Have a question for those of you who know about older car engines

[TheClassicCarKid]

Hi, I have a '68 Chevelle that won't run.
The battery is fine, and I can crank it all day, but it just won't come to life.

Any ideas about what it could be?
Any help at all is greatly appreciated, I just want to get the car on the road again

[DEW]

Fuel and spark makes boom! Apparently your missing one of those. Check for both.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by TheClassicCarKid

Hi, I have a '68 Chevelle that won't run.
The battery is fine, and I can crank it all day, but it just won't come to life.

Any ideas about what it could be?
Any help at all is greatly appreciated, I just want to get the car on the road again

Get a volt meter, and check voltages/continuity at plug leads. Also check your Carbs to make sure you haven't just flooded it. Check the fuel lines to make sure you are getting fuel to the carb. This means cranking it with the line pulled off the carb and fed into a small coke/aquafina bottle.

Has it been sitting? Could be gunk in the lines..

[bdell]

if it won't start i'll buy it from you

[TheClassicCarKid]

Originally Posted by Zabo

Get a volt meter, and check voltages/continuity at plug leads. Also check your Carbs to make sure you haven't just flooded it. Check the fuel lines to make sure you are getting fuel to the carb. This means cranking it with the line pulled off the carb and fed into a small coke/aquafina bottle.

Has it been sitting? Could be gunk in the lines..

Thanks, do you know about how much a volt meter should run?

It's definitely not flooded...I'll check the fuel line, that sounds like it could be what's wrong because I'm not smelling any gas when cranking.

It's been sitting for about a month and a half...

[TheClassicCarKid]

Originally Posted by bdell

if it won't start i'll buy it from you

haha thanks for the offer but I love the car, just never any time to drive it :(

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by TheClassicCarKid

Thanks, do you know about how much a volt meter should run?

It's definitely not flooded...I'll check the fuel line, that sounds like it could be what's wrong because I'm not smelling any gas when cranking.

It's been sitting for about a month and a half...

Junk in the lines, probably rust sitting at the bottom of the tank that got sucked into the system. Common problem with old bikes/cars that sit and build up oxidation in the part of the tank above the fuel level.

As for a volt/multimeter, you can get a cheap analog needle one for under 10 bucks. 'Good' one can run ya 25-30 at sears. Fuses can be had at radio shack for a buck or two if you hook it up wrong.

We've all done it at one point..

[TheClassicCarKid]

Originally Posted by Zabo

Junk in the lines, probably rust sitting at the bottom of the tank that got sucked into the system. Common problem with old bikes/cars that sit and build up oxidation in the part of the tank above the fuel level.
As for a volt/multimeter, you can get a cheap analog needle one for under 10 bucks. 'Good' one can run ya 25-30 at sears. Fuses can be had at radio shack for a buck or two if you hook it up wrong.

We've all done it at one point..

What do I do if that's the case? Do I have to drain the entire tank to clean the lines? I'm almost sure that's what's wrong now.

Thanks, this has been really helpful

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by TheClassicCarKid

What do I do if that's the case? Do I have to drain the entire tank to clean the lines? I'm almost sure that's what's wrong now.

Thanks, this has been really helpful

Pretty much. Also look into the integrity of the lines. Flush the crap from the lines using an alcohol based solution and drain the tank. This way it'll just burn off when you start it again. Mad after-firing (aka backfiring in laymans), which is to be expected as it burns itself out of the lines, but it works.

TANK FIRST LINES SECOND! I learned this.. the hard way.