Hey Guys, I have finished the heart transplant and now have a 65 300 engine sitting in my 1964 Buick. I have everything re-connected and screwed down, but I am having one last issue: I can't get it to start. If I hold down the starter for about 45 seconds, the motor will go so far as to start making smoke and sound like it is running on all eight cylinders, but if I take the ignition out of start and disengage the starter motor, the engine will not run. In other words, I seem to be able to get the engine to start but not "catch" and keep running. I have checked to make sure I am getting spark at all plugs, and I am. I think my problem may be that I referenced my engine timing to my 300 engine. I have the 1964 FSM that is wrong with the 1964 firing order, so I just referenced where the distributor was at TDC on the 64 motor per the FSM and transferred it. Anybody got any comments? Also, the first person to e-mail me scans of the 300CI ignition timing section out of a 1965 factory service manual gets a PayPal buck ($1). I've got a bid on a 1965 FSM on eBay, but it has a few days to go. Thanks, Joe
Bama,you might try moving your plug wires over one spot on the distributor or either pull it back out and try to move it over a notch.It sounds like it might be out 180*.Just a thought but someone else might have another suggestion.o No:
You mean it wants to start, but won't keep running once you release the ign. switch? Sounds like a problem the Chryslers used to have when the 4 prong ballast resistors went. They would either want to start while cranking and then die when you let go of the switch, or they would be dead when cranking and then kick as you released the switch. Depending on which side of the resistor was open. I would check that you had voltage at the coil +, while the ign. switch was in the run position. To time the engine from scratch, take out the #1 plug, and have someone bump the starter as you hold you finger in the plug hole. When you feel compression, line up the timing marks, and install the distributor with the rotor positioned to fire the #1 plug. Hope that helps.
Larry, It seems to start, in fact it sounds like it is running- but when you release the key- it dies. We know it is getting spark, we know it is getting fuel. I assume it is the ignition system. The engine did sit up for a while (loaded with fluids) before we put it in the car. Would that have affected anything? $1 for the service manual scan :bglasses:
What kind of ignition system are you running? Points? Have you replaced the sparkplugs and tuned it up? Turn the ignition switch on, then take a voltage reading between the + side of the coil and ground. Do you get a reading? Is it possible you mis-wired it when you put the motor back in?
Larry, I am running a points system. I replaced the spark plugs and gapped them correctly. I'll check my coil this evening. Still looking for any more advise from others. Here is a picture of the project at the mostly together stage. Since then the P/S has been installed, all belts, hoses, etc. Thanks, Joe
From what I can recall, all 64-67 300-340 used the same timing spec of 2 1/2 btdc initial. The only difference is that the 66-67 distributor moved the points window from bottom to front for easier setting. The 64-65 should be almost the same distributor and setup the same for timing. Sounds more like you have a wiring problem at the starter. There should be two wires (one yellow and one brown) that need to be hooked up. I just took out a 69 350 and it had them. Am pretty sure the 64-67 used them too. With the key on check to see if you have power to the pink (?) wire at the coil. If not, you are only getting power when cranking and the motor won't run when the key is released. May be a wiring harness problem. Your 64 manual should be able to give you what you need to trace it. Hope this helps, Mark
Mark, That's what I was thinking also. He may have the "R" and "S" wires reversed, easy to do, but the voltage check at the coil with the ign. switch on will tell the tale.:TU:
Ah! The starter. Didn't think of that, but I know I had to re-wire it different from the first time I put it in, so that could well be that. It's kind of a "doh" that I didn't think of that. I should be able to fiddle with it today between the weather. I'm in North Alabama, and we are having off and on rain showers. I've got a tarp, but don't like getting "wet butt" crawling under the cap when it's been raining.
Well I did the starter test but it proved uneventful. Why? AutoZone confirms we smoked the starter during our last testing. After the rain shower lets up (again), I will install the new starter and then test again. I also put a new coil in because the old one has a hairline crack on the front. Joe
WOO HOO! IT RUNS! Great news!!! :laugh: :laugh: After the new AutoZone starter, it started first try!!! Pretty good for a motor that set up for eight years. We left the exhaust manifolds disconnected, and boy is it loud! (I know it's the small Buick motor, but wow, that's loud enough for me). Thanks to everyone, especially those who recommended the starter. Had I not started swapping starter wires and realizing the old starter would not crank in any configuaration I would have been picking my brain for days. We still have plenty of work like finish timing and some adaptations between the 64/65 carb plumbing, but I hope tomorrow to get it off of jackstands and on the road. Thanks again everyone!!! :beer
