230sl No start

[230SL]

I have a 66' 230sl.  I stopped using the car 5yrs ago to be repainted and rust spots repaired, I had someone dismantle the cars interior,exterior,drive train,etc.  The car was painted 2yrs later and the dismantler after that disappeared  I let the car sit another 2yrs and only last year i started having the time to start putting the car back together myself.  I installed all items for the engine to run, minus the cooling system so no belt for the water pump/alternator.  I have all new filters in the car,new oil,New fuel,spark plugs,points,condenser,fuel lines, and tank was treated to remove rust,Battery.  I tried to start the car up the other day and it cranked and cranked no sign of wanting to start so i sprayed a little ether to see if it was a fuel problem and it backfired really bad and shot a flame out of the throttle.  I checked the spark which is ok and timing of distributor is dead on. 

The fuel pressure however seems slow from the fuel injection pump to injectors.  I loosened the fuel injector line and when the engine is cranking it seems like very little pressure is building up just little bubbles and very little fuel flowing out(The pump near tank was tested and cleaned before hand), The spark plugs come out a little wet but that must of been from when the dismantler put a little oil in the cylinders so they would not seize up.  I would think even if the fuel was not properly flowing with the ether it would puff smoke or something out of the exhaust pipe or attempt to start.

Anyone have any ideas?

[thelews]

Well, I think the flames pretty well confirmed the spark plugs are working

[graphic66]

Could possibly be 180 degrees out of time, it should run on either. You may need to pull the distributor, turn it one full turn and reinstall and retime. Backfiring like that can be a symtom of this.

[230SL]

No dice, Removed the distributor and put it 180degrees the other way and worse then before.  I put the crank to TDC and put the distributor on the TDC mark etched into the housing, and made sure by taking spark plug out of cylinder #1 and making sure the piston was all the way up.  Very confused on what might be wrong, shooting for compression test next and valve clearence were check seemed ok.

[ja17]

Remove all spark plugs and leave them out.  Crack open each injector line at the injector. With accelerator pedal at full throttle, crank the engine until a bit of fuel emerges from each injector line. As fuel emerges, tighten the injector until all are done. Install a fresh set of spark plugs and start the engine !

Remember, if you have air, fuel, spark on time and compression, the engine will run. I dont think your getting a consistent fuel supply yet.

[230SL]

Wouldn't happen to know the size of the threads on the pump/injector to see if i can test pressure if that is an issue and ja's suggestion does not work??
Size/threads 12x1.5?

[ja17]

If  my first suggestion does not work, it is just the first step in the process Mr. 230SL.  Once we confirm that the fuel supply is at the injectors and your plugs are fresh. We will assume your engine is getting air.  Next  check for  spark  at the distributor. Remove the center distributor wire (from the coil) and hold it close to grounded metal on the engine while someone cranks the engine. You should get a nice strong bluish spark as the engine is cranked.

[230SL]

It was a bad ground from the engine block to the chassis, seemed to not give a very good spark or enough once i fixed ground it started right up and the timing was a little off which gave me the backfire

[ja17]

Congratulations on your success.  A cheap fix, fairly simple......................diagnosis required the most effort in this instance.