Belt Skipped a Few Teeth

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Well, Charlie, I think the good news is that your engine is spinning around on the starter motor without jamming up. Progress!

95 psi is "OK" but not great. I would expect 120 to 130 psi. But, to do this test properly, you need to remove all the spark plugs, drop a 1/4 teaspoon of oil into each cylinder as you test it, hold the gas pedal to the floor, and crank about 8 times. However, the fact that your cylinders all measure 95 psi pretty consistently is a good sign.

As far as not starting, I'm guessing it's an ignition timing issue, and we'll help you work through that.

-Bryan

[CharlieB]

Thanks Bryan,
It may have something to do with the Pertronix ignition system I installed. I installed it just before all of this happened.
Before I broke the valve. I may try switching back to points and see what happens.
As for the compression test, I did the test without having the throttle open. I'll redo that as well.
Thanks for hangin in there with me.
Charlie

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I wish I could offer advice on electronic ignition systems, but the vast majority of my Fiats have had points. Certainly the ones I've owned recently. I guess I'm just old school. But, the good news is that there are many on this forum who know a lot about Pertronix. You might need to post a new thread, and I suggest putting "Pertronix" somewhere in the title. You're guaranteed to get some nibbles that way.

-Bryan

[dinghyguy]

if it ran before (even briefly) i don't see why it should not run now. Did you try a squirt of starting fluid or carb cleaner to see if that would make it fire? I assume you checked each plug and it sparks..... if they actually spark then i would think the ignition is functional.

did you flood it trying to start it?

just trying to think of all the easy things, but i bet you did most of them already, just trying to get a full picture.

cheers
dinghyguy

[CharlieB]

Well I decided to reinstall the points, and lo and behold it started up on the first turn of the key.
I simply could not be happier. I made a few timing adjustments after the first start and honestly the engine has never sounded so good...at least since I've owned it.
I'll figure out the electronic ignition later.
I can't thank you guys enough for helping me out with this.
I've learned more in the past few weeks about how this car works, than I have in the past 5 years of owning the car.
Bryan, I'll let you get back to working on your own car now.
Thanks everyone,
Charlie

[18Fiatsandcounting]

That's awesome Charlie, and it makes my day to hear this (really). Thanks for sticking with it, and also to all the people who have offered help along the way as you've worked through the issues.

And yes, today I'm replacing all four shocks on my '71 spider. They are Monroe, so they aren't the originals, but since I bought the car in 1988 and haven't changed the shocks since, it's probably been 35 years or more. I think we can agree that it is probably a good time to change them!

-Bryan

[geospider]

yes, that's great Charlie.
Bryan, shocks in almost 100 deg. tough guy. I'm no smarter; took out a 30' tree, but I have a pool.
Would like to this spider one day. I'll drive down your way.
Geo

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Bryan, shocks in almost 100 deg. tough guy. I'm no smarter; took out a 30' tree, but I have a pool.
Would like to this spider one day. I'll drive down your way.
Geo

Come on down my way some day, and you'll get to see two Fiat spiders for the price of one admission!

Well, my wife wanted me to paint a 2nd story balcony that is in full sun and it's about 103, so I told her I had to replace the shocks. 85 in the garage is easier than 103 in the sun! I'm hoping this excuse works for a couple days until it cools down, but then I will have to paint that balcony.

-Bryan

[CharlieB]

Eww...shocks. I hope that went well. That's on my list too, but I'll save that for next year.
Anyway, thanks everyone for the help.
I forgot to mention that after I started the car, I let it run until the fan came on. I shut it off and heard a tap tap tap sound, like there was a leak. It was my dogs tail tapping against the wall of the garage. She was very excited.

So she thanks you all as well. My wife made me cut her out of the photo...something about convertible hair.
Charlie

[18Fiatsandcounting]

My heart skipped a beat when I read about the tap, tap, tap sound, but I was relieved to hear it was just the dog tail. It's funny, I took out my '71 today to test the shocks, and our dog (black labrador) sat in the back in the same position, and with my wife in the passenger seat. I did not get a picture, as we didn't stay out very long seeing as how it was already 94 degrees at 10:30 this morning, and peaked at 108 around 2 pm. Now it's a balmy 102... Let's hope it cools down tomorrow as that balcony still needs paint....

And the shock replacement worked fine. The fronts actually only take about 20 minutes each, but for the rears, the springs have to come out and that's a bit trickier. But, about a half day total. And the dog approved. He gets all excited when he hears the engine start up, as he thinks he might be going for a ride.

-Bryan