Im having trouble getting my364nailhead to fire up. It seems to have a spark at the plugs, and petrol in the carb, but it just doesnt want to fire. There seems to be very little spark at the points. I recently took the distributor out and installed new points and condenser, replaced the L.T wire from the minus on the coil, and also installed a new rotor. I got T.D.C lined up to 0 (have also tried lining up to 5) on the timing marks, made sure the number one piston was at the top of its stroke, and lined the rotor up with the number1 plug. I think i have done everything regarding this correctly, but nothing. Not firing at all. Took the number one plug out and earthed it on the engine block, there was a good regular spark. And the jets in the carb are squirting fuel. Im ready to pull my hair out. HELP!
It usually is something basic. Make sure you are not 180 degrees off on that #1 TDC. I believe in having the plug wires not only in proper order but also the right positions in the dist cap as shown in a shop manual. Shoebox
Thanks guys, im sure i will get to the bottom of it eventually, i just had a look at the workshop manual, and the position of the distributor in the picture is a good 45 degree from the way mine is positioned, so maybe it could be that. You'd think it would fire though, but just not run. But I'm not even getting a pop.
My distributor is positioned so it will fit without the vac advance can hitting the firewall. No idea what it should look like. Fortunately, it doesn't know either. Nailheads should have 10* initial advance. I'd try that and see if it helps. Pete. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Stick a finger in the #1 plug hole and bump the starter till it blows your finger out. THen you know that #1 is coming up on the power stroke and not the exhaust stroke. Then line up the pointer at 10 deg. You can still get some air coming out on the exhaust stroke but not much pressure. Being 180 out doesn't necessarily mean its going to backfire.
Can't backfire if there isn't anything there to explode! I had a naty bout of timing issues with a 56 Roadmaster, turned out the vacuum advance diaphragm was bad and wouldn't advance' you don't seem to be quite that far yet.
Hah, yeah. I'm well familiar with the firing order and where number one is. I know it can be a bit confusing. I had it running fine straight after a complete rebuild, didn't spend half as much time setting the timing up so meticulously when i dropped the distributor in the first time around, and it ran and drove. Just had a little flat spot. The points were well and truly knackered, so i decided to pull the distributor out and and give it a minor overhaul. Just a clean up and change the points and condenser, now the thing wont even fire, nothing, zero. Its like turning the engine over without the coil connected.
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