Technical Trying to start 1928 Model A after 35 years of sitting.

Please give me some ideas on how to get my car to start.
It's got gas and it's got spark but it keeps backfiring gas out the intake?
Ignition points are set to .020

 

Got compression?

After sitting for that long it may have one or more stuck valves.

 

^^^^ This is very likely ^^^^

 

If it's a stocker... left handle up (fully retarted) right handle 1/2 way down(throttle)
Also make sure there's nothing in the cylinders like mice nests! I blew one up in about 20 seconds after it started running

 

Thanks all. Yeah my buddy and I though maybe had a stuck valve? It wants to start but it backfires out of the intake.

 

We're gonna check the compression tomorrow.

 

This is good...
Show us some pics!!

 

I have done this very thing, It's wonderful when they come back to life. But - do a compression test. It'll tell you if you are getting a good seal. Put a little bit of light oil in each cylinder before you do this, it'll help old rings seal temporarily while you determine if a valve is open. The other way is to take off the side cover and take all the plugs out. Then turn the engine over and see if each valve is going through its motions. Lastly you can rig up a fitting out of an old spark plug and air fitting to see if there is a valve open. You are using the air to see if the cylinder is making a seal with closed valves and rings. But on this last option turn your compressor waaaay down so you don't put a shitload of compressed air into the cylinders. Be careful the compressed air is stronger than you think.

All the best,
Tim

 

Just saw a video on youtube where a guy was starting a long dormant engine. He went to change oil and it would barely run out the drain plug hole. Took the pan off and it was full of sludge. Just a thought you might want to check.

 

I agree with a poster above. Taking off the side cover would probably be easiest, and cheapest if you don't have a compression rig, and want to rule out a stuck valve.
You just have to remove the 8 or so bolts on the side and look in there. You should buy a new gasket though before you do this, so that you can seal it all back up.
Simply said, you can peak in there while turning the engine one whole turn, and you can see if one of the valves does not return to its lifter. If it doesn't, she's stuck.
BTW, slick willy, that wouldn't have happened to be my engine that I had? Haha.

 

I took the pan off a few months ago and cleaned it.
There was almost no sediment at all in the pan.
The bottom end of the engine looks really good so I put in a new gasket and put the pan back on.

 

So if one or multiple valves are stuck it's gotta come apart?

 

Maybe not right now. Just get the stems lubed up enough to travel up n down. You may want to eventually, and if there's a stuck valve you can gently tap it down with a brass or hardwood tool. Spray some ATF on the stems if you pull the tappet cover. I've started field engines in the past with little more than a kerosene flush, the ATF trick in the holes and the stems, fresh oil. If what you found already was that clean then go for it.

 

When I fired up the last banger model a I had the valves were stuck and it would spit and fart but not run. I took the side cover off and used a valve spring tool to remove keepers, removed the valves springs and guides. I cleaned everything including the cavity that the side cover exposes. I changed the head gasket and dropped the pan cleaned everything.
I reassembled everything with fresh valve springs cause sometimes they get weak and weird from sitting in one position for long periods. Started up and ran perfect and I did it allwith the engine in the car. ( which was stupid cause the engine hoist was literally sitting right next to the car but whatever)
I'd just do the same the engine gasket set is cheap and those things like to run with even just a little bit of love.

 

Actually.......two full turns (720 degrees)

 

I would tend to think it's a stuck valve also..... check the fuel lines too...that old, sitting gasoline is awful when it sits, and tends to clog up into a molasses goop whatever it comes in contact with, especially in dormant fuel lines...yucky stuff big-time.

 

Sounds like a stuck valve. I had one stuck open on mine and it would do the exact thing you are describing.

Also, you can just pull the plugs and watch the valves open and close from there. Much less work than pulling the side cover if you just need to verify that they open and close.

Sent from my SM-G900T using H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Do you think it would be OK to dump some marvels mystery oil in each cylinder?

 

I removed the fuel tank and had it cleaned and sealed.
Also did all new fuel lines, new shut off valve new fuel bowl and a rebuild on the Tillotson Model X carb.

 

I still need to check the timing.
I'm definitely still learning everyday with this car!

 

This is the car.

 

The Mystery oil won't hurt but it won't help either. 99% sure that you have stuck valves. It sounds worse than it is. When my friend returned from Nam, his "A" had a stuck valve or two. We oiled the stems through the side cover and tapped the valves with a dowel through the plug holes. They freed up after a few times. He drove the car, as his everyday driver, for 10 years after that

 

I plan to drive the car probably about every other day or so! I wanted to be a very good solid running car.
I guess I'll order a valve cover gasket and pop that open and check it out if the timing does not help.

 

My wife and I are expecting our first child the first week of July and I was wanting to possibly bring him or her home from the hospital in the car! I think that would be the coolest thing ever!

 

Bigsmoothy...I'd advise you to slip a flexible length of hose somewhere on that rigid fuel line. Engine movement will eventually work harden and crack the hard line, and it's just in the right place for a fire. (one that would take the tank with it, right in your lap!)

There was a Southern California couple last year (senior citizens) out for a ride in their restored 'A'. A jerk ran a stop sign, they swerved, jumped the curb, and center punched a tree. (not going fast, either...witnesses said maybe 25 MPH.)
An instant later, the car went up in a flash fire, they were trapped inside. D.O.A.

I had a channeled '30 Coupe with a flathead, cowl tank. Before I could change it, I had a Stromberg eruption...Luckily, I had a small fire extinguisher. Three carb fire 4" in front of the tank!
Fixed it and chanced driving it home. (17 year old genius)

 

Wow I never actually thought of that! I kind of remember hearing about that older couple also.
I will absolutely do that!

 

Other than a rare "perfect storm" of mishaps those fuel lines have millions of safe Model A miles on them. I would run a copper line at best, but no rubber for me. Too close to all the manifold heat which I think would speed up or aggravate the ethanol/rubber line condition. Imagine some NTHSA rep looking at a Model A. It would be wrapped in giant pillows, have 5pt racing harnesses, no side windows, full comp roll cage, collapsable steering column, all to go 40 MPH. Safe and clean? Prius. Safe and inimitable vintage car experience (also over millions of miles)? Model A.

 

Finally got the car running today!!! Ghhaaaa!
I checked the timing first thing this morning and it was 180 degrees off. Really...
Fired right up after around 40 years of rest.
Just gave it a little choke and full retard on just the first start.
Ran much better a few minutes later.

 

Also blew out a large mouse nest out of the exhaust! Ha ha

 

Excellent!