Buying a non-running vehicle can lead to a host of problems. You cannot even begin to evaluate a vehicle that will not move under it's own power. Assuming there is nothing wrong with the engine, you will likely find clutch, transmission, differential or brake problems. All are hidden on a vehicle you cannot test drive.
I originally bought Maggie for parts. It took some serious consideration to get me to cough up $500 for a non-runner. I had previously offered $300, and lost the deal when she sold for $500 to someone else. When I found her again, I was convinced. I figured that I could get $500 worth of parts out of her, and her owner just wanted to break even. Rovers are often worth less than the sum of their parts. This time I was Mr. Rational, trying to be fiscally conservative.
This Rover, however, had other plans. My wife was falling for her, and falling hard. On Maggie's first night in my driveway, my wife kept looking out the window at her, the same as I had done with Beula seven years ago. I tried to intervene, but by morning, Maggie was slated to be brought back to life.
Before I invested to much time and effort in her, I wanted to make sure she would indeed run. Maggie's engine may not have ran since she was set up years ago. I knew the engine had halfway decent compression from using the hand crank. I wired up the starter and ignition, and dropped in an old battery I had charged up.
I installed a new set of points, and a new condensor. I used my bulletproofing technique on them. Click the picture to see how to bulletproof the Lucas points. I also replaced the plug wires, timed the engine statically, and checked the firing order. The distributor cap and plugs seemed to be OK. I then changed the oil and filter. While the plugs were out, I rotated the engine over with the handcrank as fast as I could. I was hoping this would get some oil on the crank and cam journals. Finally, I put the plugs back in, pulled the coil wire off, and spun the engine over a few times with the starter. The starter worked fine. I hooked the coil wire back up and double checked the firing order again.
Then I went to the storage shed to get the can of gas. I poured a bit down the throat of the Zenith carb. The gas immediately ran out the bottom of the carb.
I got in anyway and pushed the starter button...............
The engine caught and started to run on the first revolution of the starter. Of course, with no gas tank, it did not run for long. That was OK though, I still do not have a water pump, and the radiator is in the back of the Rover!
I tried it a couple of more times, and each time Maggie cranked up and burned the gas I had poured down her throat. I have no doubt that once I get a water pump on her, she will run well. I will use a boat gas tank for a while. Then the worries will go farther down the driveline....
Pin Head Alert!
Please remember that these pages are for entertainment.
They are not a how to guide on vehicle maintenance or restoration.
I do not advocate that you pour gasoline down your carburetor and try to start the vehicle.
Doing so is DANGEROUS!
You may blow yourself up or suffer serious burns and injury.
This is NOT something to do if you are unsure of yourself.
If you are a person of simian intelligence, please find other ways to amuse yourself.
For more of this legal CYA stuff, click here.
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