about to fire - can you double check me please?

[BarryK]

ok, the newly rebuilt carb is on, can you guys please double check me before I turn the key - I'm a bit nervous since I've never done work on the motor like this before. I just want to make sure I didn't forget anything important.

1.carb is on and bolted down pretty snuggly.
2.all lines and linkages to carb attached
3. coolant is in and t-stat housing tightened down with new gasket and permatex
4. distributor is in and in what I THINK is the proper position (but I'll find out soon enough)
4. rebuilt starter is installed and wired up
5. battery reconnected
6. all bolts from my previous work are tightened down

** when I refilled the coolant I filled as much as I could from the t-stat opening until it was pretty much at the top than put more coolant in thru the expansion tank until the tank was 1/2 filled.
I expected it to take 4 gallons total (2 gal of coolant mixed w/ 2 gallons of distilled water) but it only took about 2 1/2 gallons total. Is that normal or will I need to add more in thru the tank once it starts (hopefully) and it starts circulating thru the system?

did I miss anything important before I turn this key?

 

[JL66REDCPE]

You do have the air cleaner on --- yes ??

 

[magoo]

Barry, that is plenty of water. Shouldn't require much more than a small top off when warm.

Mike

 

[BarryK]

You do have the air cleaner on --- yes ??

no, I was going to leave it off so I had better access for when setting mixture, idle and setting timing.
would you suggest putting it on at least to start off with than removing it for my adjustments?

 

[BarryK]

Barry, that is plenty of water. Shouldn't require much more than a small top off when warm.

Mike

cool, thanks Mike! I was just surprised that it took so much less than I had expected.

 

[Lucy64]

Be sure that the return spring is attached to the linkage. I left it off the last time I bolted on a new carb...that sure got my attention when it stuck at 3k rpm when I first fired it up.

 

[BarryK]

Be sure that the return spring is attached to the linkage. I left it off the last time I bolted on a new carb...that sure got my attention when it stuck at 3k rpm when I first fired it up.

yep, she's attached

 

[JonM]

Did you spin up the oil pressure before you put the distributor in?

 

[BarryK]

Did you spin up the oil pressure before you put the distributor in?

no, and I dropped the distributor in a few weeks ago before my card came back and i was getting the rest of the motor back together.
It's only been sitting for 2 months so I'm not too concerned about the lubrication because last year the car sat for 10 months in the paint shop without running and than she fired right up with no problems so I don't think 2 months should be a problem

 

[magoo]

With the carb being empty, it will probably crank long enough before starting to circulate some oil. Don't expect it to start right away, the carb will have to fill with fuel. I wouldn't crank it more than about 10 seconds at a time without giving that new starter a chance to cool down. After about the second 10 second crank pump the pedal a couple times and she'll fire up.
Let us know

Mike

 

[BarryK]

well, good news! she fires and runs. took a lot of cranking but she finally caught.
bad news is a bit of a leak on the gas line which i can't figure out why because I checked it and she is tight so I need to work on that.
Than I'll work on idle, dwell, timing, and carb adjustment

well, at least I know she runs again!!

 

[JonM]

​

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Well give yourself an "A" here..!! Excellent..! Now just review the timing and dwell settings. And use John Z's Tech paper from your site and your home free.

If would better if you had some one to help you while you check everything. As Jonn Z says....Saftery first...make sure your test lead lay out from the meters are clear of the fan and you are also... Keep that fire puter outer handy also ..and don't let that shoulder length hair of yours get to close to the carb in case of a Back Fire..... We wouldn't want you to do a Michale Jackson here..

Congrats again on a job well done..

 

[BarryK]

thanks Mark!

yep, i had Linda watching while i fired her up and she is the one who spotted the gas dripping.
I just set the dwell (it was a bit high at around 34) and now I'm going to try and work on the timing and carb settings.
It would be real nice if someone who had a clue was here to give mje a hand but I'm alone in this. BWMurph may or may not be able to stop by for a few minutes on his way home but really it's up to me only so I'll have to muddle through using John's articles the best I can. Maybe that's best anyway as just doing it myself is the best way to learn.

yep, had a couple nice backfires as she was first starting up but they seem to have gone away. I just hope they didn't blow out the power valve in my newly rebuilt carb - that would REALLY suck.

shoulder length hair?? yeah right.

 

[magoo]

I'm off tomorrow and fri. if you need me....

Mike

 

[BarryK]

Mike

You may have told me before but where in PA are you?
I'd always appreciate a hand from someone that knows what they are doing to look over my shoulder and help me out a bit so I know I get this thing dialed in right

 

[firstgear]

BEFORE YOU FIRE......remember to yell out "FIRE IN THE HOLE" so that everyone can take cover......thats what I do......

 

[BarryK]

well, i'm at a standstill for tonight it looks like. I can't figure out why the gas line conection is leaking, she is tight and won't go tighter and yet she is still dripping. it's right where the threaded part on the brand new fuel filter goes into the 90* connection before it goes to the main line down to the fuel pump.

on top of that, my brand new dialback timing light i just got in Aug isn't working!!! looks like I have to find the reciet and take it back to sears tomorrow morning.
Man, this sucks, i really wanted to get things all set up and running nice and smooth tonight.

any suggestions on the possible reason for the fuel line dripping and any possible ideas on a cure?

 

[BarryK]

BEFORE YOU FIRE......remember to yell out "FIRE IN THE HOLE" so that everyone can take cover......thats what I do......

i say yell that Herb, but I DID tell my wife to stand way back until she started up THAN look for leaks and yell if she saw any fluids spraying out and she yelled at me to shut it down when she saw the fuel line dripping

 

[JOE BYRNE]

Barry,

That happened when I put my Q-jet on my 73 last summer. Leaked just a drip at a time at the threaded connection. Went to ACE hardware and picked up that white tape you put on threads for plumbing. Gave it three wraps for $2.00 and no leak.