The motor is worn out, but I'd like to get it running well enough to where I can get it running on its own without having to keep my foot on it. Now, why this? Because when I go to rebuild it, I don't want any unknown surprises. Pretty much use that ol' saying "it was running when I pulled it" kind of thing.... As far as wiring, I ordered a new engine/ transmission/ AC wiring harnesses. I'm not sure of what shape the underdash harness is, but I looked at the connector (that was unplugged) from the A/C Heater control panel, and it looked like things might have gotten a little warm. However, both the front and rear blower motors still work.... At first, I couldn't get it to run at all, and was figuring maybe compression? Also, the saprk didn't seem to working out all that great either, so.... Put a different "used" coil on it, new rotor, and walla, spark.... Now, fuel.... Put some fresh gas in the tank, put some fuel line fittings on the pump, and ran a new fuel hose to the carb line, added a new fuel filter to it. The fuel line that I had on it, was too long, and was about to hit the distributor, so I had an unused fuel line, with brass fitting inside it along with pressure gauge, so I put it on, b/c it wasn't as long as the other, and got the fuel hose to hook up to it, still close, but heck, it fits.... Got fuel to the carb, and found a bunch of leaks... Got those sealed, and with the help of a friend, and some tinkering around with it for a little while, we got it to fire up. Of course, it shut off, let it idle to low, and tried to crank it again, but the abttery was low, so we let the battery charge up, and went in and ate some BBQ...
. After he, and his family, left, I tried it again, couldn't get it to crank, so I left it alone to charge over night. The next morning, I tried it a coule of times, when no one was around (everyone was either at work, or somewhere else) and it fired up... Figures... No one to show off in front of... I let it idle down, and of course, it shut off. It has not since cranked (fired off). I'm wondering if the starter isn't spinning the motor fast enough for it to fire up? As I said, same problem with my old 440 (rebuilt with a big(ger) cam) changed to a better starter, and it finaly fired up. Maybe I need to do the same? I went out and got a new voltmeter, since my Mac Tools one went missing (imagine that, $150 est voltmeter going missing), need to try it out, but as far as I know, the wiring as far as ign/running circuits are fine, but maybe I'm wrong. Hopefully the harnesses will be here within 2 weeks. Tomorrow I should have the correct style ballast resistor coming in, along with some other stuff. Does the above mentioned setup of battery cables seem right? When these cars were made, I wasn't even thought of, much less around, LOL.
. So, needless to say, I don't know how these are supposed to be hooked up, I just reaplced them, and ran them the way they were when I took them off. The negative cable is hooked to the back of the power steering bolt with a nut holding it on, and the extra wire hooked to the radiator support with a screw. The positive is mentioned above. I ask b/c if it's not right, maybe the starter isn't getting enough power to it to turn the motor like it should, but I don't see why? Once again, this is a '72 with non-original 383.
'73 Hemi Ralley Guy, I'll have to check that all, once I get back to the house. The previous owner said that it may have jumped time, but the distributor seems to be fairly tight, as far as turning the motor, and it turning with it, but who's to say the motor didn't jump back once, and make the timing jump a tooth, so I'll be trying to get the motor over to TDC and check it. If it has jumped well then:
why have I not checked this already....... But for now it's back to
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ntstlgl 1970: The gas in the tank is a little old, but should start on it, because it's not that old. I got some gas out of the tank, and tried in a older push mower, and it ran off it, so... But to be a little more on the safe side, I added a gas treatment, to remove water (or whatever it does), along with some additive, and put about 6 gallons of premium in it, the new clear fuel filter, at first, had some older looking gas coming through it, but ran off of it, and now has freash looking gas coming through it...
