I have good spark, fuel, and compression; Still will not start.

[spikes64bug]

This my 1835 build. This car was running a 1641 prior to the installation of the new motor.

The problem is I have fuel, spark, and compression. It will not fire. All components are new. Battery, harness, coil, Dizzy, etc. The engine is new, never been fired. I assembled it myself and this in not my first rodeo.

I read the posts found this one particularly helpful:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=556143

Still will not fire.

Anyone have any ideas or tests that can be preformed that are out of the norm. I'm pretty sure I have tried all the normal tests.

Any advise would be helpful.

Thanks

Marc

[ps2375]

Only thing left is timing and firing order.

[spikes64bug]

Timing is set static at 10, I have also tried 0 and 30. Will not start.

I verified TDC at the pulley and head #1 valves are closed. Wires are new and are verified at a 1432 orientation. Still will not fire.

I have built a few engines before, I know sometimes they can be stubborn. This one is something I have never encountered before, something is fishy...

[catahoula lou]

Make sure wires from ignition switch and distributor are connected correctly to the coil, as it's easy to forget when you r&r engines.

ALSO, make sure that if you have any automatic chokes, to connect them to coil correctly, as will leave you with a very weak spark. Don't think I saw them on your engine, but I could be wrong.

Best,

Thom
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1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")

Still looking for:
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[modok]

Do you know how to find TDC overlap?
When #1 is at firing TDC, #3 will be at overlap, both valves slightly open about the same amount. So what I'd be doing is turn the engine over and get the #3 valves rocking at overlap, then look at the pulley and see if it's at 0 degrees, or the empi logo, or at 90...could be off! never trust anything

[srfndoc]

No points gap?
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RPM=(MPH*336* (R&P*4th*1.26))/Tire Diameter in inches

[spikes64bug]

modok. I looked at the overlap on #3, it does not exist. I also noticed that using the same logic, the #2 exhaust should be rocking at TDC it is not. Knowing this is key. Now in theory all I have to do is find the engine position that reflects what I want to see happening. i.e Valves on #1 closed, #2 exhaust rocking, with overlap on #3. Then mark that position on the pulley as TDC and set the Dizzy, the timing and double check valve clearance. Thanks for the tip. I will let you know how it turns out.

[modok]

I think you do not have the cylinder numbers right in your mind. They are marked on the tin just outside the spark plugs.

#1 TDC, #3 will be rocking.......or some thing is wrong

[spikes64bug]

modok. #'s 1 and 3 are at the rear and 2 and 4 are towards the front.

I watched this video I found in another post with similar issues. This guy in the video does not go in to overlap on #3 but he does address #2 exhaust should be rocking at TDC. Mine is not. Nor do I have any play or overlap on #3 at TDC. So something is definitely off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulQmKU2weyI

[vwinnovator]

pop your diet cap off and take a pic of the rotor position at TDC on pulley.

i'm thinking your plug wires are off or your dist drive gear is in wrong.

If they check out, spray some starting fluid down the carbs. if you have spark and correct firing order, it will atlas start up for a sec or 2.

Also, when you open the throttles, do your access tubes squirt fuel?

[modok]

[spikes64bug]

1 and 3 at the rear 2 and 4 in the front.. Of the motor, I was not talking about the the whole car, sorry my focus is solely on the engine at this point..

[modok]

Ok
the back WOULd be the front if it was a Matador.

[spikes64bug]

[modok]

If the cam gear was 180 off, it would still be timed right, ironically.

But yes if it was timed wrong it sure would be confusing.

[Dale M.]

Just for clarity...

During assembly (lay up) in case...

Dale
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============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[spikes64bug]

[spikes64bug]

[Derek Cobb]

Is that green wire on the positive or negative post on the coil?

[spikes64bug]