Problems starting my new 408

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Treb is spot on. New engines are picky about initial timing. 10° before to start initially might be good or it could be too much. Once it starts and stays running I usually turn the distributor to find that sweet spot where the engine doesn't labor and runs smoother and faster. Break in the cam and then reset the timing back to 15° or so to begin your initial settings.
 
sport74 said:
Thanks for the info, I'm mostly working by myself but the dizzy is just loose enough to move by hand so I can adjust it. A remote starter switch is a great suggestion. I'll look into that and hopefully I will be able to make some progress once I have one of those.
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Something you mentioned in this post: You're saying that the distributor is just loose enough to turn by hand. There's a critical spot where you can move it by hand and where it will move on it's own when the engine is running, this has happened to me before. If it happened to move during the first run it could have advanced itself unless you've already double checked???
 
Good point, it is tight enough not to move on his own, but with a firm grip you can barely move it. I have got to get a remote starter button!
 
Treblig mentioned hydrolock. Is the carb/ electric fuel pump filling the cylinders with fuel? with the pump on, engine off, look for fuel dripping from the carb into the intake.
 
So I have spark through the plugs. Then it has to be timing. Bought a remote starter switch and will try to get it in the sweet spot. I don't think the pump is overflowing into the engine, as it only bogs when I crack the throttle or spray starting fluid no other time
 
sport74 said:
So I have spark through the plugs. Then it has to be timing. Bought a remote starter switch and will try to get it in the sweet spot. I don't think the pump is overflowing into the engine, as it only bogs when I crack the throttle or spray starting fluid no other time
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That's a good sign that it might be too advanced...................let us know what happens.
 
So I have a tiny success, and a failure. I purchased a remote starter switch and had trouble attaching it it the starter, so I used the ignition relay and battery terminal. It worked long enough to get it to pop off twice, but before I could dial in the sweet spot, the ignition relay seems to be burnt out. I try the remote and it Sparks, if I try the key switch it just clicks. So in typical fashion of this car, one step forward and two steps back.... It's been this way for twenty years
 
sport74 said:
So I have a tiny success, and a failure. I purchased a remote starter switch and had trouble attaching it it the starter, so I used the ignition relay and battery terminal. It worked long enough to get it to pop off twice, but before I could dial in the sweet spot, the ignition relay seems to be burnt out. I try the remote and it Sparks, if I try the key switch it just clicks. So in typical fashion of this car, one step forward and two steps back.... It's been this way for twenty years
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I would say one step forwards and one step sideways because you got it to pop off!!! How long did you get it to run (cam break in)??
 
It just popped off like pow never started went back to that spot and the same, but it was as I was moving the dizzy wasn't fast enough to let go immediately
 
Thanks to everyone who has helped steer me in the right direction. I would still be scratching my head and my rear end trying to figure out which one was which. I'm definitely headed in the right direction now, but will still update as progress is made. Thanks again!!
 
be careful with starting fluid as that will cause it to lock
 
Try a new starter relay, but verify all the grounds in the starting system, and check voltage coming from the ignition switch wire to the relay: disconnect the wire at the relay and check voltage when the key is turned. Check the voltage going to the starter when cranking. Determine via volt meter where you're at currently..no pun intended.:)
 
Treblig said:
If it stops cranking (or cranks really slugishly) when the cylinders get fuel then it could be timing.
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THIS and it is easy to confirm. Simply ground the coil wire and then crank it. If it spins "great" then it is timing!!!!

I would double --triple--quadruple check that your timing marks are correct. You know how to use a piston stop?
 
So here's the final conclusion. It's VERY finicky about the timing. What I thought was OK timing (around 10-12*) was too much. It was weird because I would crack the throttle or spray some ether and it would spin fine for 3-4 sometimes 5-6 rotations, then start bogging down. Finally went back to basics and checked Spark (yes) Fuel (yes) Air (yes) so it HAD to be timing. I pulled the #1 plug brought up TDC, then backed up to 14*BTDC. Got a friend over to help me get it going and with a bit of troubleshooting, we got it to fire up! Once we had it starting it took a little babysitting to keep it running long enough to overcome the lack of a choke and then it ran for 30 mins and successfully completed the break in period. Now a couple of taps on the gas and it starts right up! Time to button up a few leaks ( the brand new dorman waterneck that has a crack in it) tighten up the sheet metal that I have loose and I should be able to drive by Christmas! Thanks for all the advice and steering me the right way!
 
sport74 said:
So here's the final conclusion. It's VERY finicky about the timing. What I thought was OK timing (around 10-12*) was too much. It was weird because I would crack the throttle or spray some ether and it would spin fine for 3-4 sometimes 5-6 rotations, then start bogging down. Finally went back to basics and checked Spark (yes) Fuel (yes) Air (yes) so it HAD to be timing. I pulled the #1 plug brought up TDC, then backed up to 14*BTDC. Got a friend over to help me get it going and with a bit of troubleshooting, we got it to fire up! Once we had it starting it took a little babysitting to keep it running long enough to overcome the lack of a choke and then it ran for 30 mins and successfully completed the break in period. Now a couple of taps on the gas and it starts right up! Time to button up a few leaks ( the brand new dorman waterneck that has a crack in it) tighten up the sheet metal that I have loose and I should be able to drive by Christmas! Thanks for all the advice and steering me the right way!
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Good to hear you got it figured out.
 
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