Crank no start 1972 440

[The_Eagles’_Nest]

I have gotten to the point on my Imperial where I have gotten the engine back together where it is complete and ready to fire.

What has been done is I reinstalled the valley pan, intake manifold and carburetor. It has an NOS Holley choke, a rebuilt 4160, NOS spark plug wires and NOS distributor cap.

The engine will crank and crank but the car will not start. I have ensured the ECU is good, that the coil is good and the spark plugs are getting spark. I get nothing when I put gas down the carburetor.

It has been too inclement to work under the car so I have not been able to check for compression readings.

 

[Big_John]

Did you have the distributor out? Lot's of guys put them back 180 degrees out.

 

[The_Eagles’_Nest]

Distributor is where it was when the car last drove. I have not touched it except to verify the internals were good and to change the cap.

 

[Triple Pickle]

Off hand, I’m guessing it’s flooded. Gonna have to check the plugs to see what’s happening.

 

[The_Eagles’_Nest]

The plugs that I pulled out were tan and no fouling of any kind.

 

[bronze turbine]

If you are getting fuel and spark, the only thing left is compression.
Maybe the timing is way off?

 

[The_Eagles’_Nest]

If you are getting fuel and spark, the only thing left is compression.
Maybe the timing is way off?

That is what I need to verify. I will be cleaning up the front of the engine so I will set the timing mark to TDC and check the distributor.

 

[carguy300]

Maybe the plug wires got out sequence when you changed cap?

 

[Triple Pickle]

I had a 383 long ago that did this. In retrospect I believe it was flooded. I never did get it started, but I was young and dumb. It wouldn’t hit a lick, backfire, try to run or anything.

 

[The_Eagles’_Nest]

Maybe the plug wires got out sequence when you changed cap?

That may be possible, but there were no plug wires on the engine when I bought the car except for #7.

 

[carguy300]

That may be possible, but there were no plug wires on the engine when I bought the car except for #7.

I think I would verify firing order, I dont remember off the top of my head, and position on cap. The left side of motor, cylinder front to back is #1,3,5,7. Right side even#. Locate #1 on the cap and position each wire in order.

 

[The_Eagles’_Nest]

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 going counterclockwise with 1 about the 5 o’clock position.

 

[carguy300]

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 going counterclockwise with 1 about the 5 o’clock position.

See if this helps.

 

[The_Eagles’_Nest]

That’s exactly the way I have it set up.

 

[carguy300]

That’s exactly the way I have it set up.

Try a shot of ether, if theres good spark it should fire.

 

[carguy300]

Try a shot of ether, if theres good spark it should fire.

Unless there is a timing issue.

 

[The_Eagles’_Nest]

It’s worth a shot to double check and I will continue to go through the car to get things squared away.

 

[Big_John]

That may be possible, but there were no plug wires on the engine when I bought the car except for #7.

Check for #1 TDC on the compression stroke. It has to be on the compression stroke.

If you had no wires, you wouldn't know what is truly #1.

 

[The_Eagles’_Nest]

Check for #1 TDC on the compression stroke. It has to be on the compression stroke.

If you had no wires, you wouldn't know what is truly #1.

I had #7 that was hooked up. I can figure out #1 from that.

 

[Big_John]

I had #7 that was hooked up. I can figure out #1 from that.

Are you sure that the #7 was in the right spot?