V12/6carb won't start

Get those plugs out of that engine. Use the correct Champion number..it should be stated under the hood if the plate is still intact.

Please give us the model year as well.

 

You should get 12v at the pumps unless its a 6v system, be careful pouring gas directly into the carbs could backfire on you or cause a fire.

I'd pull one of the float bowl drain plugs to check if you are getting enough fuel, catch the fuel in a small cup.You may have plugged idle jets from sitting as well, couldn't see how they would all be plugged as the car should run on a few cylinders anyway.

Could be ignition related, timing off with a failure with the Crane, I like the MSD 6AL in my carbed BB and NGK copper BP6Es probably the best plug for older Ferraris, I heard you can go slightly hotter with BP5ES to prevent fouling.

 

Did you get it started, and if so what was the problem? Sounds electrical to me, in that perhaps the plug caps were not pushed home after the new exhaust was nailed on.

 

If it was running very rough following the exhaust work I would check the firing order first . Perhaps a nunber of cylinders/wires have been switched. Check for spark the old fashioned way . Pull a wire and put a fresh plug in it ground it and crank. If the plugs are wet they are not likely to fire. Put a fresh set in and verify the firing order first.

 

Are you getting fuel discharge from the accelerator pumps when you operate the throttle? On my old Lancia Flaminia V6 with triple Webers, I had the check balls in the pump jets stick in position after the car had been sitting, and the car was a bear to start until I got new pump jets. For some reason, I could never get the old jets to stay "unstuck". Didn't have that problem with the new jets.

Just look down the carb throats and operate the throttle by hand. If you can't see fuel coming from the discharge nozzle in each carb, then either the float chambers are dry or the check balls are stuck.

 

That’s a good suggestion, and is usually right with older British cars, but it’s almost impossible with the wiring layout of those V12s (have a look at the photo).

If things still don’t work with the new plugs in here’s a trick:

While the car is laid up charge the battery. Once the new plugs are in and the car won’t start, have a friend turn the car over on the starter at night with all the lights out. If there are breaks in the HT system you will see blue sparks dancing about - such breaks are all but impossible to detect by looking at the wires with the lights on.

I’ve seen the HT leads damaged by being threaded through the Ferrari wire conduits. It could be that simple.

Keep us posted!

 

With all those wet plugs, I would spin the motor over on the starter a while (30 seconds should do) and blow all the wet fuel out of the cylinders. And check your spark before trying to start it again.

 

I also agree with pulling the platinum plugs, I use stadard electrode NGK in lieu of the rust prone Champions. Can anyone respond to the proper gap??

Sounds like they did get the wires crossed, loose, damaged, if they put on new header pipes it's possible......

I also agree, if it doesn't fire with direct prime do not try it again until you figure it out!!

 

Just wanted to say..........AWESOME!!!!! LOL!

Good luck!

 

Wow! It looks great!

 

Yeah - pretty much what he said! I'm drooling

Glad you got it sorted out with little drama.

 

One final note ,and this is mostly for the cars with points and carbs. It was wise to drain the oil after you saw how wet the plugs were.It is posible to contaminate the oil with fuel in extreme siuations. Years ago I saw a fellow wrench blow an oil pan and most of the engine gaskets with an internal explosion due to lots of fuel in the oil. Also witnessed/heard my brother blow a muffler off a car due to excessive craking as gas got to the exhaust system and when the car burped ..... big bang! Not that big of a deal if its a Pep Boys glass pack but think about that Ansa or Tubi. IF IT WONT START RIGHT UP SOMETHING IS WRONG , STOP CRANKING , LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND FIX IT.

 

Oh yea, I've been there!

It's tough on the old headers fo' sure!

Tune to b flat and floor it! LOL!

Have you met Wolfgang, from Germany? Ya'll can 'talk shop'!!!

NGK standard electrode.......why pay more?

 

Good lord that's a beautiful car - can you tell me what kind it is/SN?

Thanks - there is now a new car at the top of my all-time favorites list...

Peter

 

EC308 !!! wow, sweet TR !!!! i scrolled down to the engine and car pics and was like " !!!!!!!!!!!!!! "


nice to have ya here !