Hi all. Working on a 1955 Special with a 264 and a 2 barrel Carter WCD carburetor. The last time this car was started and driven was in 2002, but that was simply to drive it up on a trailer and to back it off a trailer. Before that, it was probably another 10 years since it was actually driven. The car belonged to my grandfather and he got into poor health at the end of his life and didn't keep it up. Soooo, I did all the normal stuff recommended - lubricate pistons, turn motor over by hand, change oil, file the points. Because this car means so much to me and I want to be able to drive it reliably, I went ahead and replaced parts in the ignition system. In retrospect, I would probably try to start it with as few new parts as possible, but I kept troubleshooting. New points and condenser, new rotor, new distributor cap, new plug wires, new plugs, new ignition coil and condenser. Here's where we're at: the points are sparking and we're getting spark down at the plugs and compression is good on each cylinder (120 psi was lowest I found). Points and plugs are both gapped appropriately (.017 for points, .035 for plugs). I've put gas down the carb and also starting fluid, but it won't start. It sounds like we're getting combustion on a few of the cylinders but it's not regular. If I have spark and compression, seems like I'm not getting a clear delivery of fuel, right? Down the throat of the carb looks relatively clean, but took off both the top plate on the front and the cover for the filter and it looks dirty. As I am 'wet behind the ears', is there something else I'm not considering? Thanks in advance.
I have the correct order according to the shop manual (1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3) but the one thing that I struggled with was finding a stamped #1 on the distributor cap. Both the old one and the new one didn't have anything obviously labeled #1. I looked as hard as I could at the images in the original 1955 shop manual (more defined pictures than the reprint), and it looked to me like it was in the 10 o'clock position on the cap. The rotor turns clockwise, so assuming I have the #1 plug wire in the correct spot, the firing order is correct. Here's a pic:
Pull #1 plug and put you finger on #1 plug hole. Crank the engine by hand (or by a helper just bumping the starter) until you feel compression pressure on your finger. Then finish turning the engine to TDC and verify where the rotor points to on the cap. Move the wires if necessary. If you only filed the points, that could be an issue for good spark. Are you getting a nice blue snappy spark or some weak reddish orange "click"?
Also for a car that has been sitting that long, hopefully it had something over the carb? Tiny animals like shrews might build a nest in the carb or intake of they can gain access. Labels for #1 cannot be trusted. You need to figure out where #1 is yourself.
Yes, it had the air cleaner on until I started messing with it, so hopefully no nests of anything. I originally filed the points and was getting pretty good spark. I ended up replacing them too because I had an issue with the first replacement ignition coil. I'll get some time to work with it this week and update you all. I'm probably going to buy a carb rebuild kit anyway because it needs to happen at some point. I'll continue to work on firing order, ignition timing, and carb and update you all later this week.
Alright, so she lives! As it turns out, I was one tooth off on the distributor. Had to move everything counterclockwise one spot. I said I'm a newbie, right? Once we got the cap correctly configured, she fired right up on some carb cleaner. Now, it's been sitting essentially for 30 years, so the fuel delivery needs some TLC. While the shop manual says the carb should be a Carter WCD 2 Barrel, I have a Carter WGD 2 barrel. I only figured that out when I took the carb apart and had already ordered the wrong kit. Whoops. New kit for the WGD on the way, rebuild kit for the mechanical fuel and vacuum pump on the way too. While I'm waiting for those, I'll go ahead and address the brakes. With any luck, I'll be able to take my first drive in the next month or two (I have two little kids and we have another on the way, so time is limited). Thanks for the help everybody!
Dang I like happy endings, and or happy beginnings. I wish you luck in the rest of your endeavors. Take those Younghans for a ride in old Miss Daisy when you get it going. Awesome!
