33 Won’t Start

John Gibson

John Gibson

Senior Member
33 Won’t Start

I recently acquired a nice 33 Cabriolet and it was running fine until it just started cutting out, low/no power but I was close to home and made it back. It is all stock except I’m running a Stromberg 97 on a two Venturi to one Venturi adapter. Charlie NY just went through the carburetor. Once I got it back in the garage I was able to start it but it would not rev up at, just would run at a fast idle and then die out. Yesterday I tried it and it started up for a few seconds and quit. Rebuilt the original 33 fuel pump, no help. Changed the fuel pump, still won’t start. Pour gas down the carburetor which always work but still won’t start. I’m getting good fire to the plugs when I short them out, battery’s fully charged. Engine turns over just fine. All I can think might work is to change the condenser and ballast resister. Ammeter wiggles when engine is turning over when ignition switch is on, doesn’t move cranking engine with switch off. Anyone have any other suggestions? I’m stumped!
Thanks, John
 

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Re: 33 Won’t Start

Just jump the ignition resistor firs to see if there is any change. I had a bad one that worked intermittently. Drove me nuts trying to find the problem.
 
Re: 33 Won’t Start

I have developed the habit of always looking at the ammeter when I crank over the engine on my cars that are 6v and have ammeters. If the needle wiggles, the points are "making and breaking" if the needle doesn't move the most likely reason is oxidation on the points. Very common problem that will prevent the coil from working and no fire.
 
Re: 33 Won’t Start

John Gibson said:
I recently acquired a nice 33 Cabriolet and it was running fine until it just started cutting out, low/no power but I was close to home and made it back. It is all stock except I’m running a Stromberg 97 on a two Venturi to one Venturi adapter. Charlie NY just went through the carburetor. Once I got it back in the garage I was able to start it but it would not rev up at, just would run at a fast idle and then die out. Yesterday I tried it and it started up for a few seconds and quit. Rebuilt the original 33 fuel pump, no help. Changed the fuel pump, still won’t start. Pour gas down the carburetor which always work but still won’t start. I’m getting good fire to the plugs when I short them out, battery’s fully charged. Engine turns over just fine. All I can think might work is to change the condenser and ballast resister. Anyone have any other suggestions? I’m stumped!
Thanks, John
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499281
 
Re: 33 Won’t Start

I had the ignition coil bushing that rides on the rotor wear down on my 33 and it quit running.
 
Re: 33 Won’t Start

I pulled the carburetor off today and it was bone dry in the float chamber. Pulled the NOS fuel pump off, removed the cover plate and it was bone dry also. Took the cover plate off the one I rebuilt using Renners Corner parts and it was about half full of gas. I’m going to send both pumps off to CharlieNY tomorrow. Guess I may have figured out the problem. Thanks all!
John
 
Re: 33 Won’t Start

John nice car! We plan to visit again next year And I hope to see it!
Be sure your line is clean and the flex line is good if that flex line has any crack or air leak it will prevent the pump from doing its job.
I use a later v8 diaphragm on 32/33 pumps by cutting it off the stem and use Viton check valves instead of the original phenolic.
 
Re: 33 Won’t Start

You mentioned in your first post that the engine would not start even if you poured gas down the carburetor so you may not be out of the woods yet. Maybe some ignition problems there as well. Also, as mentioned in the above posts, how clean is your fuel line or tank, leaking flex line, sucking air?
 
Re: 33 Won’t Start

T Scott said:
You mentioned in your first post that the engine would not start even if you poured gas down the carburetor so you may not be out of the woods yet. Maybe some ignition problems there as well. Also, as mentioned in the above posts, how clean is your fuel line or tank, leaking flex line, sucking air?
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When I am faced with that, I like to disconnect the ignition and run a hot wire. If something is grounding out it wont run.
 
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