361 wo t start, has fire. Please help.

[Carney10]

We have a 1966 Charger with a 361. It has been stored in a garage since 1980. We are now to the point we are trying to start it. It turns iver and has ran just for a moment. We have new plugs, new fuel pump, new inginition coil. Did not replace plug wires they look good, and so does distributor cap. It has fire and getting fuel. Seems to drag the battery down when trying to start it. Any ideas what to do next?

 

[Beekeeper]

First thing to check would be timing. Get #1 cylinder tdc on compression stroke and check that the rotor is pointing to #1 on the cap. Pull the plug on #1 and put your thumb over the hole and turn by hand until you feel compression then bring the piston up to tdc. Check #1 plug wire on the cap at this point the rotor should be pointing to the #1 position or real close to it.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Check the battery connections and clean the carb.

 

[1962polara]

It's 35 years since it started!!
Maybe the oil that sat in it for all that time gummed up everything, not to mention
the DAMAGE you maybe doing.
Remember all the bearings,galleries , springs etc that live in that engine would be galled up.
I'd say you strip it down and clean it all up.Hey you might not need to replace anything but the oil filter;)
Good luck

 

[miller]

Gotta agree!

Another that needs mentioned is check compression. You can have gas and fire all day long...but no compression...no tango.

 

[Garys1969RR]

Try putting a little fuel or starting fluid in the intake. This can sometimes get em running.

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Also hope you changed the oil and filter first. I had a 440 that sat for 12 years, I primed the oil pump with a drill, new oil, and it started pretty easily. Then carb sprayed gas all over, and had to put in a carb kit. But that motor ran great!

 

[Carney10]

It is running! Adjusted timing and it fired up. We had already changed all fluids and oil, filter etc. we are running out of a gas can, because we are replacing tank, line everything in fuel system. Waiting on one more part to hook fuel system back up. Thank you for your advice.

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Thank you, it was the timing.

 

[Eddie Mopar]

It's 35 years since it started!!
Maybe the oil that sat in it for all that time gummed up everything, not to mention
the DAMAGE you maybe doing.
Remember all the bearings,galleries , springs etc that live in that engine would be galled up.
I'd say you strip it down and clean it all up.Hey you might not need to replace anything but the oil filter;)
Good luck

Spot on brother!

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It is running! Adjusted timing and it fired up. We had already changed all fluids and oil, filter etc. we are running out of a gas can, because we are replacing tank, line everything in fuel system. Waiting on one more part to hook fuel system back up. Thank you for your advice.

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Thank you, it was the timing.

Very good!

 

[coloradodave]

Good call, BeeKeeper! Another solution from the awesome forum...