Will not start

MI30189

MEMBER
1977 FORD E-SERIES VAN
5.8L
V8
RWD
AUTOMATIC
125,000 MILES

My van has the 351w engine and A/C. It will not start. The van has been sitting up for about two years, so I changed all the fluids, new four barrel carburetor (Edelebrock performer 1406). Changed spark plugs and wires. Tried to start and cranked just fine but could not get it to turn over, but it would try to start turn over for about two seconds, then shut off. Can you tell me what steps to take next? You have always helped me before.
Thank you.
Mark

6 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,938 POSTS

Make sure that the fuel is okay, if the tank has had stale fuel it will gum up the pump and filter, so check this first, then make sure you have good fuel pressure and spark, start here.

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Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 AT 2:48 AM

MI30189

MEMBER
50 POSTS

Thank you for your input, I have already done this. It has fresh fuel. It feels like it wants to run, but when you get it to start, it runs for about two seconds and cut out. I feel that I am over-looking something so easy, but I am just waiting for you to figure it out LOL!
Thank you.
Mark

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Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 AT 12:05 PM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,938 POSTS

Does the ignition system have a ballast resistor? If so this may bee faulty. I do not have a wiring schematic to hand for this model. Best way to test is to hot wire the coil, small jump wire from battery to coil positive (+) this will by pass any in line resistor, try a start and if it runs this is the problem. If the ballast is faulty it will fire on cranking, but when the key is returned to run it will loose ignition, or just check for twelve volts at the coil ignition on, same thing with out the hot wire.

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Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 AT 12:52 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,883 POSTS

Two things come to mind first is does the ignition have spark and does the engine have compression. If the compression is low I would think the timing chain has jumped which is common for engine of this age.

Here are some guides to help us confirm the problem:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Please let us know what you find.

Cheers, Ken

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Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 AT 12:56 PM

MI30189

MEMBER
50 POSTS

Hi Ken, I just wanted to thank u for your advice.I found that 2 of the spark plugs were incorrectly gapped. I regapped them and now it runs just fine.

Thank U
Mark