I just bought a 68 A-100 van with a super six in it. the previous owner said it ran great untill it stripped the distributor gear. He put a new gear on it and couldn't get it started again, so he parked it. It sat for around nine years before I bought it a couple of weeks ago. Here's what I do know about it.
The engine isn't locked up, with a new battery, it turned over.
It has spark, I cleaned and gapped the sparkplugs and I have put new points in it.
It has gas. and the carb is in decent shape, (seals are pretty good)
As the distributor goes, it's not severely out of time, (Distributor not in backwords, plug wires in the right spot).

Here's what I don't know.
The year of the engine. previous owner said he took it out of an '85 pickup. but it has points, so I'm not for sure.
The correct gap for the plugs. For an '85 engine, I was told 35. but A friend of mine said that 25 wold be better becuase the points don't create as hot of a spark as electronic ignition. I tried both, and 35 makes an orange spark, and 25 makes a blue spark.
What to do! I don't know how to get this thing running.

The same friend who advised me on the plug gap also said he thought the engine might have jumped time when the distributor gear stripped. When we tried to start it, it never wanted to go on it's own and backfired through the carb a lot. We were using fresh gas and some starting fluid, but to no avail. If you have any words of advice, that would be great. If you need more information just ask and I will answer them as best as I can. Thanks!

_________________
I believe 100%, and without a showdow of a doubt, that I am most certainly, absolutly positively, Crazy beyond all hope.

my dart sat for 9 years, ive had it 6 , and fuel problems have been a constant headache until this season when i got around to replacing the entire fuel system, did yours have gas in it? swapping all that out has been one of the best things ive done as far as reliability, rockauto has tanks cheap, as far as the other im not sure, just posting my experience, good luck!

I do plan on performing the fuel mod listed on the forum as soon as I can, but I don't think it would keep it from starting after several attempts. The van does have a gassey/turpintine like substance in the tank, but I was not using that to try and start it with. I connected a rubber fuel hose from the fuel pump in to a gas can with fresh gas, and I know it was getting to the carb. thanks for the advice, I need all I can get.

_________________
I believe 100%, and without a showdow of a doubt, that I am most certainly, absolutly positively, Crazy beyond all hope.

Have you checked the valve timing?

Danny

I'd recheck the spark timing. It sounds to me like it's advanced.

If the motor is infact an 85 it should be a hydro cam/lifter setup.Have you pulled the valve cover to see if everything is going up an down? Hydro or solid either one after setting that long the valves could have gotten rusty and be hung open with resulting back firing/no run.Went thru this awhile back with a solid lifter slant that sat for 3-4 years,maybe not your problem but worth looking at.Good luck

_________________
83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

I havn't checked the valve timing yet. To be honest, I'm not sure how to do that (don't laugh, I'm a body man). I do know that all the rockers are moving up and down, although, some of the rockers have just a little up and down play in them. I appreciate all the info, please keep it coming, I need all the help I can get. Thanks.

_________________
I believe 100%, and without a showdow of a doubt, that I am most certainly, absolutly positively, Crazy beyond all hope.