so it cranks but won't start. have you established a GOOD 12v at the coil in the start position ? you can have a spark, yet not a GOOD spark.

MoParx if it doesn’t have good spark what could the cause be?

I obviously have put on the new FBO box, and coil, bypassed ballast resistor and ensured the engine has a good ground to the body. The distributor shaft is not broke (I confirmed that today). The cap and rotor look good too. I have new unused set of MSD from a different small block project I could put on but I suspect the Mallory wires on it aren’t the issue.

If it warms up enough tomorrow I’m going to ensure the rotor turns as the engine is cranked, ensure timing is correct, ensure the engine is at tdc, check firing order of plug wires is correct.


Things I have accomplished with the 30 degree weather we’ve been having...
Replaced he fuel lines
New battery in
Nitrous system off of engine
New FBO stuff on

Oh yeah and the oil and filter have been changed. Brakes have been checked and new soft lines are ordered just to be sure they are good, the brakes work great but will be gone through as soon as I figure out why it isn’t running.

One quick way to check for a jumped timing chain is to disable the ignition and hold your hand over the carb while someone cranks the engine. If you get air puffing out of the carb there is an issue with the chain or you have a stuck valve(s).

are the plug wires connected in the correct direction for which engine you have???

without seeing under the dash, and looking at the bulkhead connectors, it "may" be a hidden [as in, yet to be detected] wiring problem. as you have said your brother [brother-in-law ?] has been playing with it, who knows exactly what may, or may not, have been done wiring wise.

Thanks. Lucky for me I doubt my brother in law did much to the wiring. I will definitely look the under dash wiring and the bulkhead connections over.

Maybe this is why.



My question is why would you question someone trying to help you?

Firing a motor that has sat for some time is relatively basic.
First thing I would do is drain and replace the oil & filter.
Next check for spark.
Check timing,
After that fuel is the only thing left.
Oh and if it sat a long time there might be something restricting the exhaust.

Why would I question someone trying to help me?

Well for one I’d say most of the people on any forum don’t read the full thread before replying, or they make statements that don’t help at all. Plenty of people on this board have egos and greater than thou attitudes assuming because someone asks for help that they haven’t already checked the most basic issues, including ensuring the fluids were good. Give me a break.


The worst are the old guys, the crotchety old guys are why this hobby is dying off. Young(er) people don’t want to be treated like their lesser than just because some old fart has been doing it with stock parts for 400 years or because a 9” rear-end is what they put in their Duster. Just answer the questions asked without your personal biases and move on, or if your an angry old a$$hole then don’t post at all.

wow... you come on here asking for help....and then cop an attitude.. unbelievable... your TS skills suck...you try and fire and engine with carb cleaner... enough said...

what difference does age make....there are 15 year olds that would have already had that car running... lol

Well Excuuuuuzzzzzzee me!

Why assume I was speaking of you?

Whatever TS skills are?

Also if you’ve ever watched Roadkill you’d understand the carb cleaner thing. Although I’m sure most here haven’t because they don’t build trailer/garage queen restos.

Why would I question someone trying to help me?

Well for one I’d say most of the people on any forum don’t read the full thread before replying, or they make statements that don’t help at all. Plenty of people on this board have egos and greater than thou attitudes assuming because someone asks for help that they haven’t already checked the most basic issues, including ensuring the fluids were good. Give me a break.


The worst are the old guys, the crotchety old guys are why this hobby is dying off. Young(er) people don’t want to be treated like their lesser than just because some old fart has been doing it with stock parts for 400 years or because a 9” rear-end is what they put in their Duster. Just answer the questions asked without your personal biases and move on, or if your an angry old a$$hole then don’t post at all. [/quote]

wow... you come on here asking for help....and then cop an attitude.. unbelievable... your TS skills suck...you try and fire and engine with carb cleaner... enough said...

what difference does age make....there are 15 year olds that would have already had that car running... lol
[/quote]

Whatever TS skills are?

Also if you’ve ever watched Roadkill you’d understand the carb cleaner thing. Although I’m sure most here haven’t because they don’t build trailer/garage queen restos. [/quote]

trouble shooting.... and your car will not run on carb cleaner.... m

If it were me, I'd do a compression check first. I'd bet it's got a piston out of it at least.

Thanks, I had that as a suspicion also. If that’s the case it was done prior to us getting it as the NOS was disabled prior to us buying it. I will add it to the list of items to check. Unless it warms up soon it will be a bit before I go back to it.

Could not agree more. That's why I quit a long time ago trying to help people with problems. Got to love it blame the stupid ex-brother in law.

The car stopped running properly after he drove it, there was not anything wrong with it prior to him driving it. My parents bought the car from CokeBottleKid (from here). I guess you know better than my parents and I about what has happened with the car since they bought it though.

Most of "the crotchety old guys" on this site would have had that thing diagnosed in a day.

Yep and most aren’t likely attempting to do this outside in 30 degree temps. I however am as we have a single car garage not long enough to even house this car, let alone it being occupied by my wife’s Jeep.