Need Help in Dallas - any volunteers?

[Hoegenauer]

I have an '87 911 that I got (against my wife's better judgement). It had not been running in about a year, but had a professional engine rebuild shortly beforehand - so we know the engine is good. I am told it was running well when it was parked. I have been unable to get it started. I have replaced the DME, fuel pump, fuel filter and gas tank, as well as cleaned out the gas lines. The tank was rusted so badly, it would not drain when the fuel line was removed. I am getting frustrated and my wife is more frustrated about the "yard art". I have got to get this running or I am toast. Man I could use some help, but can't afford to take it to a shop. I have to admit, although I am an engineer, I do not know squat about these engines. The car was a bit of a basket case as it was being painted...door panels are off as well as many of the lights, but I cannot image any of that would prevent starting. Please? anyone with sugestions? I still tend to think it might be fuel related.

Thanks for reading.

[Jagshund]

Is it turning over? Have you turned it over by hand?

[dshepp806]

spark and fuel,...you got 'em? pulled an injector yet?

Was the actual DME changed out? Or do you mean "DME Relay"?

Best,

Doyle

[sleepy911]

My old auto shop teacher used to say "pull a plug and have yer buddy crank it over and if it shocks the sh@t out of you have a beer and see why shes not gettin fuel" as crazy as that sounds it has helped me as much as "righty tighty, lefty loosey" but bad gas is a major pain on fuel injection systems, If you have spark I would clean the tank, check the fuel pump, clean the injectors and about anything else that had fuel running through it. Hope that helps a little.

[SteveinTO]

I know it's crude, but see if it'll light off for a second or two on a shot of ether. If it does then you've probably got rust particles in that fuel distributor gizmo or the injectors, or both. If that's the case, that was probably the problem when it stopped a year ago. I'm assuming it was running O.K. when it stopped and no one has monkeyed with the distributor or wires or a dozen other things that would cause it to not run.

[Hoegenauer]

It does turn over and sound tight in doing so (no knocks, pings, rattles, etc) I

[Hoegenauer]

I changed the DME relay, not the DME.

[Hoegenauer]

I will try to ensure spark today, but I will be surprised it it has none. I should have checked that by now but admit i have not.

[Hoegenauer]

I have taken the injector rails and injectors off and sprayed the ends with cark cleaner (I know that is not the way to clean them out, but it was relatively easy.

[tmctguer]

if you are getting spark, make sure the distributor is installed correctly (e.g., not turned 180 degrees in wrong direction). take off the distributor cap, rotate the engine by hand in the correct direction, and make sure the rotor points to #1 spark plug the flywheel TDC mark shows TDC.