Engine won't fire

[Ron Norwood]

SeverAL MONTHS AGO i PICKED UP A 1974 914 1.8 THAT HAD BEEN SITTING ON A LOT FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS(LONG STORY).i HAVE FREED UP THE ENGINE TO WHERE IT TURNS OVER WELL WITH THE STARTER BUT CAN'T GET IT TO FIRE UP. tHE PLUGS ARE FIRING AND THE FUEL PUMP SEEMS TO BE OPERATING OK (GOOD SUCTION). i'M THINKING ABOUT GIVING IT A SHOT OF ETHER TO PRIME IT! sUGGESTIONS??

[rich]

Is it carbed or injected? If it's injected disconnect the power lead to the coil, Use a tester (or make one from an old miniture bulb socket) touch it to the injector wiring connectors. Crank the engine. see if your getting a signal to the injectors. If this is okey pull out an injector Then crank the engine. Check to see if you are getting fuel through any of the injectors, These can corrode and rust intermally. No squirt. No fire.It's a place to start.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Ya need three things for the engine to fire: spark, fuel, and air (or compression).

Adjust the valves and do a compression test. Zero compression on a couple of cylinders will be enough to keep the car from starting. Zero on only one cylinder generally isn't enough by itself.

After you have those three things, all the rest is timing.

--DD