1971 911T won't start

[Twilks63]

I have owned this car for about 9 months with no problems. It was a beautiful day yesterday so I rolled her out to wash it. After washing it I dried everything off and started her. Let it warm up for about 15 minutes and took off for a ride. About 1 mile away I heard a pop from the engine and it died. The electrical system was fine but she would not start again. The engine cranks but does not turn over. I checked the fuse on the fuel pump and dried everything off I could find. Still will not turn over. What do I need to check? What am I missing?
Be gentle I am a newbie.

[ossiblue]

If your car has a CIS system, I would say you blew your airbox or at least the pop-off valve was blown open with a backfire. Don't know if your car has that type of system, as it wasn't stock in a 71T. It still sounds like something blew loose, or a vacuum leak developed. Begin by checking the basics--spark (you said electrical was fine, but does that mean spark?), and fuel delivery. Did you check the pump operation? Is fuel acutally being delivered to the intake? Check, too, your timing--look at points (are they opening, check the gap) and set the static timing.

This is a start. Others with much more expertise will advise soon.

[Grady Clay]

Originally posted by Twilks63
I have owned this car for about 9 months with no problems. It was a beautiful day yesterday so I rolled her out to wash it. After washing it I dried everything off and started her. Let it warm up for about 15 minutes and took off for a ride. About 1 mile away I heard a pop from the engine and it died. The electrical system was fine but she would not start again. The engine cranks but does not turn over. I checked the fuse on the fuel pump and dried everything off I could find. Still will not turn over. What do I need to check? What am I missing?
Be gentle I am a newbie.

Welcome to the forum
You will find a lot of help here.

A ‘71T normally has Zenith carburators.

“Let it warm up for about 15 minutes and took off for a ride.”
It is better to start and drive immediately. Under most conditions you don’t need to warm up a 911.

“About 1 mile away I heard a pop from the engine and it died.”
Did it quit while driving or at idle?

“The electrical system was fine but she would not start again.”
Does that mean it had spark while cranking?

“The engine cranks but does not turn over.”
Does this mean the starter spins but doesn’t turn the engine?

“I checked the fuse on the fuel pump”
The fuel pump isn’t usually fused (but is switched). Switched power for the pump is at the left side of fuse #7 of Fuse Block I (10-pole, the upper one). Power doesn’t go through the fuse #7.

“and dried everything off I could find. Still will not turn over.”
Can you turn the engine clockwise with a 19 mm socket wrench on the crankshaft pulley?


This should be fairly easy to diagnose. The cause can range from simple to complex and you can’t tell without careful diagnosis.

Best,
Grady