69 custom 10 not starting
 

Hey guys, forgive me if I posted this in the wrong spot but was hoping to get some help from you.

My grandfather recently passed away and gave me his 69 custom 10 that he bought off the lot. The truck is in phenomenal shape and absolutely beautiful.


A little history about the truck, it came from Lake Havasu City Arizona and I live in Colorado Springs. I am reasonably mechanical and have done some projects on my cars over the years but not familiar at all with carbureted motors.

When It first got here I could smell it was obviously running rich so I changed the Jets two sizes if I recall correctly. It ran okay but every once in a while it felt like it would dog during acceleration. The wife drove it to school about a month and a half ago and it flat out wouldn't start. Had it towed home and have been reluctant taking It to a mechanic ever since.


Would any of you guys be willing to give me advice and help me troubleshoot it?

Thanks so much

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

did you/she smell gas when trying to start, if you did maybe the carburetor float is stuck or malfunctioning.

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

When I tried starting it right now I definitely feel like I could smell a little bit of gas

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

I checked the sight level and it appears that the fuel is at the right level. Is there anything further to inspect relating to the float?

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

you might be able to choke off the fuel hose with some pliers while cranking the motor and if it is the float it might unstick. I'm no carburetor guy though, I usually take mine to a carburetor guy that's his specialty.

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

oops

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Replaced the plugs as they looked pretty dirty and gapped them at .045 due to what I found on the web. Ignition is hei. Still nothing. Previous gap was .035

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

have you tested to see if you have spark? What you're describing is usually either a fuel or a spark problem. Check your carb to see if your getting fuel first. Take the air cleaner off then look into the carb and watch as you pull on the throttle. If fuel squirts into the opening, you probably have a spark problem. Pull a spark plug wire from one of your spark plugs and ground it to the intake manifold. Have someone crank it and watch to see if you see spark from the plug wire.

Let us know what happens.

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Definitely have fuel going into the carb. When wife comes home I'll check for spark

Thanks for the help

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Ill secxond that , i usaly take a plug wire off , plug it into an old plug , ground it with a wire or clamp it to the hood hindge so i can see if its sparking while the engine is turning

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Clipped a plug to my hood and no spark! Ugh

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

I had the same issue and found out the wire from cole to the distributor had wiggled lose a little. I cleaned connection and popped it back in and it worked.

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Anybody know how to post a stinking picture. I have searched all over and can't figure it out. Wire coming from battery terminal looks sketchy(possibly got too hot as it rests close to manifold). Have absolutely no idea if this is the problem but thought I would post a picture

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

spark pluig gap for points ign is 035 hei ing is 045
if you have points igni you need to set the gap or dwell for it to fire right

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

There is no "Manage attachments" button on the bottom of my page.

There is a mallory HEI on this truck so .045 correct?

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Just below the reply message box in each thread you'll see a tab that says 'go advanced'.
Click on it and then you can't miss the manage attachments part.

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

I'm not sure which cable you're referring to. Hopefully you can post a pic so we can help you with that.

As for the no spark issue, start simple. Check you fuse box to see if you blew an ign fuse first. If the fuse is good, check all your plug wires at the cap and the plugs to make sure they are snapped in place. If they aren't, fix it and try again. If they are, then it's internal or a wire to the distributor problem. If nothing from before fixes the issue, pull the cap and take a look at your rotor and all of the metal terminals on the underside and see if they are burnt or corroded. Take a pic and post it. (be sure to disconnect your battery cable before you remove the cap so you don't zap yourself or worse. And leave your plug wires connected)

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Hopefully this works

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Truck

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Pic

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

It's alive !!!! Thanks so much for the help guys. Pulled of the boots from the distributer and reconnected them. I feel kind of stupid. Not used to having to shake wires to get my car started. Learned something.

Do you guys know of any websites or books that breakdown these types of engines and their components. Would really like to learn more about them. Also I know I need to do the timing on it. Does anybody have a good DIY link

Re: 69 custom 10 not starting
 

Try this FAQ in the engine sectiion.
.......http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=457278

David Vizards "How to rebuild a small block Chevy" is a great book for amateurs and any of the auto parts stores will have Haynes manuals on vehicles that will help on the whole vehicle.
I got mine from Pep Boys, the number is 24064 / Chevy and GMC pickups 1967 thru 1987