16 replies to this topic

[danny19boy86]

Just put a 1380 lump in. Got it wire up and plumbed in. Trying to get it started. It won't. The carb keeps backfiring. I'm new to fitting engines by the way. Its got fuel going to carb and there is spark

Edited by danny19boy86, 06 July 2015 - 12:27 PM.

[dklawson]

There are two main possibilities for carb backfires.  The first is timing.  Did you set the static timing when you put the engine in and if so what timing figure did you use?  The second source for carb backfires is an extremely lean mixture.  Was the carb set up before you put it on the 1380 or was it taken apart and overhauled so the carb settings may be "off"?  

 

Beyond those two main sources of the backfire you could have loose manifolds allowing air to leak in and lean the mixture.  When fitting the distributor you may have put the plug wires on in the wrong orientation.  

[danny19boy86]

Sorry for if any thing a say sounds stupid but I ain't all clued up on fitting engines. Realizing its a lot harder that I thought. The engine was running in another car before I had it. So I might be wrong but I thought the timing is already set up? The carb was a reconditioned hif44 haven't touched it apart from putting it on.

[sonikk4]

You say it was running in another car, was it running with the carb fitted or is it one you have fitted??

[danny19boy86]

It was running in another car but with a Webber carb

[sonikk4]

Sounds like a carb issue then. That will need setting up and of course the correct needle to suit.

[dklawson]

And... did you remove the distributor, install the engine, then reinstall the distributor or did you leave the distributor installed while installing the engine.

[Mini Manannán]

It was running in another car but with a Webber carb

Is this the same Weber carb it was running on before or another Weber carb?

[sonikk4]

It was running in another car but with a Webber carb

Is this the same Weber carb it was running on before or another Weber carb?

It's a Hif 44

[danny19boy86]

And... did you remove the distributor, install the engine, then reinstall the distributor or did you leave the distributor installed while installing the engine.

there was no distributor withe the engine. So I used mine of my 998. I guess I shouldn't have

[dklawson]

The engine should be able to start and run with any Lucas distributor that fits.  However, the advance curve may not be right for driving the car.  It doesn't sound like you have the engine running enough to have driven it at all yet to know.

 

If all you did was install the distributor and you did not set the static timing, the engine is not likely to start.  Are you familiar with carrying out static timing?  Does this distributor have electronic ignition or points?

[danny19boy86]

Points and I don't know nothing about the timing but I willing to have a go

[Stiggytoo]

Are your plug leads on in the correct order?

[Mini Manannán]

 

 

It was running in another car but with a Webber carb

Is this the same Weber carb it was running on before or another Weber carb?

It's a Hif 44

 

 

 

My bad, didn't see that vital nugget.

 

Danny, how did you set up the distributor?  Or did someone set it up for you?

[danny19boy86]

 

 

It was running in another car but with a Webber carb

Is this the same Weber carb it was running on before or another Weber carb?

It's a Hif 44
 

 
 
My bad, didn't see that vital nugget.
 
Danny, how did you set up the distributor?  Or did someone set it up for you?

1243 clockwise on distributor and 4321 on head