Topic: Trying to start rebuilt 1981 22r

[AZMT]

The engine will barely turnover with the plugs in.  After a couple of seconds of trying to turn it over, 3 wires on drive side going to ALT get hot enuf to smoke.  The engine does turnover if I remove the plugs and there is spark.

Engine - Rebuilt going .020 over with DOA EFI camshaft and dual springs.  Engine sat for about a year following rebuild.

Starter a new rebuilt from Checker.  It was checked today.
Optima battery.  It was checked today.
Alternator.  It was checked today.

I am starting to think the starter may be marginal even though it passes Checker test.

Any ideas?

[jimbo74]

i trust checker starters as far as i can throw them.... and they are heavy, so maybe about 10 feet

[Blingn]

when Marlin and I did a trail fix on a yota it was doing something similar to that.  It turned out that the bat cable was not tight and not clean.  After Marlin found the problem and tightened the cables it would not get hot anymore, and it would start. 

[jimbo74]

watch those wires on the alternator...... also, are you sure the alternator is hooked up right? i retrofitted a 60 amp internal regulated alternator to my truck, i had to do some custom wiring for it to work right... truck was originally equipped with a 40 amp externally regulated alternator....

smoke is bad, make sure the big connector hasnt fused together, mine did

[79coyotefrg]

dude,  check and make sure you have a ground cable running from the block to the frame and to the body,  also must have a  ground strap/cable from back of head to the  firewall

mine did the exact same as yours,  hooked up the ground cables  across the block/frame/body at the pass side motor mount  and it fired right up

[AZMT [OP]]

Thanks for all the help.  I replaced both cables and still had the issue.  Just before quitting for the afternoon (112 in shade in PHX), I noticed the strap from the head to the firewall not connected.

After the sun goes down, I will connect it and give it a go.

Thanks again.

[KDXSR5]

let us know, I am interested

[jimbo74]

me too..... bad grounds is usually the cause of most electrical problems

[AZMT [OP]]

The ground at the back of the head was off.  Once connected, the problem of slow or no cranking problem was solved.  On the next attempt, no start but did crank like a mad man.  Hum?  All plug wires were off for prior diags.  Of course wife is video taping event and kids are watching.

Plugs wire attached and another attempt.  Nothing.  A shot of accel pump and small back-fire.  Hum?  I did connect all plug wires properly?  Yes, sort of.  #1 wire going to 1st plug, #2 wire going to 2nd plug, .....  So, where do they attach to the distributor.  1to1, 3to2, you get the idea.  And just think, absolutely no beer involved. 

Another attempt and eye-gore is smiling.  It's alive.     Running rich and stinking up the house.   Note to self, next house must have blimp-size detached workshop.

Still have one vacuum line to hook up.  It's just too hot to poke around trouble shooting.

 


   

[KDXSR5]

Cool cool. Glad you got it figured out.