forever starting
New User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 23
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From: Laramie United States
forever starting
I have a hard time starting my engine. It takes a while of cranking to get it started. I always see people with carburated engines just turn the key and start them. I can't seem to do that. The engine is a brand new 360 with an Edlebrock carb and a converted pertronixs distributor. Any help would be great.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 9
From: Sun River St. George
forever starting
Assuming that after it starts it runs good warm or cold, doesn't stall or stumble, backfire! Consider the starter motor as a possible culprit. A good starter and fully charged battery will spin that engine over really fast. Sometimes re-built engines will be a little tight at first and can be harder to turn over. Ignition timing to far advanced or retarded can also cause this. The gap on the Pertronix is also important, check that. One more thing, are you using multi-viscosity oil, like 10W-30W! You do pat the gas a little and use a choke? That combination Edelbrock setup you are using should be trouble free.
William in Atlanta
William in Atlanta
New User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 23
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From: Laramie United States
forever starting
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-Dec-02 AT 01:02 PM (EST)]I've got a brand new starter. I will check the timing, but I did set it at 9 degrees. What would be the right setting. I have had a heck of a time with the Edlebrock combo. The carburator right nowis over flowing.
Thanks
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
forever starting
a - make sure your coil is receiving 12 volts while cranking
b - once started check your timing, it should be around 6-12
BTDC. Mine was slow cranking until I advanced it to 8 vs. 6.
c - check your dwell.
d - crank your truck while checking battery voltage.
anything under about 9.6 might a starter/cable problem.
e - take off your air filter and make sure the choke plate is
working correctly.
What has been working for me is one pump, hold it to the floor and it starts. I drove a 79 F-350 a year or so ago, had to pump it eight times and then it would fire right up like an EFI engine.
b - once started check your timing, it should be around 6-12
BTDC. Mine was slow cranking until I advanced it to 8 vs. 6.
c - check your dwell.
d - crank your truck while checking battery voltage.
anything under about 9.6 might a starter/cable problem.
e - take off your air filter and make sure the choke plate is
working correctly.
What has been working for me is one pump, hold it to the floor and it starts. I drove a 79 F-350 a year or so ago, had to pump it eight times and then it would fire right up like an EFI engine.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 662
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From: CA
forever starting
Wait a minute...you said the carburetor is overflowing!? From where? If it's overflowing because the float is set to high, or stuck open you're probably getting so much gas in the intake that the plugs are fouling. Try cranking it a few times then pull a plug. if it's wet and smells strongly of gas, there's your problem. Try cranking it again then shut it off and quickly look down the throat of the carburetor. Can you see gas dripping down there? Time for a carb rebuild.
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Logistics Pro
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: East of Orlando
forever starting
Float adjustments are easy on the edelbrock. Just take off the top hat of the carb, invert, and insert a 1/2 to 7/16 drill bit under the float to measure. To adjust, just bend the tabs on the float. Check to see if the needle and seats are stuck when you take the top off. Every engine likes to start differantly. You'll just need to find out what works best with your combo. Most carbureted engines I've ever worked on like 1 to 2 pumps before you start it.
86 F250 4x4,4.10 gears,4 speed, 10.25 rear, dana 50, 460, weiand stealth, edelbrock 750, heddman headers, 36" super swampers
86 F250 4x4,4.10 gears,4 speed, 10.25 rear, dana 50, 460, weiand stealth, edelbrock 750, heddman headers, 36" super swampers
New User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Laramie United States
forever starting
thanks for the help. I tried to time it but I think the balancer has slipped, because when I checked the timming it was set at 22 degrees,I had it at 9 degrees. When I set the timming to the timming marks (at 9) it didn't run very good. It was chugging really bad. So I used a vaccum tester and set it to where the guage read 20 hg. I hope this is right.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
forever starting
>was set at 22 degrees,I had it at 9 degrees. When I set the
>timming to the timming marks (at 9) it didn't run very good.
Are you saying, you disconnected and plugged the vac. line to the dist., and set to 9 degrees. Went back later, did the same thing (plugged the vac. line to the dist.) and it had changed to 22 degrees? In that case, check the easiest thing. Pop the dist. cap and make sure the screws holding the points down are not loose!
>timming to the timming marks (at 9) it didn't run very good.
Are you saying, you disconnected and plugged the vac. line to the dist., and set to 9 degrees. Went back later, did the same thing (plugged the vac. line to the dist.) and it had changed to 22 degrees? In that case, check the easiest thing. Pop the dist. cap and make sure the screws holding the points down are not loose!