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BDR won’t start
I bought a new Backdraft this summer and an now having trouble getting it started. Motor is the Iconic 427 with the holly carb. I’ve got spark everywhere I check ie coil, distributor and at each plug. Plugs are wet, so fuel isn’t an issue other than I may be flooding it. I get no sputttering at all when it turns over. Smell of fuel is present. Motor has about 500 miles. When it started in the past it runs great. It has been sitting about 2 weeks since the last time it ran. Last time it finally started, but I don’t know what I did that got it going
I wanted to take it out today for maybe the last time this year as winter is coming. Also it is stored in a heated garage. Any ideas where it begin? This should be really simple but I’m stumped. Thanks |
Well, you need spark, fuel and compression.
You checked spark and fuel so far. A blown head gasket can lower compression enough to prevent starting. Could be a vacuum leak. Cracked distributor cap letting in moisture. |
Remove the plugs and clean them. Disc brake cleaner or lacquer thinner works good.
Before you reinstall the plugs spin the motor over to clear out the gas. Check the gap on the plugs. Look at the choke to see if it's in the correct position. Remove air filter, reinstall plugs, see if it will crank. Some motor take a lot of gas to start. A few will flood easily. You just have to learn what you motor likes. |
Similar problem with starting my Cobra (BDR 1360, Roush 427, 550 HP with Holley Carb). The Cobra ran fine for 700+/- miles and then was hard to start. One morning, the car did not start immediately. Upon pumping the petal many times, the car would start and all ran fine. However, I did smell gasoline in the engine compartment. I opened the hood and noticed gas puddling in the in the intake manifold. Further inspection found the problem was a stripped bolt/thread in one the four screws that hold the front carburetor bowl together. The leak was small, but drained the gas from the bowl over time. Bolt/thread fixed and all is good. Check front bowl for a leak! Hope this helps.
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What distributor do you have?
What coil or coil pack do you have? |
MSD distributor, coil and ignition box. Light is on on the box. All these appear to be functioning correctly.
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I would check to see if the fuel bowls are leaking down, I had fuel pooling on the intake found gasket(seal) dried out and cracked , new seals fixed mine .
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Have you removed the air cleaner top to verify fuel delivery ?
You say the plugs were wet, Did you pull them all and dry them ? You said there is spark at every plug, but is it there at the right time? Ck with timing light. Did you ck the dist cap for moisture, carbon tracking, center contact worn/ missing? Last time mine would't start, found cap full of moisture. I seem to recall a BDR we had with the same problem and symptoms. Finally just threw in a new dist module and that cured it. You can have spark when you check it externally, no compression pressure to overcome, but cranking the engine, the cyl pressure may kill the spark. If the module doesn't do the job, you'll have the spare MSD part that everyone should carry ! |
Got it started. I checked fuel bowl levels, they were a little higher than I thought they should be looking through the sight glass in the side of the carb. Tried turning it over but not start. Before pulling more apart I grabbed my can of starting fluid and sprayed it into the manifold through the carb. Started right up and settled down nice. Took it for its last drive(going to snow today) and filled it with high octane no ethanol fuel. Drove great. No hesitation or stumbling. Just really cold with no top.
I’m thinking it may have been or still is bad fuel. |
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