I just bought a 68 LeMans, she's in decent shape but I am having a few problems. The car has been sitting for about a year without ever being started. I replaced the battery, spark plugs and changed out the fluids. I was just trying to get her to turn over. When I turned the key all the way to the right, the lights would come on in the car, etc., but nothing from the engine When the key is turned to the left, you could hear a loud buzzing sound from under the hood. Any thoughts on what I should look to replacing first to get it to start. The previous owner informed me that the engine was running great, but the car has been sitting for about a year. This is my first project car, so I really have no clue what steps I should take in rebuilding. Any advice would be great.
'68 LeMans won't turn over
- Thread starter cdescant
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Thanks, I checked all the conections and everything is fine. I actually got the fan to spin and it sounded like it wanted to start, but it would never turn over. I sprayed a little gas in the carburetor, thinking that would start it up, but it never turned.
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I'm a little confused by your description. Are you saying the engine turns over with the starter but you never get the engine to ignite? If so, you have to check if you have spark to the plugs. Try ground a plug wire with an insulator screw driver to check for spark. Look down the carburetor throat and see if you get a spray of gas when you open the throttle. When you say you changed fluids did that include gasoline? If the car for a year all the gas would have evaporated from the carb and you may end up with a lot of gunk in the carburetor.
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No, the engine has not turned over yet. Last night when I turned the key, it sounded like it wanted to, but it never would. The belts and the fan were moving, but nothing from the actual engine. I did change the gas in the car, added some fuel tank cleaner and even put some gas in the carburetor, but got the same result: the fan spinning slowly.
Hope this explains better. I'll try to see if there is spark to the plugs when I get home tonight. Thanks for your help.
Hope this explains better. I'll try to see if there is spark to the plugs when I get home tonight. Thanks for your help.
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the belts and fan turn when the crankshaft turns. So where they turning really slowly which points to a starter or battery problem or quickly which points to a fuel or ignition problem? Did you check if the points are gapped correctly?
It sounds to me like you are confusing turning over with firing. If the belts are moving then your engine is turning over which is a good thing. If its not firing or "hitting" as some call it, it is either a gas or spark issue. Thankfully you dont have to worry about computers, so find out if the gas and spark are getting there and it should hit. You may need a stronger battery as well if its turning over very slowly. Good luck.
Thanks for the info JT, I actually got it to turn over then fire up. The problem I am having now is it won't go into gear. The car is an automatic, with a 2 speed powerglide. When I bought the car I was told it would need a new transmission. My question now is, if the car won't move when put in Drive or Reverse, is that the transmission, or could there be some other issue I should look into first? The shifter (on the floor) will move to each gear and click into place, but the car does not move. The car was towed to my house, so it is able to go into neutral. Any info will be great.
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