OK, after muck labor in the FREEZING cold I got my rebuilt 351M back in place in my 79 Bronco. Now, I'm quite sure the choke was not working well when my truck's engine died last fall so take this into consideration.

My questions are as follows:

I turned the engine over and there is fuel and spark, but I seem to be getting fuel sprayed up through the carb every few engine cycles (like a carb backfire) but there is no hint of firing up.

My gas is kind of old was 93 oct and is about 9 months old. I did put in oct boost to help.

My timing should be very close (at least good enough to start). The rotor is pointing at #1 at TDC. I have full swing to try to rotate the dizzy if needed as well.

Mind you it was 24 degrees yesterday when I tried this. MY other Ford V8 (302 in the Patrol) with a gout choke hardly started. I had to turn the engine over a ton and it stalled a few times. (this engine runs great in the warm weather). Usually fires right up in a split second.

Am I just asking too much for this engine to start in the cold with the timing might be off a bit? Any suggestions to help dial this in so I can test fire my engine?

How about carb starting fluid and the such?

Thanks,

don't know that I'd use starting fluid. If it's pushing gas back up into the carb, it would seem that it's already flooded. Have you pulled plugs to see if they're getting wet?

I'd triple check your firing order then use starting fluid. If it's that cold then the gas isn't atomizing properly. Once it gets started it should run on the fuel enough to get the timing set.

Yeah, I pulled a few plugs (now I'm a little of a grub here because I used my old ones that were working fine) and they seemed dry. They were not all covered in gas or anything.

I was thinking the starting fluid because it might counter act the cold with a high oct level? Of course I have no idea it that is the case or not. I think all my days in Arizona has made my mind a bit slow in the cold, ha!

I agree with Brent. Check the firing order.

My buddy had a simlar problem, and I found his dizzy was 180 out from where it should be.

OK, at the risk of sounding dumb:

when I crank the engine on number 1 cylinder and then I drop the Dizzy in, should I have the rotor button pointing to the physical number one cylinder or the actual wire that corresponds to the number one cylinder?

I'm sitting inside at work today so I seem to be thinking a bit more clearly. To me it seems that I should be pointing to actual wire since at that point under maximum compression the spark should be sent. If that is the case, then I would be about 180 degrees off too.

You would be correct, sir.

You wanna point the button on the dizzy to the no1 cable, not the physical location on the no1 cylinder.

quote:

Originally posted by Sand Bag:
You would be correct, sir.

You wanna point the button on the dizzy to the no1 cable, not the physical location on the no1 cylinder.

Woops

I think that is where I need to check!

With the #1 piston at TDC on the compression stroke the rotor should be pointed at the contact in the cap that connects to the #1 sparkplug wire.

Yup, I think I'm 180 off. Is there a best way to tell about the compression vs the exhaust stroke? It seemed to me that when I crank over the engine it was the highest point and I could feel and hear the air being forced through the number one plug hole. I hope to get out tomorrow to test this.

quote:

Originally posted by jmcallis:
Yup, I think I'm 180 off. Is there a best way to tell about the compression vs the exhaust stroke? .

One way: take a look under the valve cover to see if the exhaust valve is about to open/opening.

The best way would be to look at the valves to see if they are shut. But putting your thumb over the spark plug hole while the piston is coming up should let you know if it's the exhaust or compressions stroke too.

Well thanks guys. I was 180 off, she fired right up on the first turn. Dialed it in and took if for a test drive. I have 36" unbalanced TSLs so at about 50mph the tired front end get very shaky. But everything is a success and now it is time to refocus on my Patrol!

j/k... Congrabulations!