Calling all 55-56 Pontiac owners, and anyone else helpful!

Pm'ing 55starchief, just posting it here for others to see. I got 12.02 volts on the top part of the resistor, and 5.68 on the bottom part of it.

 

Just to remind anyone that comes here and didn't read from the beginning:
Engine wise:
New spark plugs
New cables
New distributor cap
New ignition coil
New alternator
Points weren't stuck
New condensor
I have fresh gas in the tank, and I am getting gas (I can smell fuel when I try to start)
I sprayed starting fluid down the carb, still nothing
Brakes wise:
Master Cylinder was rebuilt
Lines are all brand new
Brakes were bled

 

First off did it run after all the new parts?
The resister put the meter leads one on top and one on bottom, if you are reading 5 volts you have wrong coil should be about 3 volts,12 volts- 3 volts leaves 9 volts at coil.
See if you have spark.
Two people smart one turn key and try and start it.
other remove middle wire from cap and put 3/8 from medal grd.
when motor truns sholt see spark jump.
Very simple to do no more bull shit.

 

I purchased the car with all those new parts already installed by a guy who restores cars for a hobby. It ran perfectly and drove before sitting for four weeks in my driveway not moving.
What are some good parts I can use as a ground? just lay it on top of one of the valve heads?

 

After you verify spark or not , you noticed you smelled gas when trying to start. There's a chance if you have spark you may have flooded the engine with gas? If that's the case you'll need to remove the plugs and let the engine dry out a few days. Than clean or replace the spark plugs. Probably need to change oil too, it's full of gas if this is the case.

 

To be honest with you I pull the fouled out plugs and clean them and the heat them up in the wife's oven for a few minutes.

The problem with this whole thread that I have is you haven't determined if you have spark or not at the spark plug. Until you do this I am just not coming back here. Enough people told you how to do it so just do it.

 

Flatford, if you read my recent post, I don't have the correct socket wrenches to remove my spark plugs, and I am very limited with tools. I am only a 16 year old, doing this by myself. I'm not a spoiled kid, I don't have a family member who can teach me this stuff, none of that. So just relax, it'll get done soon...I got blown off AGAIN by someone who was supposed to come and teach my this stuff. So i'm probably just going to wind up having it towed and let a professional deal with it. But for what I have done so far, having NO experience what so ever and doing it myself, I think I did pretty good.
I'll know tomorrow whether someone can actually keep their promises or if I'll just call a towtruck

 

Also, please realize, this thread isn't just about finding spark or figuring out whatever my start problem is.... this is basically a rebuild thread. I just didn't label it as that.

 

I'm trying to figure out the weather stripping for the catalina, and I came across this diagram. however, my retainer seems to be chipped in some places...is that okay/normal? Or will it be necessary to replace that in the future?

 

I guess you couldn't find the center coil wire and put it close to medal valve cover is ok no paint clean surface.
If you have no spark my guess its the condenser, have someone replace it.
If you can't put the dist. cap on,you will never be able to change the condenser.

 

Any auto parts store will have the correct socket to get your plugs out and it will cost under ten dollars. They are not hard to find, and cheap, you should not be waiting for someone to lend you tools. Go buy yourself one, believe me, you will use it again. If you are going to have an old car, get tools. You cant have one without them.

Look up on youtube how to do all the things people are telling you to do, if the descriptions on here are not enough. I started at the same age as you, and the best way to learn is to try over and over until you fix it. Calling the mechanic and towing the car should not be an option honestly, unless it is a major problem like a blown engine or transmission. Focus on the mechanical part of your car before you start worrying about things like paint, interior and weatherstripping. It does not matter how good your car looks if it won't run. Like it was said before, focus focus focus.

The simple truth is, if you have to call the mechanic because you can't get your motor to start/run due to no spark, you probably should not have an old car. The car is over 50 years old, it will need work over and over again. You need to get used to this idea. Old cars require time and money. Since you are only 16, I am assuming money is not your strong point, so you need to learn how to fix it yourself. Mechanics charge around 60 to 100 dollars an hour, and at that rate, I would learn how to fix it my self real fast. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

ive been following this thread for a while and i was following the other one before it was closed down and i really gotta say i really dont understand much anymore. Your spending money on rattle cans and all kinds of other stuff that doesnt have to be done right away like the radio restoration and paint and such. Instead of spending money on stuff that wont get the car and it kinda useless at this point since its not gonna get it moving or driving, spending that change on the tools you need to work on the engine(basic tools) and maybe even a manual for that car it think you would be better off. And towing it to a mechanic is gonna cost you more than what it would cost you buying some tools and trying to figure it out yourself and you probably wont learn anything.

 

??? painting was done LONG before I joined this forum...I'm not spending money on anything...only stuff I've spent money on while on this thread was weather stripping so water would stop getting in my car, and a few other things. Like I said, this thing ran like a champ before the old battery died a little over a month ago. I had to wait at least a week to get a new battery after my first new one was leaking, which in the mean time everyone kept harassing saying I wasn't listening to them. Couldn't really do anything if I have no power supply to my car. I have a terrible time getting the dizzy cap on and off of this car, it's location leads to me taking about an hour trying to get it on. Plus, I've had a lot of rainy days, no garage, and I'm not really going to do stuff regarding electricity in pouring rain my friend... I've done many things that people have told me, I just haven't said that I have yet. and still nothing. I've done many tests and tried different ways of starting, I've checked over everything, and still nothing. I have the manuals already also. I only get to go to the store once in a blue moon to get things, and I had to work all week to make the money to go get it. I don't have money getting handed to me from mommy and daddy like everyone else.
Also, one more thing. Reason I said I may just call a tow truck and let the mechanic do it is because I don't want to start taking sh*t apart and wind up breaking something, or hurting myself. Very easy to read or tell someone to do something, but it's much harder to actually DO it, especially when you have no experience and have no one in person helping.

 

Does your high school have an auto shop program, or do you know any "car guys" or clubs that could possibly help you out. If you can get to your local library, most of them have at least a few MOTOR'S or CHILTON'S manuals; those will have troubleshooting sections in them. They usually don't check out reference books from my experience, but it gives you some place to start (no pun intended there). Maybe makes friends with someone at your local auto parts store that would be willing to help you, or maybe an "old guy" in your neighborhood that can relate to an old car, may have tools, of books you could work from; maybe trade mowing his yard in trade for help. If I were't on the complete opposite side of the country.......................................well you get the idea. Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Nope, no more auto class I think, plus school is out at the moment. I've tried to get in touch with multiple car guys, all of them have blown me off though whenever we had a date set to come work on my Poncho. I don't have any family members that know this stuff, and the ones that do are all the way down south in Texas. A couple car friends have come over, but I don't trust them to be honest...especially since one of them told me that my car would blow up if I started with the dizzy cap off. Plus they didn't have the tools either for the spark plugs, which is why I've been doing all the other possible tests. Checking my resistor, checking all the wires, my points, etc. I'm not ignoring anyone as many say! I just have to wait until I can get to the store...it's the weekend now so my mother can actually bring me over and I have some money in my pocket I made, so I can buy some tools so I can take these plugs out now. I'm gonna take whoever said it's advice and keep tools in my car at all times...read somewhere i should keep a spare condensor and ballast resistor as well.

 

i agree i would be a lot easier on you if you found some help.

 

Well, there isn't no help in person. Never is, I do everything myself. Always have and probably always will.
Tomorrow I'll not only grab the spark plug socket end, but also see if they carry any condensors, just in case my new condensor did indeed go bad.

 

may already know this site but if not... http://www.pontiacsafari.com/

filled with info, plus a shop manual. No one in my family is mechanical either, iv been slowly collected and buying tools as i need them as well. Its a slow process but just keep pluggin away, over time you accumulate more tools and skills. it will get easier and easier to preform routine tasks, like the diz cap. i learned that the hardest part is going for it, but once the ball gets rolling on any project there is a wealth of info out there, especially with the internet. Just take your time and dont give up, dont be affraid to "go for it" sometimes. if a man build it, a man can fix it.

 

Yea starchief, that site is a gold mine.
I got called in to a painting job this morning so I'm gonna work on that until about 3 PM the latest. Then I'm coming home to take care of this damn car, as well as test the old radio I just finished last night. Then in the evening, I'll hopefully recap my old car radio as well. After that it just needs a new speaker, a vibrator, and one tube and I should be set.
Before I go, if anyone else thinks of something to grab at the store let me know. I'm getting a socket end for spark plugs, and a spare condensor if they have one. Anything else?

 

I've tried not to get sucked into these threads, but I'd like to see you move past the starting issue. Like it has been said before - you don't need to remove the plug from the motor to check for spark.

 

I just noticed you posted that you would pick one up "tomorrow" just a little after midnight - so I guess you mean today 8/10. I made my comment because I thought you wouldn't get it until 8/11.

 

From what you've said before I don't know if it is a ways to the auto parts store or if you just need a ride. If you can't make it back today I would get everything, unless you are absolutely confident in the parts currently on the car. I know you've said they're new, but some sellers view "new" as in they replaced them at one point in history...

I would pick up points, condenser, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, plug gap tool, etc. What you don't use can be returned.

I don't remember if it was asked / said. Have you your checked fuses also?

You said all ignition components where new. I don't want to insult you, but is the car actually turning over? I just had a thought that maybe it's your starter or solenoid.

 

Dang. Are there any Hambers in the area that can give this guy a hand and show him a few things? It should would be nice to get this thing running again. Maybe it's time for a HAMB intervention. I know that if he were in my area my brother-in-law and I would be all over it. It's nice to see a young guy who has the car and the interest and I would hate to have him get discouraged.

OP - Keep at it kid! I remember being your age and having to learn it all on my own, much like you are.

 

Lightest grit sandpaper you can find to clean your points, get a set of plugs... Promise they will get used at some point, you want to have those laying around.


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

Wish he were closer to me!


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

2 weeks trying to get the distributor cap back on???
I wonder what will happen when something hard needs to be done?

 

He needs somebody there with him to go through these things. I'll bet he will learn fast if someone shows him how it's done. It seems basic to many of us but many of us grew up in a time when most guys worked on their cars and they all had points, carbs, etc. It's not like that any more and this old car stuff is pretty specialized. I know...hard to believe but it's true. I'm just glad the OP is interested. If he were near me, I'd be at his house right now.

 

Who the hell said it was 2 weeks to get the distributor cap back on....own a 56 pontiac, then try telling me you can get the cap on like a peanut butter jar.

 

Nope, it's all no more than a year old. Fuses? I haven't checked them but I know where they are...and yes, my car is actually turning over. Just won't start up. Five or six weeks ago it started up right away and ran like a champ.

 

K, I got the spark plug socket, so I can take those out and clean and gap them if needed. Only thing I couldn't find is a gaper, I'm sure I can use something in the house hold (correct my if I'm wrong)
The store didn't have condensors, I have to order the one I need, so I held off in case mine still is indeed good. oh and good news! This kid that I'm doing painting with, he actually knows a bunch about cars, and his uncle actually runs the mechanic place that I'm supposed to go to for my welding! And another of his uncles also works at the Auto store nearby....now I got connections!