hel[p with 350 chevy - wont start

[Heath]

Hi Guys,

Been trying for the last few weeks to get this engine started.

I have replaced the earths and positive lead with 25mm cable but the bastard just wont turn over fast enough (or long enough) to catch or even sound like it might fire.

I don't have a battery for this so I am using jumper leads from my diesel prado battery (even used two sets of leads to double up on the size of the jumper cables). The first crank seems promising but it slows down from there even with the prado running at high revs (15-1800rpm). Battery checks out at 14.22v at idle (and through the rev range). I didn't check it at the starter (only one set of hands) or during cranking.

As I said the first crank sounds good but quickly slows down until it will barely crank. Did these come out with a 24v starter (staring to doubt my sanity) or perhaps I have a dying battery in my prado that's cant provide the load anymore (Has been cranking more in the mornings than it used to before starting but I put that down to cold weather, i'd hate to try the winch if that's the case).

Heath

[Heath]

Was bench tested two weeks ago by a sparky and it ran okay for them (chewed the bit of wood up they tried to stall it with).

[Taz]

No point in half assing something and asking why it won't work, wire it up and then ask.

Are you saying you're running jumpers from a battery that is in and still connected to your Prado?

If the sparky had the motor running and your're saying it is slow to crank the obvious answer would be that you're not giving it enough juice.

Put some proper (i.e. not 1.5 meters long) leads on it with terminals, take the battery out of your truck, hook it up and go nuts.

If that doesn't work ask your sparky what he did

My apologies if you have already done this but it doesn't read like that =P

[Heath]

Trying to get a new battery (or second hand one anyway).

Don't want to f'up my daily driver battery.

[tweake]

battery would be first thing. jumpers are a pain.

the other is to check timing is not to far advanced and HT leads are all on the right spark plug. sometimes they can fire to early and partly kick back against the starter making it really hard to turn over.

[Taz]

I've got one sitting on trickle charge in Southbridge. If you haven't got a new one by then I can lend it to you next time I'm down but if you break it you bought it

There is a dude in Rangiora who does cheap recond batteries too. Check trademe.

[skid]

ask your sparky what he did

what he said

[Smurf]

Get rid of the jumper leads and use proper bolt on battery leads. I tried what you are doing a few months back getting a diesel engine running in an old berry harvester, first off I tried jumper leads to the starter and they heated up and only got slow cranking after the first 5-10 seconds. So I grabbed some battery leads and bolted everything up properly, with the same battery, and it cranked way faster and fired up sweet as.
By all means run jumper cables from your Prado to a second battery properly connected to your starter. but as Taz said I reckon you aren't getting enough 'juice' through your jumper leads

[rokhound]

Really?
You are trying to build a working vehicle but you aren't prepared to chuck $150 at a battery?
Maybe you should re-think the whole idea fella. The new thing you are building is going to need a decent battery anyway, so just buy it now.

From there a carbyed 350 is a fairly brain dead beast, it needs spark to plugs and fuel to cylinders, or it won't go.

[petefj40]

...and lots and LOTS of petrol.

[callum007]

Like Rok said, they are simple things.. Mine died after completing the last hazard of the day today. wouldn't start for love nor money. Was over fuelling and flooding it, then the battery died. Check its got fuel. or that you haven't drowned it in fuel. Can you turn it over by hand?

[Heath]

Really?
You are trying to build a working vehicle but you aren't prepared to chuck $150 at a battery?
Maybe you should re-think the whole idea fella. The new thing you are building is going to need a decent battery anyway, so just buy it now.

From there a carbyed 350 is a fairly brain dead beast, it needs spark to plugs and fuel to cylinders, or it won't go.

LOL - Remember I am on a budget and its my overtime I get to spend. Just frustrated too I guess.

Yeah I know I need a battery for this but I also need lots of other stuff too and I have to justify every cent. I am going to run a 1000cca battery in this thing eventually (probably a spiral battery type so I can mount it where I want without issues), but they don't come cheap and I'm not going to waste cash on something that is just a stop gap (maybe I'm just going to have too I guess - or get the battery sooner than I planned).

I have played with little carbed and EFI engines so I kind of know the basics but I am not too confident with high cube engines. Plugs have been out and regapped again (just to confirm I had done them right the first time), timing has been checked and plug leads checked (they will be replaced eventually too). Heaps of gas there in the carby (checked and filled bowl).

just want to have this thing anoy the shit out of the neighbours and wake all the babies in the street.

[Heath]

...and lots and LOTS of petrol.

Thirsty - yep I hope so. Not doing this for economy , its not my daily driver but will get used for work some days when I feel like a bit of a change (only warm mornings though ).

[Pedro]

Really?
You are trying to build a working vehicle but you aren't prepared to chuck $150 at a battery?
Maybe you should re-think the whole idea fella. The new thing you are building is going to need a decent battery anyway, so just buy it now.

From there a carbyed 350 is a fairly brain dead beast, it needs spark to plugs and fuel to cylinders, or it won't go.

LOL - Remember I am on a budget and its my overtime I get to spend. Just frustrated too I guess.

Yeah I know I need a battery for this but I also need lots of other stuff too and I have to justify every cent. I am going to run a 1000cca battery in this thing eventually (probably a spiral battery type so I can mount it where I want without issues), but they don't come cheap and I'm not going to waste cash on something that is just a stop gap (maybe I'm just going to have too I guess - or get the battery sooner than I planned).

I have played with little carbed and EFI engines so I kind of know the basics but I am not too confident with high cube engines. Plugs have been out and regapped again (just to confirm I had done them right the first time), timing has been checked and plug leads checked (they will be replaced eventually too). Heaps of gas there in the carby (checked and filled bowl).

just want to have this thing anoy the shit out of the neighbours and wake all the babies in the street.

high cube and small cube, fark all difference except one of them eats fuel....
has this motor run in its present state?, ie only been sitting, or have you had the dizzy out or anything like that, if dizzy has been out, good chance it is 180 deg out, but generally if that's the case then the fire out the carby gives it away. put a battery in it, unless your jumper leads are 50mm cable then you are wasting your time with out the battery.

Pedro

[Heath]

It has run (prior to me buying it) but has been sitting for a while (with just me turning it over by hand).

Points taken about the battery though. I'll move it to the front of the list. Maybe its nearly time to replace the prado one anyway so I'll drop it in there when I get the exide batt.

[Heath]

Been thinking about the 1000cca batt and maybe a 720CCA orbital batt will do (watching new one on T Me). The leads will be about 2m long in the truck but will be 75mm2 and have 25mm2 earths everywhere as well as a 75mm2 earth to the chassis from the batt.

I guess I have been kidding myself using jumpers - thanks for the "friendly kick in the arse" in the right direction.

[Taz]

Nice. Do eeeeeet.

Only mentioned the length because it was shitty jumper cables

[Heath]

700CCA battery sorted (pick up tomorrow).

[fullthrottle]

Just a thought, I'm sure you have it sorted though.
Make sure your firing order is 100%

Once or twice when trying to fire ours up, the firing order was all messed up. Just the wrong leads to the wrong plugs, since they were in and out so often. Long late frustrating nights do that to ya I guess

[Heath]

Just a thought, I'm sure you have it sorted though.
Make sure your firing order is 100%

Once or twice when trying to fire ours up, the firing order was all messed up. Just the wrong leads to the wrong plugs, since they were in and out so often. Long late frustrating nights do that to ya I guess

Cheers for the tip - I'll double check everything.

[Heath]

New battery had this thing cranking over nice and quick.

Still no go, plug out and no spark. Leads are really old so I shot down the road to edge performance parts (nice shop with lots of goodies ) and grabbed a set of leads. Chatted to the guys and they suggested that it might be the module, but unfortunately they didn't have one in stock (had the caps and rotors).

Shot home with my leads, whipped off the left side head, plugs out (and regapped them), top dead centre found and confirmed, dizzy lined up to 1 (will need to be advanced I guess as it is set to 0 - but just wanted to sort a spark - will fiddle later), new leads all done (even labelled the dizzy cap to be sure I got it right).

Still no spark and no shops open so, maybe next week. Frustrating but good for learning about this toy...

[tomsoffroad]

Sounds like spark is your problem
Is it running points? Is the gap correct? Have you got power to the coil? All you should need once you know the ignition timing is right is 12v+ to the + terminal on the coil, coil - terminal goes to the dizzy. Too easy really........ unless your condenser is poked

[Heath]

Sounds like spark is your problem
Is it running points? Is the gap correct? Have you got power to the coil? All you should need once you know the ignition timing is right is 12v+ to the + terminal on the coil, coil - terminal goes to the dizzy. Too easy really........ unless your condenser is poked

HEI dizzy, so 12 v to the dizzy and that's it. Coil etc is all inside/on the cap.

No points - one wire simplicity (yeah right ).

[fullthrottle]

Hey, are you checking for spark at the plug by removing it from the head, plugging it back into the lead and grounding it against the side of the block?
So your trying to see a spark at the plug right?

Has your block got a good ground point?

Is your dizzy getting power from the ignition? (Measure with a voltmeter)

What is the condition of the dizzy, rotor etc?

[Heath]

Yep - plug in lead against a good earth and watch for a nice big fat spark. Nothing.

Rotor and cap look okay (no tracking or cracks or corrosion), coil not sure, the module dohickee not sure.

Have 12v to the dizzy (straight from battery - and measured).

Just one of those things I guess. Slowly crossing off the issues.

Will figure out testing for the coil later (google is my friend - sometimes).

[tomsoffroad]

HEI dizzy, so 12 v to the dizzy and that's it. Coil etc is all inside/on the cap.

No points - one wire simplicity (yeah right ).

Farr-lash Well that exceeds my knowledge

[Petemcc]

if its an hei the only thing that can really go wrong is the module
they cost about $50 and fail for no reason. I always carried a spare in my boat. had two fail then none once i got the spare. Buy a new one and it will rip into life.

[Heath]

Yep that's the plan.

Bloody shops aren't open tomorrow - bugger - found out it was faulty (or might be) after closing time so I have to wait till I can buy a replacement.

[Petemcc]

try edge performance. pretty sure they are open sundays

[Heath]

Saw them yesterday, but they had sold out.

Went to repco on a whim (and 20% off weekend) and bugger me but they had them in their system and in their catalogues. Problem was there are none in stock(anywhere) and are ordered in as required, of course that would be great if they had the number to ring their supplier (its out of date...).

Shame really, they were almost at the point of a sale and managed to swerve away at the last minute. (sounds like the black caps doesn't it).

I'll stick with edge, silvesters and AAP in Chch and STP, etc in NZ from now on. Might take a little longer but at least they have the parts and knowledge to back it up.