starting and cooling

Omathisen · #1 (**permalink**) 07-16-2006, 12:36 PM

Hi,
Hopefully there is somone who has some ideas and can point me in the right direction. I have an ERA with a 351, built in 96, has 8,000 miles.

#1: I have not had much time to run it this year and it has become increasingly difficult to start. Only way this weekend, was to squirt a generous amount of starting fluid into the carburator after I let it sit for about four hours after giving up. I also recharged the battery to make sure it was 100%. Before that, it just turned, but would not fire.
Also after it was running for about 3-4 minutes, it suddenly shut down and would not fire again. Suspected culprits: bad gas (it has been in the car a few months and I added fuel stabilizer), battery or what? Any ideas would be appreciated.

#2: I also discovered that the expansion tank for the coolant was empty. It has always been at a constant half -- to the point where I sometimes forget to check it. So I filled it up, and when I got the car started (before it shut down), it warmed up much faster than usual. It was a hot day but I have not seen the car warm up that fast ever. Within minutes it was at 180 degrees. It usually take 5-6 minutes to get to 140, which is usually my take off point. And it takes a while before the needle moves at all. How did I mysteriously lose the coolant? Is it the usual suspect, the thermostat? Even though the car was heating up, the hose to the radiator was still cool - so no coolant was apparently passing through. . . No obvious sign of leakage anywhere.
Again, would appreciate any useful ideas.

Thanks.
OMathisen
ERA 427

Tommy · #2 (**permalink**) 07-16-2006, 01:06 PM

Did you perhaps overheat this engine just before these problems became apparent?

Omathisen · #3 (**permalink**) 07-16-2006, 01:34 PM

Not that I have noticed. The car has always been a little tricky to start when it has been sitting for a while. But nothing ever like this. The car has a 750 cfm Holley four barrel, a Holley electric fuel pump and Ford electronic performance ignition.
Omathisen

kmarccoco · #4 (**permalink**) 07-16-2006, 04:07 PM

mabey check the butterfly setting on the bottom of carb to start with. i run mine at about .040 slot trans showing. then adjust your air mixture. this is assuming that the timing is correct, no bad gas present, and plugs are good.

slithering · #5 (**permalink**) 07-16-2006, 04:51 PM

are you still losing coolant?

Omathisen · #6 (**permalink**) 07-16-2006, 05:21 PM

Thanks so far. Will look into it, but have to let the car sit until two weekends due to work. Meanwhile, I will continue to ponder the mysteries.
OMathisen

Tommy · #7 (**permalink**) 07-16-2006, 07:03 PM

Omathisen -
It's certainly possible that the two problems you describe are unrelated. But I asked about the possibility of an overheat because a warped head / blown head gasket could also account for both symptoms. White smoke from one side of the engine, or the aroma of anti-freeze in the exhaust would be other symptoms of that problem. A shop could pressurize the cooling system overnight and check for water leakis to determine where the coolant is going. Good luck.

Omathisen · #8 (**permalink**) 08-05-2006, 11:51 AM

Back to work on the car this weekend. Started with taking out the thermostat, tracing the loss of coolant/overheating. Tested it and opens at about 200. Will put in a new one anyways to see if any change, but suspect problem lies elsewhere. New battery is going in to.
Then we'll see.
Receptive to any ideas.
Omathisen