P6 3500 refusing to start - details inside

[pardonthewait]

Quick update - I've ordered a Powerspark electronic distributor conversion kit and will be fitting that hopefully this week, also ordered a timing light and there's a new coil and HT leads in the kit.

So once that's on it should have a good reliable ignition and the timing will be set correctly as well as being 100% positive all the leads etc are in order. While I'm about it I will carry on looking out for bad wiring and bad earths etc. I was planning on a general renewal of a lot of the old stuff so now is, I guess, as good a time as any! I just hope there aren't any future issues with heat affecting the electronic module on the side of the distributor but in the P6 it's right next to the rad fan so hopefully won't give me any issue.

My reserve tap is very 'floppy' also so I think possibly this week I will look into how one goes about removing the reserve system altogether just to remove another possible issue from the system.

Thanks again for all the help so far, I'll update if I have any luck!

[sowen]

Nov 2, 2015 12:54:56 GMT pardonthewait said:

Quick update - I've ordered a Powerspark electronic distributor conversion kit and will be fitting that hopefully this week, also ordered a timing light and there's a new coil and HT leads in the kit.

So once that's on it should have a good reliable ignition and the timing will be set correctly as well as being 100% positive all the leads etc are in order. While I'm about it I will carry on looking out for bad wiring and bad earths etc. I was planning on a general renewal of a lot of the old stuff so now is, I guess, as good a time as any! I just hope there aren't any future issues with heat affecting the electronic module on the side of the distributor but in the P6 it's right next to the rad fan so hopefully won't give me any issue.

My reserve tap is very 'floppy' also so I think possibly this week I will look into how one goes about removing the reserve system altogether just to remove another possible issue from the system.

Thanks again for all the help so far, I'll update if I have any luck!

You have an electric fuel pump AND reserve system still in place?

How is it routed as you have a fuel return line don't you? Factory setup is two lines from the tank, one picking up from slightly higher than the base of the tank and the other through a small filter right in the base. Normal fuel supply is from the higher pipe, reserve from the filter at the bottom. Both fuel lines run under the car to the tap generally on the side of the inner wing/footwell near the tunnel, then one line to the mechanical pump on the engine and into the carbs. Be worth checking how the fuel system now runs just in case there could be something amiss there too however unlikely?

[pardonthewait]

Haven't looked at the reserve system yet - I just know the reserve lever feels like it's either broken or disconnected, from what you say possibly just disconnected! I just wanted to make sure if it was there it was behaving. I didn't look into it yet because I'm getting a fuel supply so it's not on the immediate list currently.

Next time I'm out there though I will take a good look and see what the setup is.

I'm basically clueless at the moment and learning as I go which presumably shows in my ignorance! I'm willing to learn though

[colnerov]

Hi, regarding the reserve tap, check what is making it feel wrong it could be the cable has come adrift and the tap is in the midway position. The lever on the tap moves through an arc of 90 degrees, if it is half way then it could cut off the fuel or restrict it.

Colin