Car doesn't start

GSpreeman · GSpreeman's Garage

Hey guys,

I have a 356 but my engine is a 912. Here's my problem:

The car was worked on for about a year by a bodyshop. I had it towed home wanted to start it a few weeks ago. Put in new gas and it wouldn't start but it would turn over. I sprayed some ether in the carbs and it would start but would only run at almost full throttle. I pulled the idle jets and cleaned them. Now, I can't even get it to run at full throttle. It just fires a few times on the ether and then nothing, (the starter just keeps turning over but it won't start up). I have a fuel filter and can see that there is fuel going through it. I pulled 2 plugs so far and they are black and wet and smell of fuel.

I'm lost. Any ideas?

Thanks all,

Greg

eki912 · 03-11-2007, 09:32 AM

Are you getting good spark at sparkplugs ? Are the plugs OK ?
Dizzy points OK ? Dizzy OK ?

Green 912 · 03-12-2007, 03:16 PM

I would pull the carbs off, take them apart and clean them out from one end to the other. The float bowls need to be cleaned out and the floats reset so the fuel level is right, the idle and mains and all the little passages need to be cleaned out. Carbs get all gunked up if the fuel dries out in them from sitting. All kinds of crud gets in places and causes nothing but trouble. Clean good condition carbs, fresh plugs and new points with the timing static set are where you want to start so you can enjoy driving you fresh from the body shop 356.

MarKoBrow · 03-19-2007, 05:35 PM

Clean your carbs, Pay attention to your float levels sounds like needles are stuck.

GSpreeman · GSpreeman's Garage

Dang, I've never really taken apart a carb. This could become a nightmare very quickly. Wish me luck. BTW, anyone have a schematic of a Dellorto Carb?

912UK · 912UK's Garage

before you leap in to this.. just check a few basic things first..

One are you getting a spark when you crank it over.. take a plug out put it back in the lead put the electrode nr metal and crank over the engine.. can you see a nice bright spark ( you can see it in sunlight ) if so then you have a spark..

Next check the distributor again check there is a spark with the cap off and turn the engine..

Once you have done this retime the car and then also redo the valve gaps on the rocker gear...

All basic stuff but MUST be done before you go stripping carbs..

Once you have done all this and it still will not fire then look at carbs..

To be honest I have stripped alot of carbs now I just send them away to be done it;s just not worth the grief. in the UK they cost £150 each to be done send them off to the best place.. Why because they have had 35 years of wear and no gasket kit in the world will undo 35 years of wear...

done right they strip and clean and facture test the body, then they drill out the bushes and rebush them ( this is the one area all old carbs fail ) then they remachine the mateing faces and rebuild with new parts..

once you have done this they are ready for another 35 years!! you just need to get them set up right..

but check basics first..

oh and I am not a fan of Dellortoes I have seen two cars with the wrong carbs on the car!!! so do some research that your carbs are the correct ones for your car.. One I know knackered an engine... so watch out.