Hello I need help.... Lol.... I have a 1964 falcon with a 170. I can get spark to the dist and spark out of the dist. The engine will crank but wont fire. Plugs are new and gapped, changed oil, new wires, rebuilt carb, new gas tank and Can't seem to get it to start. It's been sitting a while. Any suggestions or pointers?
Yea we triple checked firing order and its correct. I don't know how or have the tools to check compression. We put 4 gallons in the NEW 16 gallon tank. It hasn't started pulling fuel on its own. Checked and replaced all the fuel lines. maybe the fuel pump? Wouldn't we at least get a fire with fuel down the carb though?
Replace the distributor with a Duraspark II and module. Even if you get the original to work, the design is inferior. The best singe upgrade that you can do to the Falcon-6 is an ignition upgrade. My little Falcon 144 climbs the hills of San Francisco, the Sierra Nevada mountains, all with ease, and cruises the freeway at 75mph, all day long. When I put in the modern distributor and ignition, it was like night-and-day. It felt like a 25hp. upgrade, to a 90hp. engine.
Did you have the distributor out of the engine? If so make sure you didn't put it back in 180 degrees out of phase.
The shaft, and thus the rotor, can be out-of-position, even if the housing is in the correct location. Disconnect the coil wire, at the coil. Rotate your engine until the timing mark is at 0º. Pull the #1 spark plug, and gently lower a piece of wire and see if you touch the piston, just a little in there. If not, give it another full turn, and check again. DO NOT DROP THE WIRE! When you can find the piston at the top of the #1 bore, with the timing mark at 0º, you have found Top Dead Center (TDC). Pull the cap, and see where the rotor is pointing. If it is not at the pole that the #1 spark plug wire is attached to, correct it. Once you have corrected that, the timing will still be a little off, but should be close enough to get it fired, and then set it properly, as long as nothing else is wrong.
The distributor drive gear also drives the oil pump. It does so via a hex shaped shaft that inserts into the gear, and the pump. Even without changing the position of that shaft, you can still put the distributor in 5-different ways that are not correct, instead of just one, like some other engines. Super fun!
also, if you filled the carb bowl, see if the squirters are putting a shot down the carb when you open the throttle
Pull a plug, leave its ignition wire attached. lay it on the block and have a friend crank the engine. You'll be able to see the plug spark. also perhaps the squirrel is asleep in the wheel. Seriously though check for spark that way. I had a comet with a 144. Those ignitions, coils, condensors royaly ****.
Thank you everyone for the help. One of the first things we tried was checking the plugs by laying one on the block.... Checked 3 and all had good spark. We filled the cab bowl but it doesn't seem to be pulling out any of the fuel. So I don't think it's squirting any either.... I guess ill keep working there.... But I'm just a little confused... Shouldn't I at least get a little fire by pouring a little gas down the carb and cranking it over?
A lot of good advise here. Yes it should try to do something when you pour a little gas in it regardless if it's 90, 180 or 47 2/3 degrees out. Makes me think it's something mechanical. Does the engine turn over normally or does it spin like all the plugs are out? Spins over too fast, may be a compression issue (timing chain, rings, valves hung open). Since you don't have the tools, here's a couple "shade tree" things to try. Put your hand over the carb throat and have someone crank the engine over. You should feel a vacuum/suction. No vacuum, internal engine problem (or a choked muffler).You could try the "finger in the hole" compression check, but don't actually put your finger in the spark plug hole or we might have to call you stubby. Use a screwdriver handle & rag to cover the hole & have someone crank it over. You should be able to tell something about the compression. You mentioned in the original post it sat for a long time. The critters didn't make a condo in the muffler did they? Where in Az. are you, I'm up in Kingman.
pull the coil wire first as far as not knowing if gas is going down the carb, just look down it as you opperate the throttle
A thumb over the spark plug hole will be adequate for checking compression. A timing light will be adequate for checking timing. In spite of all the upgrades you CAN do, these cars run very well as bolted together from the factory, as mine will attest. A quick spray of starting fluid is far better than dribbling gas down the intake: the starting fluid will evaporate much quicker, and won't be near as likely to wet the plugs. Too, if the plugs have been wetted with gas, you will not get the car started until they dry out, so, perhaps try the following, in the order suggested: Change the plugs out with fresh. They're cheap, don't you be. While the plugs are out, have someone crank the engine while you hold your thumb over any plug hole. Hold it tight, the compressed air should blow out with some good force. Now, hold your thumb over the very first (front) plug hole, and turn the engine over by hand. When you start to feel compression, stop. Look at the timing mark, and slowly turn the engine over in the direction of normal rotation ONLY, until they line up. Now, pull the cap off of the distributor, and mark the position of the rotor tip on the outside. Be fair accurate. Put the cap back on, and check that the number one (front) cylinder is in line with that mark. If necessary, change the plug wires to match. You may also have to rotate the distributor to align. Check the firing order from that plug. ***emble with new plugs et al. Hit the carb intake with a short spray of starting fluid, and crank. If it doesn't fire NOW, you've a more serious problem. Cosmo
Hey Falconaz, I just saw this now, and if I'm noy mistaken you are in the Phoenix area. If you can't get this up and rollin' give me a yell. If you are not too far away I'll cruise up and take a look for ya. 602 881 0175
Take the offer for help, man. Websites are cool, but the real-deal is where it is at. There is no such thing as an online community, just a bunch of dudes, sitting in front of computers, in their underwear. Get together!
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