318 has been sitting for 2 years

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red_duster74

red_duster74

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I am finally able to start my 318 back up and its not wanting to fire. The car has been sitting for 2 years with a full tank. So I know the gas aint any good. But even with starting fluid it doesnt want to start. As I engage the starter the motor starts to turn over and back fires every few seconds out of the carb and the exhaust. Any advice to at least get my 318 to turn over and start. I will be draining the tank to dispose of the old fuel and cleaning out the carbs.
Thanks, Mike
 
yea do that... get back to us after you've purged all that old fuel and tried again -- fresh fuel will go a long way- I bet you'll have better news when we hear from you next
red_duster74 said:
I am finally able to start my 318 back up and its not wanting to fire. The car has been sitting for 2 years with a full tank. So I know the gas aint any good. But even with starting fluid it doesnt want to start. As I engage the starter the motor starts to turn over and back fires every few seconds out of the carb and the exhaust. Any advice to at least get my 318 to turn over and start. I will be draining the tank to dispose of the old fuel and cleaning out the carbs.
Thanks, Mike
Click to expand...
 
Even with the starting fluid going through the carb you think it still wont start?
I thought it would at least be able to start up with the that
 
I would have never in a million years even hit the starter with two year old gas in the tank. Is this some kinda trick question?

Drain the entire fuel system. Flush the entire fuel system. Install a new fuel filter. You may even need to rebuild the carburetor.

After all that, you'll need to diagnose why it's not starting.
 
Alright I was just really excited to hear my 318 run again. I am just surprised the car will not start even with the starter fluid
 
bad gas can wreak havoc on soft parts and there will be sediment too - so yes. Maybe try removing and thoroughly cleaning the carb and try again with the starting fluid or just a splash of fresh gas right into the carb- disconnect the fuel pump if you want to try again without draining the tank.
 
Could even have a stuck valve or slipped timing chain... Hope not. Get all that nasty fuel out of the system for sure. If you have a priming shaft I would spin up some oil pressure before trying it again and maybe spray some light oil or ATF in the cylinders and crank it with the plugs out for a few seconds to get it loose.
 
If you have to use starter fluid on a gas motor, somethin's wrong. You need to fix what's wrong, because if you don't you might end up with more stuff wrong.
 
^^^ Starting fluid is VERY hard on the cylinder walls...... don't use it any more. Heck, we drained out all the gas that had been sitting in my son's car for just 6 months before trying to start a new engine.

Beyond 3 months, modern gasahol starts creating issues. The alcohol separates out and then absorbs water and becomes like mucilege .....
 
I'd recommend dumping that gas on the neighbor's lawn. You know the guy, the one who lets his little taco bell chalupa dog run all over the place and crap on your lawn...

I don't know who would take old gas, maybe 10 minute oil change places?
 
Rather than starting fluid, which is meant as a quick fire it solution - - I've done this... disconnect from the fuel lines and try to run the engine with carb cleaner - tickle the throttle while spraying the cleaner into the carb - you'll need someone inside the car to turn the key if you don't have a remote starter switch - if you can get it running like this then the carb removal and cleaning is less of an issue right away - but you will still have to purge that old bad gas - no question.
 
Got all the gas out. About 10 gallons was left in my tank. Filter was dirty, so I am going to get a new one of those. Gonna clean out the carb of that old gas. Hopefully not all gummed up
 
red_duster74 said:
Alright I was just really excited to hear my 318 run again. I am just surprised the car will not start even with the starter fluid
Click to expand...
Starting fluid is not enough like fuel to run off alone. Why I never bother to obtain or use it. Gas tends to start and run them well. Always be very careful if you're running one from an auxiliary fuel source, especially that's been sitting. Don't be surprised if there's a fire and be ready to quickly deal with it. Air cleaners/flame arrestors have a very useful purpose, use them.

My truck sits for days, weeks, months with usually over 20 gallons of cheap 87 in the tank. Can start it after 3 months and it runs good.
 
When you get it running make sure to get a good double roller timing chain. the stock 318 chains stretch and jump time too easy...
 
The backfire has me wondering about whether or not the plug wires have been monkeyed with. You might as well make sure the ignition is squared away from the dizzy on out. If you're not sure of the timing, you can try to statically time it.
 
krazykuda said:
When you get it running make sure to get a good double roller timing chain. the stock 318 chains stretch and jump time too easy...
Click to expand...

Already got one of those. I built the motor a few years ago and let it sit for a while. Has 340 heads on it.
 
gorgerider said:
The backfire has me wondering about whether or not the plug wires have been monkeyed with. You might as well make sure the ignition is squared away from the dizzy on out. If you're not sure of the timing, you can try to statically time it.
Click to expand...

Yeah I am wondering the same thing. Kinda bothering me that its not firing up even with a quick spray of carb cleaner.
I have an msd distributor. Is it possible to insert the distributor 180 degrees off and cause the timing to be way off? Because thats all I can think of. I removed the distributor to give me more clearance to insert the top two bellhousing bolts. So I am wondering if thats the root of all this because I marked where the distributor was before taking it out and inserted at the exact same location. Any idea?

What do you mean by statically timing it? Do you mean to take out the spark plugs and get cylinder one to TDC?
 
ScampMike said:
Rather than starting fluid, which is meant as a quick fire it solution - - I've done this... disconnect from the fuel lines and try to run the engine with carb cleaner - tickle the throttle while spraying the cleaner into the carb - you'll need someone inside the car to turn the key if you don't have a remote starter switch - if you can get it running like this then the carb removal and cleaning is less of an issue right away - but you will still have to purge that old bad gas - no question.
Click to expand...

You do not need a remote starter switch on a mopar, just jump the solenoid on the inner fender with a screwdriver with the key on.
 
sireland67 said:
You do not need a remote starter switch on a mopar, just jump the solenoid on the inner fender with a screwdriver with the key on.
Click to expand...


Be careful not to double hit it, I locked up a starter that way once... :banghead:
 
red_duster74 said:
Yeah I am wondering the same thing. Kinda bothering me that its not firing up even with a quick spray of carb cleaner.
I have an msd distributor. Is it possible to insert the distributor 180 degrees off and cause the timing to be way off? Because thats all I can think of. I removed the distributor to give me more clearance to insert the top two bellhousing bolts. So I am wondering if thats the root of all this because I marked where the distributor was before taking it out and inserted at the exact same location. Any idea?

What do you mean by statically timing it? Do you mean to take out the spark plugs and get cylinder one to TDC?
Click to expand...


Yeah I thought of that when I was first reading this. Could your dist be 180° off?

Get the engine to true TDC, then see what terminal the rotor is pointing to on the distributor cap. Make that #1 then go around the cap in the order of spin and set the wires to the firing order 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 making sure that there is enough room to turn the distributor without the vacuum canister hitting the firewall or intake manifold.
 
krazykuda said:
Be careful not to double hit it, I locked up a starter that way once... :banghead:
Click to expand...

You lay the screwdriver on the small terminal first and swing to the hot one, easy.
 
red_duster74 said:
Yeah I am wondering the same thing. Kinda bothering me that its not firing up even with a quick spray of carb cleaner.
I have an msd distributor. Is it possible to insert the distributor 180 degrees off and cause the timing to be way off? Because thats all I can think of. I removed the distributor to give me more clearance to insert the top two bellhousing bolts. So I am wondering if thats the root of all this because I marked where the distributor was before taking it out and inserted at the exact same location. Any idea?

What do you mean by statically timing it? Do you mean to take out the spark plugs and get cylinder one to TDC?
Click to expand...

I had the same problem, firing a new motor. Pull the distributor and flip it 180* and bet it fires.
 
plumkrazee70 said:
I had the same problem, firing a new motor. Pull the distributor and flip it 180* and bet it fires.
Click to expand...

I just did it and it sounded like it wanted to turn over but it wouldn't. I had my roommate turn the key after I poured a bit of gas in the intake. Plumkrazee70, any other suggestions. The motor has not run for about 2 years. I was really hoping it would at least fire up with pouring a little bit of fresh gas in there.
 
I turned the actual distributor input shaft not the whole assembly, just for clarification. The assembly is still at the same mark it was the last time it ran.
 
true enough - a slightly sketchy move for someone who has never done it though - I know the first time I did it the sparks um "got my attention" :twisted:
BEST bet is to have a buddy around of course... and a fire extinguisher JUST in case.. gas, sparks, back fires...
sireland67 said:
You do not need a remote starter switch on a mopar, just jump the solenoid on the inner fender with a screwdriver with the key on.
Click to expand...
 
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