A few weeks ago, I turned the car off after work, and much to my dismay, it wouldn't start the next morning. Since then, I've got a new starter motor in it, recharged the battery (several times), and rebuilt the carbs. The fuel pump is working, and for the first time in weeks its actually turning over, and trying to fire, but its still not starting. It just sputters. I've got my nozzles down about 3.5 turns, though I've tried it in every position from 2-5 turns. Starting fluid helps, but it dies shortly after. Not sure what I'm doing wrong here... Its hard to do anything with it since I don't have a garage, and its below freezing here in Salt Lake. I was out in the cold for 3 hours, when I did finally get it to sputter. It sounds as if it would start, but just doesn't. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed.

Spark?

So isn't this the same symptoms you had before ?

You did get the chokes set up correctly. These carbs can be finicky in cold weather. Make sure the nozzles are dropping when engaging the choke.

Yup, chokes move better than ever. One would stick, part of the reason I pulled them off. I didnt get a chance to look at the spark plugs, got too cold, but I'll pull them tomorrow and see what I find. If they need to be replaced, whats the best kind to pick up? Before the rebuild, it didnt even try to fire. It turned over until the starter motor finnaly passed away. Now it at least sounds like some fuel is lighting up.

NGK

When the engine fires with the starter fluid does it run smoothly for a second or sputters.

It was a long time ago cause I don't remember which car it was but anyway it wouldn't start. Got a push from somebody and after pushing it a long time it finally started, and somehow that "fixed' it.

NGK

When the engine fires with the starter fluid does it run smoothly for a second or sputters.

It seems to do better than with just the gas, but its not really enough time to tell. Figured as much on the NGK. Dunno if any of the local shops carry it, but I'll see.

This sounds like what happened to me.

My brother in law was an apprentice at a Datsun shop in the 70's.

My 240 wouldn't start after I flooded it trying to start it with a bad new rotor.

With good parts and spark the motor would fire intermittantly but not start.

Cleaned the plugs and they looked great but still it would not run.

My brother in law told me to put fresh plugs in it (NGK).

I installed the plugs and it fired up immediately.

He told me this was common back when he worked on these cars every day.

My 2 cents for what it is worth.

Casey

Edited January 18, 201312 yr by Casey_z

Thanks Casey. I though I might have flooded th a few weeks ago, when the prroblems started but then they kept coming. I guess I was joping tjey would just clear out themselves, but that doesnt seem to be the case.

Clean and tighten all the low tension wire connectors from the distributor to the balast resistor and coil.

Worked for me.

Does this car have standard ignition?

Could be a failing condenser.

Edited January 18, 201312 yr by olzed

The store didnt have any ngks so I installed some autolites for the time being. After some hesitation it started and wouldnt idle. A few adjustments later and it was running. However, now there is fuel pouring out of the float bowl air hose. I remeber the just su says why, but if anyone recalls, I'd rather not scrub through a 4 hour video for that bit.