Bought the car, it was in storage 30 years with stuck motor. Freed up motor and want to hear it run before I pull it and have it rebuilt. I can't get it to start or even fire. Have fresh gas, spark, timing all OK. Checked compression on cylinders and they range from a low of 40lbs. to a high of 80lbs. mostly 50 and 60lbs. Is this compression just to low to get it to fire or is there some other thing I need to try? Did use starting fluid with no avail.
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Re: 54 Vette won't start
Hi Ted
Are the spark plugs good? Are you getting spark at the spark plugs? Make sure your cap, rotor are good and points are set correct.Try pooring a little fresh gas in the carburater. Open the butteryfly first.Leave Air filter off. How do you know the timing is correct without running. Did you bring #1 cylinder to top dead center?It might be possible that the timing chain jumped.
Good luck..John -
Re: 54 Vette won't start
I hope that the 6 cylinder is different than the V-8s but I believe your compression is far to low. IIRC, my 72 has a compression of 160 +/-.
GaryComment
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Re: 54 Vette won't start
I've never seen a published figure that says the compression in a cylinder is to low for it to fire. I'd "guess" your numbers are borderline too low. If you're not in a hurry, pour some Marvel Mystery oil in each cylinder and let it sit for a couple weeks. It may do wonders for your compression. Then again it may not.
If you're satisfied that everything is in order it to start but it still won't, you could put twelve volts to that starter motor in short bursts. Make sure ALL other six volt accessories are turned off. I've done it. Don't know as I recommened anyone else to do it if they're timid.
I believe you can also pull a '54 Powerglide to start them. 20-25 mph in neutral and then drop it in low.
If you haven't verified you have spark at the plugs and gas in the cylinders first, please disregard thisComment
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Re: 54 Vette won't start
Having 40 to 50 PSI your fuel and air are blowing past the pistons rings and the oil is filling with gas.Or the valves are not seating and doing the same thing.Comment
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Re: 54 Vette won't start
Agree with Roy. You may have cracked a ring(s) when you "unstuck" the motor. When I bought my car (a 60) it sat outside for 20+ years with the intake just laying on the heads. When I did the tear down the motor was seized, 2 rod caps were cracked, and the block had to be bored to clean up the cylinders. Don't think I would personally want to start that motor without a teardown after sitting for so long, particularly with that low a compression reading. You Could do lots more damage! Bite the bullet and do what you know you have to do, tear it down! A rod thrown through the block is catastrophic!!
DonComment
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Re: 54 Vette won't start
Agree with the above posts, but want to add something. To start those old puppies, the chokes need to be pulled shut. Because they are sidedrafts, gravity doesn't work to get the fuel into the intake. That's why there's no accelerator pump. You have to make sure the chokes are closed, then the vacuum draws the fuel in. If you don't have an adequate mechanical situation (leakage past rings/valves), you can't draw fuel in to start, or even to pull the ether in to get fuel to the cylinder.Comment
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Re: 54 Vette won't start
I also agree with the above posts. After owning a ' 54 for 25 years and starting problems did occur, I used a squirt can with gas and floored the accelerator and gave each one a good dose and usually this would do the trick as long as the chokes were fully closed.
BobComment
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