7 replies to this topic

[alsy]

Hi, Im completely baffled.. I've recently changed the head, spark plugs, spark leads, had the carb fully rebuilt and fitted an electronic ignition and now I can't get the car to turn on... I am 100% getting a spark, and petrol is 100% getting to the plugs.. So my question is can the timing be soo far out that it won't even fire at all, and by that I mean not even a pop or bang from exhaust.

It did bang back through the carb a couple of times, but that's as far as it went.

If not, what else should I look at?

Thanks in advance.

[lrostoke]

1st place start is check ht leads are on correct, amazing how many get it wrong

spark plugs 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

dizzy 3 - 1

........ 4 - 2

Edited by lrostoke, 10 March 2013 - 04:29 PM.

[alsy]

More then certain they are right, took them off 1 by 1 and it started before in this order.

Thanks for the reply.

[lrostoke]

did you redo the tappets when you fitted the head

[alsy]

ah thinking about it I don't think I did, would this cause it to not even want to fire though? I fell like it would still try, ill give that a go though anyway thanks for reminding me, any other possibilities?

[lrostoke]

tappets definite have to be reset...I'd start there.

Also timing..need doing

Adjust the tappets, fully charge battery.

[Stevie W]

If the head you have just put on has been skimmed but your old one hadn't, the "height" of the new head will be very slightly less.
Once you've torqued the head down, and the rocker pedestal bolts, the rockers will be inclined not to completely close the valves because of this slight difference in height (no valve clearance).

I would therefore go and reset the valve clearances and try starting it again!

Another possibility is that the electronic ignition installation has altered the static ignition timing enough to prevent it from starting.
These kits do vary a bit with regards to where the timing is compared to where it was with the points fitted.

Hope this helps

Steve.

[alsy]

Thanks for the replys, I knew that the timing would be out but never thought it could be so far out that the car wouldn't even try to start as its not even firing, il do the tappets, see what happens after that.

Am I right in saying that the car has to be running to time it, there's no way of doing it without the car on?