I concur with previous posters that getting the distributor 180 degrees out of phase is not hard to do.
BUT if you were achieving combustion, I would think you would experience backfire through the carburetor if that were the case because the cylinders would neither be firing in the proper sequence nor have the proper combination of open and closed valves. It does not sound to me like combustion is happening. Is manifold vacuum sufficient to pull atomized air/fuel through the throttle plates? What comes out of the tailpipe when you crank it over? If there's no soot in the exhaust, nothing is burning.
413s are not that different than 440s. Improper spark plugs may affect performance, and I think the gap is different from '65 to '72, but should not result in no start. To be sure, I'd spend a few bucks for the specified plugs and set the gap to spec. You say spark plugs are firing -- did you observe spark at the electrode or from the wire to the plug with the plug installed?
I recommend hand cranking per Robin's suggestion to get oil pressure up before trying to turn the engine over with the key. Lubrication of cylinder walls is a good idea to prevent premature wear on first startup, plus it helps give the proper seal to achieve compression.
There are a few other things in the Mopar books about first starting up, but I don't have them with me right now.
01/18/2005 08:26 PM Please respond to mailing-list
1. Remove #1 spark plug, and install a compression test gauge. 2. Crank the engine until you just begin to see pressure building up. 3. Remove the distributor cap and see what plug wire the rotor is pointed at. If it is pointed at #1, your distributor is in correctly. If it is pointed at #6, your distributor is 180 degrees out of time.
These are 4 stroke engines. This means the crank goes around twice for each time the cam rotates - thus you have a 50/50 chance of getting the distributor in backwards, unless you checked for this when assembling the engine.
-----Original Message----- From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of commenace@xxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 11:31 AM To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: IML: Please help me start my 440!
I just dropped a freshly rebuilt 440 and trans, as well as a newly rebuilt gear box, et al, in my 1965 Imperial Le Baron. (I know 413 is proper, but I wanted a little more, so please no comments on my choice of engine.)
On Saturday, we buttoned everything up and tried sparking her up. Nothing. The engine cranks, rather slowly, but never starts. Went out and got a new battery, engine cranked a little faster, but still no start. Timing is spot on. No. 1 has compression when it's supposed to, sparkplugs are firing, fuel pump is giving us gas.
A few things concern me: first, the engine seems to crank slower than I remember, and second it feels as if the timing is off or the plugs aren't getting power, or if they are, it seems the spark is a little weak. I bought a new battery and starter, but as yet have not installed the new starter. The timing has been checked more times than I can remember! It is right, I'm sure of it! Is it possible that the spark is too weak? How can that be rectified?
The battery cables seemed a bit thin, about 6 or 8 gauge. I will be buying some fat cables this week and trying that on Saturday. What about ground strapping the block? Anyone try that? Does it make a difference?
My new engine was made in '72. I believe the heads the heads are from mid seventies. However, the plugs are the same type I was using on my '65 413. Is it possible that these plugs are too shallow, not getting close enough to the air/fuel mixture? Does that make any sense? Does anyone have any idea as to why it turns slighltly slower than before? Is the torque converter (also new and installed correctly) not allowing the engine to turn freely? Also, it should be noted that the compression ratio is only about a point higher, around 9.7.
Please help me, I've been without my baby for too long! Thanx. John.
__________________________________________________________________ Switch to Netscape Internet Service. As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register
New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups. Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp
__________________________________________________________________ Switch to Netscape Internet Service. As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register
New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups. Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp
----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm
----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm
----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm