*sigh* I need help.

I didn't know where to start or what to look up, so I'm just starting this fresh. I need help guys. I'm not very good with motors and troubleshooting, so here's my problem.

A few days ago the car wouldn't start. It tried and tried, but just wouldn't crank up. The starter would spin, and it'd sound like it wanted to. Then, the next day, all I got was a click (from the starter or relay I think). Well, I changed out the voltage regulater, and nothing. Then I changed out the starter relay, and the car fired right up, idled smooth, and drove perfect. Two days later, and it's back to not wanting to start. This morning it started (hesitantly), then no matter how much gas I gave it while it was warming up, it finally petered out. Now I can't get it back started.

Any advice? Please help. I need to get this car running! [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img]

Oh, and it's a stock 289. Everything is pretty old on the car. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Tattoo on 5/14/04 7:41pm ]</font>

Well, your cranking problems are solved I take it and now the car just won't idle and run properly AFTER it starts?

I'd check some basics first.

Timing. All that cranking and sputtering may have finished off the timing chain. If the chain has jumped it will retard the ignition and make it run poorly. While you're in there look at the points. The fact that it is running badly all of a sudden makes me suspect this first.

Next would be the operation of the choke. You're in Texas so I'd imagine it isn't cold down there at the moment so you may want to look to see waht the choke is doing when the car has cooled off. Conversely if it is hot maybe a vapour lock issue is the problem.

These are basically just guesses based on your info. Basic being the operative word. Look for basic tuning things spark and fuel and most likely you'll solve the problem or at least see what's "broken" Stu HTH

Tatto, it can be a few things.
Make sure you have a good spark,pull the coil wire from the dist.cap hold it with some insulated pliers against the block and have some one try to start it. You shuld have a strong spark. If you don't that may be it. Check your ponints, make sure they are not burnt or pited,check the gap.You might want to replace them as well as the condenser.
check the cap and rotor . Is the contact button on the cap clean ( the contact in the middle odf the cap as you look under it) Is the rotor contact burnt.If so replace them too.
Fuel: as with all old cars it is not uncommen for the fuel tank to have some sediment. Check your fuel filters(S)
You have should have one built into the fuel pump, and some one may have added another along the way. remove the air filter check to see if it isnt dirty. look into the carb and work the throttle you should see some fuel squirting .
As you can see it can be a few things. I dont think your voltage regulator is /was the problem.If your car "trys" to start,and the starter turns , your problem is else were, posibly as mentioned fuel or ignition. keep me posted.

Thanks guys. Well, I just went and played with it a little. I got it started again, but real rough, and again it wouldn't stay. Once it died, it wouldn't start back up again. I pulled the distributor cap off, but honestly I don't know what I'm looking at. I looked in my shop manual, and it talks about the points, but doesn't explain much. Where am I looking to find the points? lol I'm certainly a n00b at this, eh? As for the fuel filter, I'll have to locate that. I'm really starting to think it's an ignition thing, because like I said, when I replaced the starter relay, that day it ran GREAT. Smooth idle, started right up. The next day it was a little rough but started and ran. And now this.

does that help narrow it down any?

Oh, and the starter does spin. goes and goes and goes, and sounds like it's JUST about to start, constantly, but just doesn't seem to want to catch. It's honestly like it's almost there, but nothing. and it only does this with the pedal to the floor. :/

Your staters job is just to get the motor started.So by replacing the relay/solinoid it realy has no efect on how it runs. So, the problem lies some were else.
try this, get a can of starting fluid, remove air filter and give it a shot or two ( no more then that ok ) see if it fires up. if it starts , run"s and then dies the problem is fuel related. If it dosn't start but just turns over, the chances are it is an ignition problem give that a try and let me know what happens. Sleepy
[addsig]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2004-05-14 10:26, Tattoo wrote:
Thanks guys. Well, I just went and played with it a little. I got it started again, but real rough, and again it wouldn't stay. Once it died, it wouldn't start back up again. I pulled the distributor cap off, but honestly I don't know what I'm looking at. I looked in my shop manual, and it talks about the points, but doesn't explain much. Where am I looking to find the points? lol I'm certainly a n00b at this, eh? As for the fuel filter, I'll have to locate that. I'm really starting to think it's an ignition thing, because like I said, when I replaced the starter relay, that day it ran GREAT. Smooth idle, started right up. The next day it was a little rough but started and ran. And now this.

does that help narrow it down any?
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Based on your level of experience with old cars ( and I don't mean any disrespect!)you need to find a friend that has some background in this area. As for the points it may behoove you to add a Pertronix point replacement unit. They really work well and will take the "bad points" part out of the equation. My first cars had points but frankly I don't wax nostalgic for them though some people like the "limp home" ability. Stu

The Capt. is right on about the Pertronix set up. I have it in my 64. It is a siple very Ez mod. But Try to see if you can start her up first . Round here the pertronix goes for about 80.00, ebay has then for about 70.00
[addsig]

Yeah, this is my first older car. Hell, my first carb car. But yes, I've been getting help from a buddy of mine when I can, but he's pretty flaky, so I can't rely on him.

Okay, so I didn't have any starter fluid. I did scrounge up a can of carb cleaner, and went ahead and sprayed around the carb and a little inside. Got in the car and tried to start it. It tried and tried, and FINALLY started, but only with the gas pedal all the way to the floor. I gave it gas and let it start warming up, and let off the gas, and it died. Tried again, and after a few more tries, with the pedal to the floor, it started and finally idled (roughly) without me touching the pedal. I drove it around the parking lot once, and it runs like crap; really rough, like it pretty much has since the swap.

Here's one thing too... and it's been doing this since I did the motor swap, except for the day I replaced that starter relay. Once it's warmed up, it idles okay, but as soon as I put it in gear, it idles REALLY rough, and wants to die. Once I put it in drive, it lurches some and tries to die sometimes, unless I mash the pedal. It does this for awhile, until it warms up, and then just idles fairly high. But by then, the darn thing starts to overheat! Unless I'm on the freeway or something, 30 minutes of driving down stoplighted streets, the HOT light will start coming on.

Fuel issue?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Tattoo on 5/14/04 11:39pm ]</font>

Sounds like the timing nay off. If you are up for it, try this, You will need a helper to try to start the car. You want to firs mark were the dist is, use a crayon , or scribe it with a screwdriver. Lossen the distrbutor hold down.While your helper trys to start the car SLOWLY turn the distributor clockwise see if it fires up,try going the other way.You will need to get it timed right but if you can get her started you can tahe it to a tune up shop. good luck. p.s . carb cleanerwill not start your car.
[addsig]