Hey everybody,
I am having trouble with my 68 SS 396. I rebuilt the engine last summer and it started fine after the rebuild. I have about 150 miles on the rebuild now and she won't start without help. If I shoot some starter fluid down the carb she starts right up and runs fine (except for an overheating problem). Otherwise, I can't get her to start. I prime the carb a couple of times to get the gas going, but still nothing.
She has been sitting for a while and I was thinking it might be the gas, but she runs fine after the starter fluid gives her a push. Any suggestions on what it could be? I had the original rochester 4bbl carb overhauled about 2 or 3 years ago. Just recently I was having some ingnition problems with the MSD 8360 and blaster 2 coil and had some blowback through the carb. Could that have blown some seals in the carb? Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks,

Did you take the air cleaner off and operate the throttle linkage while looking down in the primarys to see if the accelerator pump is actually squirting fuel? It could be something as simple as a bad pump diaphragm or stuck check ball.

Another possibility is the fuel filter. If it is clogged, your fuel pump may not be able to overcome the restriction while attempting to starting the car, but can keep up after it's running. If you're going to start eliminating potential problems, might as well start with a cheap one...

Sounds like over-advanced timing - how do you have it set? graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I pulled the fuel filter out to replace it today. We'll see if that works. I have the timing at 16degrees advanced (if I'm reading the timing light correctly). I hook up the light and then move the dwell until the mark hits 0 TDC. The dwell reads 16 degrees. Is that how it works? I'll check the timing again today to make sure it's still at 16. Thanks,

No, dwell is set 28*-32*, closer to 32*. Then set basic timing by loosening the distruibutor clamp and turning the dist body. I believe 16* BTDC is a bit much.

I'd back it off to say 8*-12*, and the engine probably would not "kick back" against the starter.

Set dwell first, initial timing, followed by carb idle mixture and curb idle adjustment. Recheck initial timing again.

Okay, just to get this right (sorry I'm a little ignorant in the ignition department), I'm going to set the dwell, which is the knob at the back of the timing light, to approximately 32*. And then adjust the initial timing by rotating the distributor body. I'm also confused when you say BTDC. My timing marker reads A O R which is Advanced, TDC, and Retarded right? Isn't advanced also referred to as ATDC and retarded referred to as BTCD? Thanks,

Dan - you need to find some old fart like me that lives close to you. You have most of the stuff bass~ackwards. You set dwell with an allen wrench in the little window on the distributor cap, not with the timing light. BTDC is 'before top dead center' which is advanced. ATDC is 'after top dead center' and that means retarded. Bet there is someone close that would point you in the right direction just for a ride in your car. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

My bad, not knowing what a MSD 8360 is, until I looked it up, I was assuming you still had points distributor.

But, you don't, you have a ready to run MSD dist, magnetic. So, NO DWELL setting here...........

What you are describing of using is an advance timing light in setting either, initial timing, dial at zero degrees, or can be used to measure total timing. One hooks up the light, start the engine, aim the light at the pointer and marks, one can "dial-in" the amount of advance needed to indicate zero degrees, and make adjustments accordingly.

If one rotates the dist body in a CCW direction, one is advcancing the timing, ie, Before Top Dead Center. Watch the marks against the pointer, and observe the relationship.

Dwell = the amount of camshaft degrees the point set is closed allowing current to flow through the primary side of the ignition coil.

So, any old farts that live in the Murrieta, CA area that would want to give me a hand smile.gif ?

You might want to look at the ignition switch located on top of the steering colmun. Is the coil firing when the starter is engaged or is the car try to fire as soon as you release the key.

Also you said it backfired thru carb?? If its a holley and you now have black smoke (rich condition) power valve is blown.

Dan I live in Murrieta and can show ya how to adjust timing, shoot me an email.

Bill

I think your gas is ok,I just fired mine up with 10 year old gas in it.It ran a little ragged but it did fire up.

Ya it sounds like a timing issue, won't start without over priming, gets hot. Maybe the dist came loose or was never tight. Contact me and I will take a look.