All out of ideas

[airforce guy]

55 buick super still will not start!!! Need a old school specialist in OKC area. checked firing order from block to distibutor, checked distibutor for placement, plugs for gap (.30), spark plug wires with spark checker, car is getting fuel verified thru see thru fuel filter, car will not start with ether sprayed into carb.... Any IDEAS??? soon to be parted out 55.....:Do No:

[DinoBob]

Breathe, air force guy, breathe.

It takes fuel and spark to start a car. Make sure you are getting spark. For starters, make sure that your points are gapped properly and that your condenser is connected solidly. Second, be sure you put the distributor rotor back on (don't laugh, I have seen it).

Take out a plug. Hook it up and set it near the engine. Crank the engine and see if you have spark jumping.

[staged70]

Fuel , spark, compression, and TIMING are needed to run. Make sure you have them all.

[66electrafied]

Okay...

Did you have that distributor out? If so, what is the likelyhood that it could be 180 degrees out? If you are getting spark at the plugs, and you've got gas getting to the carb, if the timing is correct it should fire. If you've verified these points, then the next thing to try is placing the #1 exactly 180 degrees opposite of its current position on the cap.

Better yet, determine Top Dead Centre on the #1 cylinder; place your finger over the #1 hole, crank until air comes out of the hole, stop. Shine a flashlight down the hole and verify that the piston is at the top. Replace the plug, pull off the distributor cap. See where the rotor points to, that will be your #1 cylinder. Verify that the timing mark on the harmonic balance is also lined up with the one on the timing cover. If the distributor cap won't line up to exactly that point, loosen the distributor hold-down bolt and rotate the distributor to fit. Re do firing order from that point. Insure that the cap fits tightly; it only fits on the distributor one way, if you've got it on "backwards" you won't get good spark.

Have the points been changed? If so, is the gap correct? it should be .016 -.019. Check the condensor, if it has become disconnected or is hooked up improperly the car will not fire. If you had the distributor out then you've had this bolt loosened, and it should be checked to see if the condensor lead is properly hooked up. Sometimes the condensor itself can just quit, although it's not very likely.

If it has gas and spark, it has to be a timing issue, there can be nothing else wrong unless that engine has absolutely no compression left.

[staged70]

Okay...

Did you have that distributor out? If so, what is the likelyhood that it could be 180 degrees out? If you are getting spark at the plugs, and you've got gas getting to the carb, if the timing is correct it should fire. If you've verified these points, then the next thing to try is placing the #1 exactly 180 degrees opposite of its current position on the cap.

Better yet, determine Top Dead Centre on the #1 cylinder; place your finger over the #1 hole, crank until air comes out of the hole, stop. Shine a flashlight down the hole and verify that the piston is at the top. Replace the plug, pull off the distributor cap. See where the rotor points to, that will be your #1 cylinder. Verify that the timing mark on the harmonic balance is also lined up with the one on the timing cover. If the distributor cap won't line up to exactly that point, loosen the distributor hold-down bolt and rotate the distributor to fit. Re do firing order from that point. Insure that the cap fits tightly; it only fits on the distributor one way, if you've got it on "backwards" you won't get good spark.

Have the points been changed? If so, is the gap correct? it should be .016 -.019. Check the condensor, if it has become disconnected or is hooked up improperly the car will not fire. If you had the distributor out then you've had this bolt loosened, and it should be checked to see if the condensor lead is properly hooked up. Sometimes the condensor itself can just quit, although it's not very likely.

If it has gas and spark, it has to be a timing issue, there can be nothing else wrong unless that engine has absolutely no compression left.

While this is mostly correct also when you feel the air come out check the timing mark on the balancer and set to 0 Then make sure that the rotor is pointed at that wire on the cap. I have seen people mistake ther small er amount of compression on the exhaust stroke for the compression stroke this would make it 180 degrees out and the piston will be up.
I am sure if you find the right older mechanic it will fire.