[Spridgets] No Fire -New Engine

Sun Jul 21 18:27:47 MDT 2024

Mark,

Here's something I wrote a few years ago, maybe it can help;

I always do checks for spark BEFORE I do the checks for Fuel delivery.  You
don't want any stray fuel vapors anywhere near an area where you will be
creating a spark.

Note;  More than once, I have witnessed an A-series distributor that has
dislodged itself from the hole in the engine block due to a distributor
clamp that was not tightened properly.  Checking to make sure the
distributor is held securely in the clamp would be well advised before you
check for other electrical problems.

Another important note;  Before you check electrical connections under the
bonnet of your car, MAKE CERTAIN YOU HAVE NO FUEL LEAKS.

To check for spark.  First check for spark at the points.  Remove the
distributor cap and watch the points while you turn the engine over with
the starter.  Make certain the ignition is switched on if you have a
separate switch for the ignition on your car.  If you can not see the
points while you are turning the engine over with the starter (you are by
yourself and have no one to help you),  switch on the ignition and flick
the points with a small screwdriver (or your finger) to see if you get a
spark when the points are separated.   If you have no spark at the points,
check for loose wires to the coil and/or distributor.   The problem may be
in the electrical wiring at your ignition switch.  You can hot-wire the
coil with a short piece of wire.  (I carry a jump wire with alligator clips
on each end).  On a negative ground car, connect the  jump wire to the
positive side of the coil and to the positive post on the battery and check
for spark at the points again.  If you still have no spark at the points,
the problem may either be the condenser or the coil.

If you have spark at the points, - next check for spark at one of the spark
plugs.  The easiest way to do this is to remove one of the spark plugs and
with the ignition wire for that spark plug wire attached to the plug, hold
the spark plug in contact with the engine and turn the engine with the
starter.  You should see a spark at the gap in the spark plug.  If you have
spark at the points but no spark at the plug you may have a faulty
distributor cap or rotor.  If you have a spark at the spark plug, it's time
to check for fuel supply.  Put the distributor cap back on and re-install
the spark plug.  You don't want any stray sparks while you are checking for
fuel supply.

To check for fuel delivery.  Disconnect the fuel line at the carburetor and
activate the fuel pump.  (On cars with electric pumps, turning on the
ignition will accomplish this.  On cars with mechanical fuel pumps you will
need to turn the engine with the starter).   If you have no fuel being
delivered at the fuel line you disconnected from the carb, you may either
be; out of fuel,  your fuel pump stopped working, or you have a blockage in
the tank or at the fuel filter.  Another possibility is a broken fuel line
between the tank and the engine.

Kevin V.
Tuscarora, Pa
ReplyForward
Add reaction

On Sun, Jul 21, 2024 at 8:18 PM Mark Haynes via Spridgets <
spridgets at autox.team.net> wrote:

> Hey folks,
> I've gotten to the point of asking for thoughts on my new 948 engine.
> The specifics of the new engine are as follows:
> 948 .020, crowned pistons, 12G202 head milled 0.185" (touted to be a Dave
> Tabor head) Rimflow valves (1.25 I, 1.06 E), Vernier timing gear, SPVP3 cam
> timed to 102.5 degrees ATDC, Jeff Schlemmer 25D distributor, APT lifters,
> 1.3:1 rockers ,ceramic coated piston crowns and combustion chambers.
> I finally got it installed with the new Gerard Garage 5 Speed, and I have
> spark, Ignition timing is set per Jeff Schlemmer, compression (when
> cranking only) 125 psi in all cylinders, carbs are getting fuel.
> I get no Bang, Pop, Fart,nothing from the engine when trying to start,
> even with starting fluid (checking that it wasn't fuel delivery) or
> rotating the dizzy, I tried swapping plug wires to prove it wasn't ignition
> 180 out or 1 & 4 wrong or 2 & 3 wrong.
> I brought in a friend who's a pro mechanic and he's as stumped as I am.
> I'm looking for any possibilities,
> Just to be sure, this is not even close to my first engine build nor my
> first 948 build. I know how to time cams and build engines, but this has me
> stumped and I feel really dumb, so I'm leaning on you all for some thoughts
> and support.
> God, I wish Frank were still here, he'd have the answer in a flash.🥺
> TIA,
> Mark Haynes
> It only goes one way- Pay It Forward
> ------------------------
>
> spridgets at autox.team.net
>
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation: $12.75
>
> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets
> http://autox.team.net/archive
>
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/kevinv1275@gmail.com
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/spridgets/attachments/20240721/4c6cf84a/attachment.htm>