Hot Rods 351 Windsor will not start after sitting

Looking for any advice. I have a 351 Windsor with AFR heads, MSD Distributor, MSD Street fire and Holly XP carb. It has sat for 3 1/2 years why I completed the rest of the street rod. It is time to start and won't. It ran and was dyno tested when built. Tries to turn over but won't. Any help would be appreciated. PapaT

 

You mean like its seized? Or its turning over but wont start?

 

As asked, does the starter turn it over? If it does, fuel, air, spark, and compression.

 

Need clarification of what it is exactly doing!
Does the engine spin at proper speed and won’t fire? Or is the engine stuck?




Bones

 

This stuff all sounds su****ious, for a start.

(welcome to the HAMB)

 

Hi, my engine won't start. Why?

That's not a lot to go on. You really need to describe in detail what's happening when you hit the starter.

***uming it has fuel to the carb, a charged battery etc.

 

It's his first post. Trying to hog attention from the 283's.

 

Certainly hope your not trying to start it with 3 1/2 year old gas! Even if everything else is working as it should, that’s going to f things up. Do you have spark?

 

Saddle tanks are 1/2 gull of fuel. Puralator electric fuel pump pumps to carburetor. Pressure is about 5lbs with key on. Spark is present with key on thru the ms box. Turns over but will not start and stay running. Exhaust pipes get hot. Will not start or idle. Let me know what else I can provide. Tested shock to plugs and shows spark.

engine turns over. Gas to carb. Spark to plugs

 

New gas not old except what gas might have been in Carb.

 

Thanks. Not sure what info is needed.

 

First post. Not sure the amount of detail needed. I and my neighbor are stumped. It was freshly built, dyno tested by shop that built it, I installed in model a frame. Sat until now, approximately 3 1/2 years. Same break in oil and gas has evaporated. New gas in carburetor and tanks.

 

Just ran 10 gal of 20 year old , 50:1 mix boat gas through my 01 Dodge 360 , stunk but ran fine !

 

If it has compression, spark, and fuel, it should start.

The carb might have "stuff" in it from sitting with some fuel in it. Most modern fuel contains alcohol, which absorbs moisture over time. If you didn't drain the carb before letting it sit, it might be worth opening it up and cleaning it out, this may require new gaskets, depending on what type it has.

Also it's possible it's not getting fire from the plugs, even with juice going to them. Once you're sure everything else is working as it should be, you might try a fresh (brand new) set of spark plugs. Wouldn't hurt to check compression while they're out, too, just to be sure.

 

If the exhaust gets hot it must be running at least for a short time. The Holley XP series has the transparent sights for your float level. Can you see fuel in the bowls? I would verify gas is going where it should, down the intake manifold.

 

Pull a plug ,is it ( gas) wet ? That would mean no fire , or more specifically , no fire at the proper time .

 

I’m not sure I understand how it won’t start or run, and the exhaust pipes get hot. Unless the timing is so far off its firing the mixture in the exhaust pipes?

 

Timing retarded ? Have you tried increasing timing ? Vacuum leak ? Firing order off ?

 

Think back. The engine came off the dyno. You brought it home and put it in the ch***is. Did ANYTHING get changed? Dist pulled, any parts changed, same ignition box, coil, wires, carb, fuel pump, did any vacuum lines get added or deleted?
A fresh engine should not go 'bad' unless stored so stuff gets in, the springs are very high pressure (and compressed for long time) or something has changed.
Check the 283 threads for basic checks!

 

If the exhaust pipes are getting hot but engine not running, plug leads shorting out through them? I'm confused.

 

Something strange in the neighborhood. Sitting for over 3 years in the same position? Could be stuck valves or a mul***ude of other things. Was the carb on the whole time? I have seen mice nests in the intake. Start with a compression test, firing order, fuel delivery, and timing.