough it was (i’ll make a list at the bottom of new stuff that i’ve put on) so as i was going through this engine putting back together i discovered that this thing has 302 heads which was interesting because in the entire complete history of the car i didn’t see anything other than a 289 being purchased for the car and certainly nothing about 302 heads. anyway after research i found out that 302 heads need to be torqued so i took em to torque but that felt too tight so i took em back a turn to 0 lash instead, following the instructions completely. now i’m here with a fully reassembled engine i remembered to tdc the 1st cylinder and placing the distributor at #1 before trying to start it, firing order is correct and ive done the 180 and nothing. cylinders smell like gas, spark plugs are getting spark and i have compression.
my most recent try to start it a bunch of air blew through the carb. i’m stumped at this point, i hope the cam is flattened i checked 6-8 and the valves all move.
In short:
new head, valve cover, & intake gaskets
new head bolts
new wires (the cap and rotor look new)
new spark plugs
new ignition coil
Engine cranks but won’t kick over, there is compression, spark, and fuel, have rotated 180 degrees but to avail
If you want photos i can post them
i will appreciate any help.
alright here’s a fun one
I have a 1964 1/2 mustang with a 289 swap in that i’ve been working on for the passed 5 days or so. before i started working on it, it ran but it was burning coolant so i thought head gaskets and sure enough it was (i’ll make a list at the bottom of new stuff that i’ve put on) so as i was going through this engine putting back together i discovered that this thing has 302 heads which was interesting because in the entire complete history of the car i didn’t see anything other than a 289 being purchased for the car and certainly nothing about 302 heads. anyway after research i found out that 302 heads need to be torqued so i took em to torque but that felt too tight so i took em back a turn to 0 lash instead, following the instructions completely. now i’m here with a fully reassembled engine i remembered to tdc the 1st cylinder and placing the distributor at #1 before trying to start it, firing order is correct and ive done the 180 and nothing. cylinders smell like gas, spark plugs are getting spark and i have compression.
my most recent try to start it a bunch of air blew through the carb. i’m stumped at this point, i hope the cam is flattened i checked 6-8 and the valves all move.
In short:
new head, valve cover, & intake gaskets
new head bolts
new wires (the cap and rotor look new)
new spark plugs
new ignition coil
Engine cranks but won’t kick over, there is compression, spark, and fuel, have rotated 180 degrees but to avail
If you want photos i can post them
i will appreciate any help.
06-12-2019, 07:01 PM
#5
Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hills of California
Posts: 5,208
PS plug is correct
Now does the damper wheel have timing marks on it?
With your dizzy rotor pointed to plug 1 do you see any timing marks on the damper wheel?
you've tried both 180deg positions I see... is the cam gear good it didnt happen to just fail if you look at the cam gear through the dizzy hole its got good thick teeth?
what about the firing order? what are you using?
you didnt remove the cam or timing gears did you?
Now does the damper wheel have timing marks on it?
With your dizzy rotor pointed to plug 1 do you see any timing marks on the damper wheel?
you've tried both 180deg positions I see... is the cam gear good it didnt happen to just fail if you look at the cam gear through the dizzy hole its got good thick teeth?
what about the firing order? what are you using?
you didnt remove the cam or timing gears did you?
06-12-2019, 08:42 PM
#9
Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hills of California
Posts: 5,208
once you saw the screwdriver reach tdc did you make a mark on the damper?
I would recheck TDC and make a mark on the damper that you can see
once you are sure that you are at tdc then make sure plug wire 1 is above the rotor.
If it doesn't start roll the engine over until you see the TDC mark indicating TDC and this time make sure the rotor is 180 out and pointing directly away from plug wire 1. Pull the dizzy and make it point to plug wire one
If it still doesnt start pull the PS valve cover and verify TDC Compression stroke by looking at the valves and check that all the valves are moving.
firing order looks good unless for some unknown reason it would use a windsor order (cam swap?)
let me know!
I would recheck TDC and make a mark on the damper that you can see
once you are sure that you are at tdc then make sure plug wire 1 is above the rotor.
If it doesn't start roll the engine over until you see the TDC mark indicating TDC and this time make sure the rotor is 180 out and pointing directly away from plug wire 1. Pull the dizzy and make it point to plug wire one
If it still doesnt start pull the PS valve cover and verify TDC Compression stroke by looking at the valves and check that all the valves are moving.
firing order looks good unless for some unknown reason it would use a windsor order (cam swap?)
let me know!
