'72 Cutlass 442 Not Starting
January 28th, 2015, 06:27 PM
#1
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'72 Cutlass 442 Not Starting
The car in question is a 1972 Oldsmobile 442 Cutlass with an Olds 350 engine. I had just switched out the original four barrel Olds intake to an Edelbrock Performer intake. After putting everything back together, the car will not start. It will crank, but not one time will it sputter. I've checked several spark plugs, which all seem to be sparking just fine. I've tried pouring fuel directly into the carburetor, and still nothing. Anyone have any suggestions on what to try next?
January 28th, 2015, 06:45 PM
#2
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Central Missouri
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Any chance you have the coil wires backwards? Polarity does matter,but it should still run.
Did you remove the distributor or move it? Or mess with the wires at the starter at all?
Look closely at all the things you touched. If it ran before it should run now.
Did you remove the distributor or move it? Or mess with the wires at the starter at all?
Look closely at all the things you touched. If it ran before it should run now.
January 28th, 2015, 06:54 PM
#3
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Coil and Distributer
Don, the coil was never moved or messed with. The distributor was moved slightly, due to not being tightened down well before, but it was never removed or majorly moved around. No wires were ever messed with, to my knowledge.
January 29th, 2015, 02:43 PM
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January 29th, 2015, 02:59 PM
#6
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Sorry I missed the spark thing, an engine needs fuel and a properly timed spark. Since you said that nothing was disconnected, but the distributor turned it may be as simple as the timing being off.
January 29th, 2015, 03:44 PM
#7
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is it big fat spark or minimal weak thin yellow spark?
I think pouring fuel into the engine ruled out fuel, as I read the above.
That leaves plug wires' order / timing.
Start with finding [10-0 degrees before] TDC #1 compression FOR SURE by the Approved Methods.
Verify that points are just opening [or tooth is just passing sensor if electronic]
Verify that the plug wire is being pointed to by the rotor is routed to #1 front left [driver's]
verify 18436572 COUNTER clockwise around the cap.
I think pouring fuel into the engine ruled out fuel, as I read the above.
That leaves plug wires' order / timing.
Start with finding [10-0 degrees before] TDC #1 compression FOR SURE by the Approved Methods.
Verify that points are just opening [or tooth is just passing sensor if electronic]
Verify that the plug wire is being pointed to by the rotor is routed to #1 front left [driver's]
verify 18436572 COUNTER clockwise around the cap.
January 29th, 2015, 06:51 PM
#8
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Plug Timing
This afternoon I roughly timed the engine, so it should be relatively close to where it needs to be. The strange thing is that throughout the entire process (cranking 20+ times), I got maybe one light sputter. I know it's getting fuel, I've seen large sparks from multiple spark plugs, so it is getting power. What else could it be missing?
August 20th, 2015, 08:51 PM
#9
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Just realized I never posted my solution. It turns out the old carburetor was incompatible with the newer Edelbrock performance intake. It was a stupidly simple matter of grinding a little bit off the top of the intake for the Edelbrock carburetor to fit, and it started right up.
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