<VV> I Can't Believe

[Bruce Schug]

On Aug 20, 2008, at 10:26 AM, Smitty Smith wrote:

> Smitty Says:  I can't believe I am doing this but here I am.  I was  
> on my way to a car show with Spike the other day, going down the  
> highway, and all at once he quit running just like the key was shut  
> off.  No chug, no flutter, no pop/fart, nothing.  Had the boss lady  
> bring the tow bar and took him home.  Before I get a bunch of well  
> intended novice comments I have to get this straight.  I know  
> nothing of modern electronic cars but I am a well experienced  
> mechanic of older cars and Corvairs specifically so if you don't  
> have something to offer more than, "did you check the points", Save  
> it.  And for you pros who might have something to contribute, please  
> READ before asking something I have already answered  This is what I  
> have done so far.
>  Checked for spark.  I have a hot fat spark.  Spark is good to the  
> plug ends of all wires.  Checked for fuel.  Added 4 gals which  
> topped off the tank.  Put a hose on the pump outlet and both the  
> mechanical and electric pumps are fine.  Checked flow to the primary  
> carb and into the bowl.  When I pulled the carb top the fuel was  
> right up to the "waterline".  Valve not stuck.  It would have run on  
> the secondary anyway with throttle open.  Checked static timing with  
> a light bulb across the points.  23 degrees.  Checked # 1 TDC  
> against the damper zero mark and the rotor position.  All good.   
> Pulled the right valve cover and checked rocker operation while  
> cranking engine.  Looked OK.  At TDC # 1 valves were both closed and  
> had the same 1/2 turn preload that I had set when I put it  
> together.  Used screw-in compression testor and got 120 psi on # 1  
> in two rotations, cold, with other plugs installed.  Removed pan and  
> checked cam gear as best I could.  Prying longitudinally on gear
> only resulted in movement associated with cam endplay.  (I  
> considered this just a back-up test as I already knew I had  
> compression).  So I put it all back together with alll systems GO  
> and it doesn't run.  OK Kiddies, here is your chance to be a hero.

Beats me. I'm not THAT good a mechanic! But the way it quit; sure  
sounds like ignition, don't you think? Either that or some  
catastrophic failure. Still, few failures would shut off that  
suddenly, I think.

What happens when you try to start it? You could try swapping out  
known-good components, like the distributor; coil, etc. Sounds like  
that little coil primary wire, but that doesn't explain your getting  
good spark now.

What kind of ignition system do you have?




Bruce

Bruce W. Schug
Treasurer & Membership Chairman
CORSA South Carolina
Greenville, SC
Stock Corvair Group
Performance Corvair Group
Decent mechanic, but not THAT good!
bwschug at charter.net

CORSA member since 1980

'67 Monza. "67AC140"