Re: 359 Straight Eight Engine

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2010/12/22 19:09:55

There are a few other details you may need to be aware of. One is, today's gas can go bad in a year or less. Take the cap off the tank and take a whiff. If it smells like gas you are OK, if it smells like old stinky varnish Uh Oh, do not use it or it can gum up your motor so bad a safe cracker could not free it up.

If there is any doubt about the gas disconnect the fuel line under the hood at the fuel pump and attach a motor boat gas tank.

If no spark, check the points. They get a white fur on them if left too long. Clean it off with electronic contact cleaner spray, or brake kleen spray. Then drag a piece of white typing paper between the points to clean them. In severe cases you may need to drag a piece of 600 wet or dry sandpaper thru them, folded double. If you do not disturb the adjustment you should not need to readjust, as long as the motor ran when put away and the points open and close. Wipe out the inside of the distributor cap after giving it a shot of the cleaner. Do not forget to put the rotor back in.

Be careful the plug wires don't get mixed up especially #4 and5, this is very easy to do. The firing order should be printed on top of the motor.

There are other details to it. Such as, check the rad and make sure there are no mouse nests in it. This is where experience comes in. If you do not have the experience it can pay to have an old time mechanic on hand.