Greetings and question about Imperial 59 start-up!

[Calpe]

Hi everyone. Thank you all for allowing me to be part of this forum. I am writing you from Spain, where restoring a car like this is an adventure!

I have a 59 Imperial, stopped for twenty years. And I have a problem. The engine won't turn over with the spark plugs in. Without the spark plugs it turns freely without a problem, and at a good pace. But when I put the spark plugs in, it doesn't turn over. We took out the starter motor, and it was rebuilt. It spins hard and smoothly. But nothing... the engine won't turn over with it on.

Any suggestions? I'm a bit lost...

Thanks again and best regards.

 

[Jakter]

Can you turn the engine over with the spark plugs in by putting a socket on the front crankshaft bolt?
If yes, I would suspect low/bad battery.
Bad battery cables/ connections.
Valves not opening.

Honestly, I've never run across this problem.

 

[GOLDMYN]

When you say is spins hard and smother. do you mean by hand? that in itself doesn't mean the starter is working? do you have power to the starter? Can you try another starter that you know is good?

 

[Calpe]

Hi again, thanks for your messages.

I think I lacked explanations. New 100 Ah battery. Wires and ground changed. Starter motor rebuilt and turning apparently fine.

I mean that the engine turns smoothly and at a good pace with its starter motor, but without the spark plugs on. It is true that turning the engine by hand from the crankshaft with the spark plugs is really difficult.

Apparently, the valves open and close. It's very rare! Unfortunately, as I have mentioned in my country it is practically impossible to find spare parts, and on the internet I have not been able to find another starter. The few I have seen is used, apparently worse than mine. New parts, nothing, I haven't found any compatible.

 

[Jakter]

Only other thing I could think of would be wrong spark plugs, that is too long of reach that they hit the pistons.

I'm not even sure if that's possible.

 

[57fury440]

I agree with Jakter. Maybe the plugs are too long and hit the tops of the pistons.

 

[Jakter]

One other thing I thought of but don't even know if this is possible, could the timing be so far off, like it jumped time or something, that the engine won't turn over under compression?

Again, it's something I have never experienced.

 

[Calpe]

I dont think the spark plugs are the problem, as I cant hear any sound, and if I insist, I can get to do a complete turn, but soooo slow. And in the mean time the cable from the starter solenoid gets really hot, so I cant keep doing that.

 

[Jakter]

I dont think the spark plugs are the problem, as I cant hear any sound, and if I insist, I can get to do a complete turn, but soooo slow. And in the mean time the cable from the starter solenoid gets really hot, so I cant keep doing that.

Can you run a jumper cable from the battery direct to the starter?
Have you verified 12 volts at the starter through the solenoid?

 

[Calpe]

Can you run a jumper cable from the battery direct to the starter?
Have you verified 12 volts at the starter through the solenoid?

I tried to Connect the battery directly, but same. Will verify that voltage. Thanks!

 

[Big_John]

New 100 Ah battery.

There's your problem. That battery is way too small.

 

[Pete Kaczmarski]

I agree with Jakter on his first post. Start with simple checks of the engine and the starting system. I suspect you mean a 1000 amp battery, not 100 amp?

 

[Jakter]

https://www.batteriesplus.com/produ...MIne-t-N3hiQMVoDbUAR1bezMkEAQYBSABEgKZzvD_BwE

Group 31P
88AH.

 

[Calpe]

Yes, the battery is the right one

 

[Big_John]

Yes, the battery is the right one

It's kind of unusual to see car battery spec listed like that so I questioned it. Usually you see the battery's CCA or cold cranking amperes.