Date:         Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:17:01 -0700
Reply-To:     BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Help needed: ABA conversion has spark and fuel but won't
              start.
In-Reply-To:  <ccafde090808281625p15fd9978r9725f80f6fc5e2ff@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hello again,

I just want to follow-up on this thread. The engine is finally RUNNING. The
problem was in the distributor. The first mechanic who worked on it insisted
the timing was correct, if you recall in my posting. Checking if 4,5,6 times
and still insists he did it right. Eventually another mechanic snuck over to
see what the problem was. The rotor was pointing to the right spot on the
distributor body. After re-checking everything else, he noticed the timing
cover(?) was off. I don't what know it's called.

It's a metal cup which is pressed into the distributor shaft. The splines
were slightly off so that the window did not line-up. He pressed it out and
repositioned. The engine fired right up. I was told the distributor on my
engine is made from lower half of a CIS type engine and the timing cup/cover
(for lack of a correct name) is from an ABA. There is an adapter used which
allows it to fit in the hole for the ABA distributor. Crank position sensor
is not used at all.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for your help. So who go it right? Neil, Scott,
Jim Akiba, and myself were all partially correct. I would not have thought
that timing cover thingy (what the heck is that called?) is all that was
off. Kudos to Claro B., the second mechanic, for figuring it all out.


Cheers,

BenT



On Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 4:25 PM, BenT Syncro <syncro@gmail.com> wrote:

>  Hello Folks,
>
> I bought an ABA engine conversion which can out of a Westy which was
> changed over to Subie power. I had this in storage
> until recently when my 88 Doka blew it's engine. I had a local shop to the
> install. Everything pretty much bolted on aside from
> minor drilling for the custom engine carrier. The engine failed to start.
> It turns over; has spark; and has fuel. The mechanic insists
> he triple checked the timing and firing order. He says the conversion
> wiring harness has a couple of odd wires which looked like
> they were cut but he cannot identify where they are supposed to go since
> the harness builder supposedly switched colors when they
> interfaced the ABA harness to the Vanagon harness.
>
> I contacted the party who supposedly made the harness but was told I needed
> to identify the original owner as that is how the
> specific harness were in their files. Unfortunately, the person who
> ultimately removed the engine conversion and subsequently sold
> to same to me, is not sure who the former owner was. I got a name which did
> not match up to the harness maker's harness.
>
> Anyway, I can't understand why the engine won't at least start since there
> is both spark, fuel and supposedly correct firing order. Are
> we overlooking something obvious? By the way, this is installed behind an
> automatic trans (w/o neutral safety switch) if that matters.
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
>
> TIA,
>
> BenT
>



--
BenT