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By Bigfoot5 - 13 Years Ago
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Hay i own a 55 ford fairlane with 272 engine. i cant seem to get it ti start iv had the timing looked at and starter look at all is good. its the original 6v system. it sounds like it turning a little slow but i dont kno. i did check the silinoid and its only getting 5.3v of power i dont kno if thats it or not. i do put it in neutral. if anyone has an idea please help. if someone thinks they might be able to help me i live near ft. bragg, Nc. i would like to drive this car before i deploy to afganistan in may
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By Apache - 13 Years Ago
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Have you tried jumping the solenoid to diagnose starter and electrical problems? Do the instruments come on when the key is in the ON position???
Turn the key to the ON position, then take a screwdriver or a jumper wire (Make sure you're not holding the metal or you'll zap the crap outta yourself) and cross the solenoid posts that go to the battery side and the starter side. This will give direct power to the starter and will engage the starter.... It should start the car if the power to the ignition is on and all the wiring is right, assuming your battery and starter are good of course. If it starts disconnect the jumper wire/screwdriver.
If you get it turning over and no ignition, it's probably a timing, or your spark
If you get nothing, it's your battery or starter
Hope this helps a little bit.
And anyone correct if I'm wrong.
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By MoonShadow - 13 Years Ago
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If you run a small wire from the positive post to the plus side of the coil and do the jumper outlined above the car should start. If it dosen't you have other problems. Chuck
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By PF Arcand - 13 Years Ago
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Other things to consider. Have you cleaned the battery clamps & posts well? Are you getting fuel to the carb when cranking? Are all the connections to the starter & solenoid clean. Have the battery cables been replaced recently? 12 V. (lighter) cables are often substituted for original heavier 6 V cables. They will not carry the heavier amperage well..
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By JoeBob - 13 Years Ago
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MoonShadow (4/30/2012)
If you run a small wire from the positive post to the plus side of the coil and do the jumper outlined above the car should start. Chuck
'55s are 6v POSITIVE ground. I think Chuck meant to suggest connecting a small wire from the NEGATIVE post to minus side of the coil. I you do it a Chuck said you will be grounding your ignition out.
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By MoonShadow - 13 Years Ago
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Oops again! Didn't read close enough. He is correct. Chuck
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By JoeBob - 13 Years Ago
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Your a good guy Chuck, Just trying to keep you honest... 
BigFoot, You stated it is turning over, altho slowly. have you checked for spark?
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By Bigfoot5 - 13 Years Ago
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so my friend and i went thru the car today and still nothing. we r trying to adjust the timing with the distrubitor but we still are not getting the ignition. i t sounds like it tries a couple times to but then nothing
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By pegleg - 13 Years Ago
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Hit it with some either while you crank, if it tries to start you have a fuel, not ignition issue.
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By Ted - 13 Years Ago
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You might put an amp reader over the cable going to the starter while cranking the engine over. If you’re drawing excessive amps while starting, then there’s likely not enough current left for the distributor to provide an adequate spark. I had a ’54 Victoria that this was the problem. The starter from all outward appearances seemed fine as it turned the engine over okay but the engine just wouldn't fire off. Push started just fine but wouldn’t start with the starter until I took the starter apart and rebuilt it. After that all was okay.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 13 Years Ago
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Have you tried jump starting it with a 12 volt battery? Many of the current 6 volts that will fit in your battery tray simply do not have enough power to crank the engine fast enough and have reserve for ignition as Ted stated.
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By lyonroad - 13 Years Ago
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I was just going to suggest what John suggested. When I was a kid on the farm in the '50s a lot of the oldtimers used 12 volt batteries to start their tractors in the winter to get extra cranking power. By the time I was old enough 6v were long gone for the most part so I have never tried it myself. Make sure you have the grounding correct if you try this.
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By Bigfoot5 - 13 Years Ago
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as im lookin at it right now i think the timing is ok but further inspection revieled that the fuel pump isent sending the gas. iv pulled it out and pumped it by hand and it sounds like it works but like i said its not pumping in the car. was gonna test it out but the glass bulb on the bottom fell and broke as i tried to put it back on. so intill i either replace the bulb or the pump itself wont know if itll start yet
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By GREENBIRD56 - 13 Years Ago
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A Ford "FE" engine fuel pump will work on your 272 - 352/390/406/427/428 and so on...doesn't have to be for a 272/292/312. If you get the one off a Ford 360/390 truck motor with the steel canister filter on the bottom - you won't be breaking the glass again soon. Someone above gave some advice about having your buddy give her a shot of (diesel) starting ether while cranking. That will usually prove if she's making fire or not...
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By Bigfoot5 - 13 Years Ago
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if i hoked up a 12 volt battery to ir wouldnt i risk blowing some fuses? sense everything is still 6v
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 13 Years Ago
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Don't turn on any of the accessories and you'll be OK. Leaving the 6 volt wired in and jumping + to + and - to - with the twelve volt, the 6 volt will act as a buffer for your starter solenoid and ignition.
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By Bigfoot5 - 13 Years Ago
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alright so i put the new fuel pump on and now im getting fuel. im getting puffs of smoke like its igniteing but still no turn over. tryed to adjust distrubior still no go. any ideas?
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By Grizzly - 13 Years Ago
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bigfoot5, Static time you dizzy by aligning the timing mark on your harmonic balancer with the timing mark. Anywhere on the 0-10deg will be fine, ensure that you rotor aligns with the dot on the dizzy (cyl 1) this will do for inital timming. Then if it won't fire check your voltage at the coil whilst turning the engine over with starter. If it's low run a wire from the battery directly to the coil. As long as the fuel is good and it's getting to your cylinders it should fire. cheers Warren
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By Bigfoot5 - 13 Years Ago
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Does anyone have the wiring diagram on how the plugs are sopposed to be hooked up to the distrubitor? could possibly help?
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By Grizzly - 13 Years Ago
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Bigfoot5, Your firing order and your cylinder numbers are generally cast on your manifold. Start with 1 which is the marked lead on your Dizzy and number one is on your left standing in front of the car looking at the engine the closest cylinder. a link to how it works. http://www.y-blocksforever.com/forums/Topic69022-3-1.aspx?Highlight=firing+order Cheers Warren
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By ejstith - 13 Years Ago
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BF5, if you put your pointer on TDC & determine the bug is pointed @ the #1 plug wire then move the balancer to about 10 degrees on the pointer. Pull your #1 plug wire & hold it close to a ground & with the ignition on slowly turn the distributor & when it sparks that should be timed at 10 degrees & you'll also know there is spark. But like someone said before there may not be enough juice to run the starter & ignition too.
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