I'm trying to get the engine started on the '62 Buick Special that I
picked up a month or so ago. I am getting good spark and I set the
static timing according to the factory workshop manual. I am getting a
good spark but I rarely can get it to fire, even when I squirt starting
fluid in the carb. The previous owner said that it ran fine when it was
last parked 3 or so years ago but he was not able to get it started
before he sold it (he had installed a new battery, points, rotor, dist.
cap and condenser - I put on a new coil and cleaned the plugs). I took
off the driver's side valve cover when static timing it and when I was
done and cranking the engine I noticed that most of the valves were
either barely opening or not opening at all. The valves don't seem to
be stuck and when I push down on the push rod while cranking the cam
shaft bumps the push rod up a lot (though the push rod seems to push
down quite a bit). I assume that the car has hydraulic lifters and that
the lifters have "pumped down". It also does not appear that I am
getting any oil pumped through the engine since none is showing up at
the rocker arm when I crank the engine. I assume that the two problems
are interrelated. I've pulled the oil pump off and intend to pack it
with Vaseline and see if I can get it to pump oil. If I do get the oil
flowing, will the lifters "pump up"? Most of my engine experience has
been with solid lifter MGs and Triumphs. Are there any other ideas?
Note that the engine is the 4 bbl high compression version. I'm just
trying to see if the engine runs good enough so that I can drop it in to
my MGB while rebuilding my other 215. Thanks for the help.
I only paid $305 for the car, which included another 215 in pieces,
which I didn't think was too bad. The car is complete and pretty solid
so I should be able to recoup most of my original investment by selling
the rolling chassis after I pull the engine and transmission.
Kevin Brow
Odessa, MO
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