Hello Again,

So after a couple months in the garage replacing fuel lines, gas tank, etc. I decided to go for a Sunday drive. I charged the 6 volt battery in my 1951 Deluxe with a 216 Straight Six engine and headed down the road. After coffee hopped back in the cab and when to turn it over and nothing. Not even a click. I only drove about a mile into town. I jiggled some wires and checked the terminals and pushed the start button a couple more times. I got some clicks here and there, but didn't want to turn over. I decided to pop the clutch. Success! Sort of. I made it about half way home and died in an intersection. Pushed the start button again... nothing. Tried popping the clutch and the wheels basically screeched to a stop (maybe I wasn't going fast enough?) I tried again with a little more speed the same thing happened but with a pretty serious back fire and a plume of black smoke. No turnover.

First my biggest concern... I didn't seize the engine did I? I don't know how I would have, it has oil, it wasn't too hot either. Second, where should I start with this electrical issue? I checked the wires in sight they were ok. I cleaned some terminals... I'm lost. It has the 6 volt system in it now and I have plans of switching to a 12 volt system.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I appreciate any help I get.

 

I'd suggest with a voltmeter on the battery, check static voltage. Try to start it. If the battery voltage dosen't change, it is an electrical connection, more than likely at the battery. You can jump start it with a 12 volt battery, I don't recommend it, but I have in the past (way back when 6 volts weren't that uncommon). The backfire issue probably distributor timing. I doubt points, as you say it backfired, but check gap anyway. To check that the engine isn't siezed, pull plugs, with a break over bar, and socket on the crank shaft, pull it, if you can roll it, you are good.

 

Thank you Kevin, again! I jumped the car and got it running. I'm starting to think that the only things that work on the car is the fuel tank and the new fuel pump I just put in. I was able to drive a little bit down the road but then I started loosing all power to the point I was going about 2 miles per hour when I decided to shut it down. I'm guessing this could be a hundred different things, one thing I did notice is a good amount of gas pouring from the gaskets of the carb. I think the issue with the starter is just a matter of finding a loose or frayed wire, I was able to crank it over a few times today which is an improvement to where I was at yesterday.

Is there anything else I should check besides the obvious carb issue? It kind of seems the root of my problems with the car started with the dirty fuel lines and gas tank...

 

Is this a single barrel Carter? You should still be able to get gaskets for it. Either the float is too high, and or has a hole in it. Take it apart. I submerge the float in a cup of water, usually if the float has a hole in it, shake it you'll feel fuel in it.