42 V8 Won't Start - Help

D

d m moore

Junior Member
After running well my 42 Mercury-engined Canadian military truck wont start. Laying the plugs out on the block get good fat sparks.Gas is definitely getting thru to new Stromberg from Mad Max. Fuel pump working fine.Timing hasnt been changed. Distributor was originally set up by George haney. Battery fully charged and all grounding checked. Sometimes get a couple of cylinders firing but no more - often not even that. Even tried a 12v boost but no luck. Any ideas? Stuck valves?
 
Try running some oil through it. Yu may have washed down the cylinder walls. At the same time do a compression check.
Butch
 
back to the induction timing lite, hook it up to a spark plug wire with the plugs installed, if the light flashes that plug is firing, do that on all plugs, could be weak coil or bad condensor not firing when the engine is under compression, do the same with the coil wire
 
A proper compression test requires that the engine be at operating temperature, but at least you'll be able to determine if you have stuck valves or not while cold. Pull all plugs and run the check. If valves are stuck as suspected, squirt MMO in all cylinders, crank a few revs with rags over the plug holes. 24 hours later, install the plugs and attempt to start it up. If you get it running, slowly dribble MMO in the carb, in hopes it will smooth out. If not, repeat the process. 4 oz of MMO per tankful will help prevent future stuck valves.
 
I had a lot of trouble starting my '47 last year and I'm sure that the barn was screaming tired of heariing the repeated accounts of my plight. With many overpriced remedys, like the Echlin condenser and wires, a different set of points with a two ruler timeing job, a new circuit breaker board with ignition resistor, and another used carburator ended my problem without a specific resolution. Now I can swap out any one of the problems without any problem being isolated as the real cause. Still not sure. Good Luck: Fred A
 
Just a thought- I bought a 32 Ford home from Hershey and it ran great the first time out. Next day wouldn't start. Ended up being a loose wire at the ignition on/off switch.
 
mine was bad needle valve (stuck) in carb, ran fine one day and the next would not start. yes all spark and fuel pump working but pulled top of carb and almost no gas in bowl when I checked.
 
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