I had a 383 built,it started and ran for 20min.the next day I ran it 15 min.I never let it idle and kept varying the throttle.The third day I went to go for a spin and it would not start.I have spark at all plugs.I have fuel and the carb is fresh off the old engine.I have a fully charged battery.I even tried another HEI distributor.Someone please help.

I would try new spark plugs.

Timing possibly?

I went out & picked up a set of plugs today,put them in,turned the key and it started.Wow,I can eat dinner with the family again! After engine break in always change plugs no matter what.Thanks to all.Cheers

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Originally posted by Dean:
I would try new spark plugs. Ok, I'll ask. Since I've never had the pleasure of breaking in a new engine, how does this damage the plugs?

Originally posted by Cecil:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Dean:
I would try new spark plugs. Ok, I'll ask. Since I've never had the pleasure of breaking in a new engine, how does this damage the plugs? </font>[/QUOTE]Actually, the plugs would have to be really soaked in oil or raw fuel not to fire. I have never had that happen on a properly rebuilt engine...ever. If it's oil, there's a big problem. If it's fuel, the carb needs some attention. Raw fuel washing down the cylinder walls in an engine with new rings which need to seat is not good, to say the least. You did start with new plugs, correct? Were they wet when you removed them? If so, was it oil or fuel? Over the break-in period, around 500 miles or so, keep an eye on oil level. AND, IF the plugs were soaked in fuel, change your oil!

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I will go out on a limb here smile.gif
lets just say that it is possible that iron particles from the rings seating could fly up into the plug insulaters grounding them out ?????????

I had the same thing happen on the neighbors 68 camero 302.It had sat a long time and we got it running pretty good and a couple days later, dead to the world.New plugs fixed it after alot of chin rubbing.I think with all that carberation the plugs get fuel soaked

Actually it's got nothing to do with the engine being new.
I was just putting two and two together from what was originally posted and it reminded me of what I've seen happen on quite a few occasions.

Usualy in fairly cool temperatures it's pretty easy to get the engine flooded and it will never start once the plugs are flooded.

Likely just a set of fouled plugs. If money is tight pull them out,run some 600 grit paper between the electrodes to remove the carbon and then spray the entire center porcelin section and metal electrodes with carb cleaner including a 100 psi compressed air blowoff after that to remove any grit and reinstall.

If it starts there's your problem but you may still need to replace the plugs down the road if they were fouled real bad becasue they could still misfire under load @ higher rpms if not completely cleaned like new.

If they were fouled maybe your cam has enough overlap to lower the idle vacuum enough to cause your power valve in the carb to open prematurly resulting in a very rich low speed/idle
situation so check this out too.

If the car does not start after the plug cleaning then you need to come back here for some more brainstorming with all of us @ T/C.

Scott

Originally posted by SWHEATON:

If the car does not start after the plug cleaning then you need to come back here for some more brainstorming with all of us @ T/C.

Scott Scott, you didn't read his reply?


I went out & picked up a set of plugs today,put them in,turned the key and it started.Wow,I can eat dinner with the family again! After engine break in always change plugs no matter what.Thanks to all.Cheers