Engine Trouble

[spiderbran]

I posted this on another classic mustang group, so I apologize if some of you hit up more than one and see this again. I just really want to find a solution!

I recently got a '65 Mustang with either a 289 with 302 headers or with an actual 302 (not entirely sure yet). It has an Edelbrock 4 barrel carb with blockage keeping it from running 100%. It will run fine at high speeds but very poorly at low speeds.

I purchased some Seafoam and put it in my gas tank per the instructions. Filled up with Premium gas. Drove her home. Tried to crank her, but the battery was dead. I got it tested to be sure, and then I put a new battery on. Now the car will not start at all. It almost starts every time and all the lights work, so it's not the battery. It doesn't sound like it's struggling to turn over, but it just won't crank up. Could the Seafoam have done this at all?

I tried putting a little Seafoam into the carb after she wouldn't start, but she's still not cranking up.


Any suggestions?

 

[woodsnake]

You need to adjust your choke.....

 

[D.Hearne]

Based on what you've posted, no one can tell you what the exact reason it won't start is. Check for spark at the plugs. Check to see if there's fuel at the carb. It's either one or both.

 

[spiderbran]

You need to adjust your choke.....

The Edelbrock has an electric choke, but I'll play with it to see if that's the issue.

 

[spiderbran]

Based on what you've posted, no one can tell you what the exact reason it won't start is. Check for spark at the plugs. Check to see if there's fuel at the carb. It's either one or both.

Yeah, I knew no one could exactly pin point it. That's why I asked for suggestions.

The plugs are brand new, but I'll double check them. My theory is some carbon gunk has broken loose and stopped up the carb worse than it was before. I'm going to disassemble it and dip it in carb cleaner. Then jet stream it with Deep Creep. I'm hoping this is the problem.

If there's any other suggestions, please let me know! Thanks for your help.

 

[Rusty67]

You should have tried gas into the carb, not the seafoam.

Keep this in mind, an engine needs 3 things in order to run: fuel, air and spark (4 if you count compression). What that means is that you either have an ignition problem or a fuel delivery problem. I doubt you are having an issue with air.

Try pouring some gas into the carb directly if you think that is the problem. Do you have a clear fuel filer that you can look into and see if fuel is actually moving ? Your fuel pump might have a problem at low speeds (mine does).

 

[spiderbran]

You should have tried gas into the carb, not the seafoam.

Keep this in mind, an engine needs 3 things in order to run: fuel, air and spark (4 if you count compression). What that means is that you either have an ignition problem or a fuel delivery problem. I doubt you are having an issue with air.

Try pouring some gas into the carb directly if you think that is the problem. Do you have a clear fuel filer that you can look into and see if fuel is actually moving ? Your fuel pump might have a problem at low speeds (mine does).

I'll try putting gas in the carb this afternoon and let you know what happens.

No, unfortunately the fuel filter isn't clear.

 

[hotcobra03]

Sea foam could have loosened some crap and your not getting.try pulling fuel line at filter crank and see if thiers fuel.ck for spark at coil and plugs.what about points and condenser are you still old school yes?

 

[spiderbran]

Sea foam could have loosened some crap and your not getting.try pulling fuel line at filter crank and see if thiers fuel.ck for spark at coil and plugs.what about points and condenser are you still old school yes?

What's the best way to check for a spark without screwing anything up or shocking myself?

still old school.

 

[68dustin]

What's the best way to check for a spark without screwing anything up or shocking myself?

still old school.

get one of ur friends drunk and say hold onto this.....lol...

first check to see if ur getting gas to your carburator...unplug hose from carb and put hose into coffee can and turn motor over

then check to see if your getting gas to carb (pull linkage to fully open and look down the carburator to see if you can see gas comming out of the acc. squirters.

make sure ur choke is open.

make sure power is going to ur coil..( use tester light on postive side of coil with igntion on postion)

then check ur coil with pulling off coil wire and put tester light in and turn motor over. if it flashes then its good.

pull out #1 spark plug wire and repeat last step. (keep away from all fuel)

now are you getting the motor to fire at all???

 

[spiderbran]

get one of ur friends drunk and say hold onto this.....lol...

first check to see if ur getting gas to your carburator...unplug hose from carb and put hose into coffee can and turn motor over

then check to see if your getting gas to carb (pull linkage to fully open and look down the carburator to see if you can see gas comming out of the acc. squirters.

make sure ur choke is open.

make sure power is going to ur coil..( use tester light on postive side of coil with igntion on postion)

then check ur coil with pulling off coil wire and put tester light in and turn motor over. if it flashes then its good.

pull out #1 spark plug wire and repeat last step. (keep away from all fuel)

now are you getting the motor to fire at all???

hahaha. the first option seems the easiest.

The engine isn't firing at all. It just turns and turns but never fires up. I've patted the gas to send some up to the carbs but not enough to flood it, and the results were the same. I'll try your advice as soon as I get home.

Thanks!!!!

 

[spiderbran]

fixed!

I figured it out. The owner before me had incorrectly labeled the battery cables. He put a piece of tape with the charges on each one, but he someone got them backwards, and I didn't pay any attention when I unhooked the battery and then hooked up the new one. But today when I was working on it, I checked the battery cables and noticed the positive was grounded on the engine. Wow. I switched the cables, and she fired right up.

Still running rough from the carb being partially stopped up, so I'm going to strip it down and soak it in carb cleaner. (removing the rubber and plastic, of course).

the freaking hood hinge broke today. I guess from opening and closing the hood so much lately.

Thanks for everyone's help. I'll have more questions in the future, especially about electrics.

 

[68dustin]

how did it run before???? at least you figured it out... its always something stupid you miss....

 

[spiderbran]

how did it run before???? at least you figured it out... its always something stupid you miss....

When I first picked it up a week ago, it ran fine for a forty minute drive to get it home. Then it cut off with me at a red light. I had to hold the brake and constantly give it gas to get it to stay running. I took it to a trustworthy shop where they fixed 18 vacuum hose leaks, put new plugs on it, changed the oil, and adjusted the carb. They told me there was something stopped up inside the carb that they couldn't get out and recommended I find a Holley carb somewhere to put on it (the guy is bias against Edelbrock). In the mean time, he adjusted the carb so it'll stay running while at idle, but it's a very high idle.

Before I get a new carb I'm going to try to get that blockage out by dissassembling the Edelbrock and soaking it in carb dip.

Then there's a matter of fixing the inside door handle, the speedometer, the lights for the instrument guages, the cd player (that worked until I put a new battery on, so I'm hoping it just needs to be reset), and the wipers. Then bondo the minimal rust damage, sand off the ribbets from the fake hood scope, and paint her up!

 

[Gailahan]

I wouldn't recommend bondoing rust damage...

 

[spiderbran]

I wouldn't recommend bondoing rust damage...

What would you reccomend? I know the standard procedure is to cut it out and weld new metal in or to replace the whole area with a new part. In this case, it's minor bubbling in the rear quarter and lower door. It's not rusted all the way through, that's why I figured I could sand it down really well and patch it up the low-cost way.

Any other relatively cheap suggestions? I'm not trying to recreate a $25,000 or higher show car. Just a nice Mustang I can enjoy.