engine ground wires
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 99
Likes: 11
From: Round Rock, TX
engine ground wires
I have a '56 f-100 and have just finished putting the stock 272 y-block back in after total rebuild. My problem is getting it to run. I have fuel and spark, but I didn't label my all my cables on disassembly. I have the negative battery cable, positive cable to starter relay, starter relay to starter motor all hooked up right... there is one x-tra cable that i forgot to label and can't figure out where it hooks up at. I'm guessing that since the engine isn't grounded it won't run??? It is getting spark to the plugs. Anyone have any pics of wiring and engine ground wires... i know there's one from the driver's side head to firewall. Any suggestions? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 99
Likes: 11
From: Round Rock, TX
The battery to frame is fine... the plugs are getting spark, but i'm just not sure if it's getting enough..... when we were setting the timing i got shocked when i was turning the distributor.... the cap is old, but in good condtion. not sure what to do next.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,474
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From: Shasta Lake, Ca.
If you are getting shocked when setting the timing than you need a now cap and wires to start with.. 40,000 volts hurt like hell and all it takes is the tinyest of cracks for it to bite you..
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Yep, cannot spark unless engine is grounded. If you have spark, then you need fuel or have timing issue. A bad rotor and cap can cause a weak spark. Are you sure you have a "hot" wire to the engine ignition after the starter disengages? Engine ground is typically a braided strap from the engine to the chassis. Make sure all your ground connections are to bare metal not paint.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,013
Likes: 9,957
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Any and all engines just need 3 basic things to run; fuel, fire, and air.........okay, okay, they also need to have those 3 things in the right place at the right time.
You didn't mention if the engine was trying to start or not, did it cough, sputter, backfire, or anything? or did it just sit and spin.
Are you getting fuel? what happens if you prime the carb (be careful with this since we already know you have spark trying to escape---we don't want you to light the ol' girl on fire) The trying to start in the dark is a great tip and can be very enlightening. I once opened the hood of my old 69 F250 at night and it looked like I had a blue octopus laying across the top of that old 390ci
Good luck getting it going
Bobby
You didn't mention if the engine was trying to start or not, did it cough, sputter, backfire, or anything? or did it just sit and spin.
Are you getting fuel? what happens if you prime the carb (be careful with this since we already know you have spark trying to escape---we don't want you to light the ol' girl on fire) The trying to start in the dark is a great tip and can be very enlightening. I once opened the hood of my old 69 F250 at night and it looked like I had a blue octopus laying across the top of that old 390ci
Good luck getting it going
Bobby
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Round Rock, TX
it just spined over and over.... even w/ a squirt of starting fluid in the carb... nothing. I'm begining to suspect the cap and rotor might be bad ... they worked when the engine came out, but that was over 6 years ago. I also need to double check and make sure the distributor isn't 180 degrees off. Thanks so much for all the suggestions.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
How did you test the spark then? any spark at all should have fired starting ether. Do check the distributor position and the wire order, double check which way the rotor turns when putting the wires in place, I have seen where someone ran the order in the wrong direction. Pull the # one plug stick your finger over the hole and bump the starter. When the compression blow your finger out you will know when the #1 cylinder should be firing, make sure the rotor is pointing at the #1 wire on the cap. Is it a points distributor, are the points opening and closing? I have also seen a bad condensor even tho it was brand new keep the engine from firing.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 99
Likes: 11
From: Round Rock, TX
I bought new points and condenser... they are opening and closing and set correctly. The plug wires are new and in the correct order.... i set the timming w/ all the plugs out and a nail in the #1 wire to get the spark for the timming light... put everything back together and just spun over... never tried to run w/ starting fluid sprayed in. I'll double check for TDC next time i get a chance. Thanks
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,013
Likes: 9,957
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Sometimes, if your careful and depending on what carb you have, you can dribble enough fuel downteh bowl vent to fill up the fuel bowl. That way you can try and start the engine without having to pour a big bunch of gas in the carb throat and flooding the danged thing.
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