FuturamicOldsmobile

Hello all scratching my head with this one. I pulled out my olds straight 8 because it was stuck. I got it freed up and did an overhaul i'm trying to start it for the first time and it does not want to start my timing is correct i have spark and compression what gives?
I have replaced:
points
condensor
coil
Any suggestions appreciated Thank You

76olds

Are you getting fuel past the fuel pump? Could be a bad fuel pump, The fuel filter/carb may be slimmed up a bit since it sat. Is the fuel new ?

Your timing is good and you have spark, so it can only be fuel/air related at this point if it turns over.

FuturamicOldsmobile

I don't have the fuel pump hooked up right now i have been putting fuel directly into the carb could it be my cap my spark is orange and there is pitting on my cap terminals inside? Hell i even put fuel directly in the spark plug hole... nothing.

76olds

If your getting spark it should fire up, a weak spark will keep the engine from idling properly. You may have a flooding issue depending on how much fuel your putting down the carb. I wouldn't be putting any fuel down the plug holes lol.
You may want to install a new cap, rotor and set of points when you see pitting.
I'm not familiar with the older engines/point gaps etc, so others will post here to give you a better idea of what course of action would be the best way to go .

Eric

FuturamicOldsmobile

Thanks for your reply Eric i will have to do a complete tune up before figuring out what i messed up.

oldcutlass

How are you getting fuel to the carb? Too much fuel will foul the plugs, the engine will not start with very wet plugs. An engine needs Air, fuel, and properly timed spark to start and run. Air is a given generally. Try a blast of starting fluid into the carb before and a short blast during. If it still won't start and the plugs are dry, its ignition.

Tedd Thompson

Just a shot in the dark but are your battery cables to small? Often 12 volt cables are substituted for 6 volt cables and they will give you grief on startup. You should have something like 2/0 cables for reliable starts, Have you jumped it with a 12 volt battery yet? Tedd

76olds

Your welcome. Sorry I couldn't assist more.
I'm happy to see Eric and Tedd respond, they usually do, these guys know so much more about the older stuff, you'll up and running in no time.
All the best !

Eric

FuturamicOldsmobile

Well i did an actual compression test and these are the results
1: 70lbs
2: 45lbs
3: 30lbs
4: 20lbs
5: 20lbs
6: 30lbs
7: 25lbs
8: 55lbs
Not looking good I didn't adjust the valves when i put the flathead back together could that be it i put each solid lifter back in the right hole.
Pistons have NOS rings STD size

oldcutlass

Did you have the carb wide open when doing this test, if not you sometimes get low numbers like these.

FuturamicOldsmobile

Yes i did, does the automatic choke have to be open?

oldcutlass

Yes

Tedd Thompson

I would think you would get a pop or two even with those low numbers. It should fire but poorly on 55 lbs. How did the valves look when they were removed, any sign of warp or discolored face. Did you hand lap the valves before you put it back together?.... Tedd

FuturamicOldsmobile

Valves were hand lapped before reinstall some of the seats had pitting but the were making a seal. I'm going to pull the manifold today and adjust the valves then with the choke open and WOT i will redo the test. If i still have low numbers i will hook up shop air to my compression tester and listen for leaks. I would like to use this engine as i painted it and overhauled it and best of all it's numbers matching I DO NOT want to put a v8 in the car but if it comes to that i will. Thank you all for your replies I will report back once completed.

'46-98

You said the engine was stuck. How long had it been sitting since it was last run? Did you put anything like Mavel Mystery oil in the cylinders and rotated engine over a period of time? Possible stuck rings?

Assuming you have a decent head gasket torqued correctly and valves adjusted properly, have you tried adding a bit of oil in the cylinders to see if that improves the compression?

Cutlass Fan

Is it possible that you installed the distributor 180 degrees out? If it turns out you don't have compression issues that may be the problem.

DFitz

Even with the distributor 180 out, it should still pop and fire but back up through the carb.