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[Bill k]

I have not been able to start my 55 Nash for months and I have tried
everything. All the wiring is fine, I get a spark at the points, which
are new along with the condenser, I get gas into the carb. When I
crank it, I get one very load backfire and that's it. The battery is
fine and I can keep it cranking indefinitely, until the battery
finally runs down.

People keep telling me it must be the timing. What I need to know are
the precise step by step instructions for a dummy for getting a an
approximate timing setting that should start the car. timing before I
try to start the car.

I don't have a timing light.

Or some other suggests of what could prevent it from starting.

By the way, six months ago, the car ran fine.

[Guest]

I might think that you broke a timing chain or it jumped a notch.
Simple test..Remove number one sparkplug. Put your thumb in the hole.
“Bump” the starter till air force's pass your thumb, stop..Follow
number one wire back to the distributor, pull the cap off. Your rotor
should be pointing at the number one nipple in the cap. If it is, your
in the ballpark. If it isn't you could turn the distributor so it is.
Another test is to pull a valve cover, turn the engine over and watch
the valves for action. If the chain broke they won't be moving. A loose
chain can “jump” a notch or two and raise hell with the timing.
Hope this helps.
That thumb test puts you on the compression stroke, which is when number
one should be firing.
Dan
Milw WI

[Guest]

Start by buying a timing light and a book on how to set the
distributor to match the first cylinder just before TDC, WBMA.




mike hunt



Bill k wrote:

[Bill k]

I'll try that test with the plug out. Appreciate you taking the time.

Bill k

[Bill k]

On Sat, 07 May 2005 18:30:04 -0400, MajorDomo@mailcity.com wrote:

[Guest]

By the way Bill, when you do the thumb thing, watch out for the plug
wire.
Keep it away from your hand or it will zap you. Learned that from
experience.
That little trick also works if you are putting on a new cap or new
wires and you loose track of which wire goes where.
The firing order is printed on the manifold. With the cap off, crank
the engine over, note which direction the rotor turns. Now just follow
the firing order with the wires in the direction of the rotor.
Now the next time the neighbor pulls
his distributor out and can't get it back in time you can come to the
rescue.
55 Nash V8 18436572
6 153624
Dan
Milw WI

[Leon Rowell]

There's one on e-Bay now. It's at $15....

Leon Rowell


Bill k wrote:

[Guest]

You are kidding, right?


mike hunt



Bill k wrote:

[Guest]

Bill K
Was this ever resolved?

Dan
Milw WI

[berkshire bill]

<LAIKA1@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:8278-4290B17A-2@storefull-3255.bay.webtv.net...

[Guest]

Poster wrote
I have not been able to start my 55 Nash for months and I have tried
everything. All the wiring is fine, I get a spark at the points, which
are new along with the condenser, I get gas into the carb. When I crank
it, I get one very load backfire and that's it. The battery is fine and
I can keep it cranking indefinitely, until the battery finally runs
down.
People keep telling me it must be the timing. What I need to know are
the precise step by step instructions for a dummy for getting a an
approximate timing setting that should start the car. timing before I
try to start the car.
I don't have a timing light.
Or some other suggests of what could prevent it from starting.
By the way, six months ago, the car ran fine.
Dan Wrote:
I might think that you broke a timing chain or it jumped a notch. Simple
test..Remove number one sparkplug. Put your thumb in the hole.
"Bump" the starter till air force's pass your thumb, stop..Follow number
one wire back to the distributor, pull the cap off. Your rotor should be
pointing at the number one nipple in the cap. If it is, your in the
ballpark. If it isn't you could turn the distributor so it is.
    Another test is to pull a valve cover, turn the engine over
and watch the valves for action. If the chain broke they won't be
moving. A loose chain can "jump" a notch or two and raise hell with the
timing.
    Hope this helps.
That thumb test puts you on the compression stroke, which is when number
one should be firing.
Dan
Milw WI

[berkshire bill]

<LAIKA1@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:3379-4290FC32-264@storefull-3258.bay.webtv.net...
Poster wrote
I have not been able to start my 55 Nash for months and I have tried
everything. All the wiring is fine, I get a spark at the points, which
are new along with the condenser, I get gas into the carb. When I crank
it, I get one very load backfire and that's it. The battery is fine and
I can keep it cranking indefinitely, until the battery finally runs
down.
People keep telling me it must be the timing. What I need to know are
the precise step by step instructions for a dummy for getting a an
approximate timing setting that should start the car. timing before I
try to start the car.
I don't have a timing light.
Or some other suggests of what could prevent it from starting.
By the way, six months ago, the car ran fine.
Dan Wrote:
I might think that you broke a timing chain or it jumped a notch. Simple
test..Remove number one sparkplug. Put your thumb in the hole.
"Bump" the starter till air force's pass your thumb, stop..Follow number
one wire back to the distributor, pull the cap off. Your rotor should be
pointing at the number one nipple in the cap. If it is, your in the
ballpark. If it isn't you could turn the distributor so it is.
Another test is to pull a valve cover, turn the engine over
and watch the valves for action. If the chain broke they won't be
moving. A loose chain can "jump" a notch or two and raise hell with the
timing.
Hope this helps.
That thumb test puts you on the compression stroke, which is when number
one should be firing.
Dan
Milw WI


Everything written above should help you. Six volt timing lights are rare
so just use a 12v light and a 12v battery to drive the timing light and make
your hookup to the usual #1 lead. You should be able to detect a change in
timing quickly with a light. Most of the other things I'm thinking about
usually make a poor running engine. Vacuum hoses broken, missing or
cracked. Manifold leaks, choke not working etc.. the list is endless but
nail down the timing first.

Bill

[Scott Buchanan]

I had a lot of trouble to get a Corvair to run. I was getting spark at the
plugs. Turns out to be a bad ballast resistor. It had too much resistance
due to rusty contacts. This caused too little to create a strong spark and
would not spark under load. The plug wires were bad too.


"Bill k" <octoberbilly@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:tmaq71176v7ierqa9gpj0596th47nupoo9@4ax.com...