RE: [Chrysler300] Gentlemen, start your engines (if you can)

["christopher beilby" <thelastbestgenius@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Re on gas in the carbs, fuel bowls.
Gas in Australia is in unleaded 92 octane.  Most higher octane ratings here 
involve ethanol.

If I use 95 octane ethanol blend, I have noticed sometimes starting of a 
morning, first time since night/nights before, that it seems like the fuel 
is not at the carb.  Hot however, not so bad.

However if I use the 97 octane gas, which has a higher % of ethanol than 95 
octane, starting of a morning is way worse, and hot after only more than a 
few minutes can be real bad.

And as I use many different older cars with mechanical fuel pumps, as well 
as 300Cs, it seems the higher the comp, the worse the problem. If the gas 
you are using over there has high ethanol contents, then that adds to modern 
fuels already poor record re vaporising re older cars - maybe you '6volters' 
try to avoid any ethanol blends, if that is possible there?

Otherwise as already mentioned, minimising the complications are high 
capacity heavy duty battery, and using thickest shortest sensible length 
battery leads of highest capacity (thickness/amp carrying capacity), making 
sure the non battery ends are secured in best possible way onto starter and 
engine block, with battery ends also soldered, or bolted/secured to good 
quality fixings to battery terminals. And good plug leads, strong coil, good 
connections from key to distributor, and good correct heat/range plugs, 
ensure a good fat spark.

It is a few years ago now, but my memories of many 6V cars, say if the 
battery is in top order (re voltage and capacity), and your leads good and 
well earthed/connected, then you should get good speed cranking - that then 
only leaves it a question of when the motor has cranked enough to fire.

And re ether, other start aids - usually hard starting when hot has been a 
bit much fuel already, and it often taking holding the throttle full open, 
cranking until motor catches.
Only as a last resort, is tipping more fuel down carb, and luckily that 
often works - as absolute last resort.  However can't say I'd like using 
ether etc in high comp motors, maybe OK with comps around/below 8 to 1. I 
still remember a mechanic showing me a conrod bent near u shape in the 
middle beam from using Aerostart/ether.
A little petrol/gas/fuel in say a small (old) glass 300 ml Coke bottle with 
old metal/alloy screw cap, is pretty safe if well held upright in some 
corner/area in trunk.  And if car is real bitch sometimes/regularly, a good 
set of jumper leads in the trunk also is good insurance.

Hot weather over here not a worry presently, first sunny day for a week, and 
last weekend first years' snow on our ski slopes in nation's two only states 
that have high enough hills/mounts for ski resorts - last year hardly any 
snow for the whole season, this year, near 4 weeks ahead of opening weekend,

Christopher in Australia


>From: "Rich Barber" <c300@xxxxxxx>
>To: "'Narve Nordanger'" <narve.n@xxxxxxx>,<artc@xxxxxxxxxxx>,"'300 Club'" 
><Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: [Chrysler300] Gentlemen, start your engines (if you can)
>Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 16:54:38 -0700
>
>Diameter or gage of the battery cable was also deemed important.  As a 
>quick
>fix to a failed lead battery end of the ground cable, I purchased a 
>standard
>cable of proper length (and RED as a REMINDER).  It was for a 12-Volt 
>system
>and about 1/2 the diameter of the original.
>
>My 1955 C-300 starts great and on the first couple of revolutions IF it has
>fuel in the carbs and glass filter bowls.  Sometimes this fuel stays there
>and sometimes it disappears.  My fuel pump is an original rebuilt with
>current materials, but I do believe that sometimes the check valve within 
>it
>may leak back.
>
>Several of you have counseled me to add an electric fuel pump, wired up for
>intermittent action at starting.  Others recommend carb overhauls to
>eliminate leakage from them to the manifold.  Both these recommendations
>seem reasonable.  I have a good, strong HD Group 2 battery that will crank
>long enough to get gas to the carbs, even when it seems the whole system is
>empty.  I sometimes prime the system with starting fluid to save time and
>wear and tear on the starting system, but that is a PIA and often takes
>twice to establish normal fuel flow.
>
>My car came to me with two manual chokes that appear to be made to replace
>the automatic choke internals.  The car spent its working life in Colorado
>so perhaps the previous owner had the same problems.  He kept the car about
>30 years, so he must have loved it in spite of its slow-starting problems.
>Chrysler even noted this and went to 12 Volt systems the next year.  I 
>don't
>recall hearing or reading of poor starting problems with the '56-'58 
>hemi's.
>
>That's it for starters
>
>C-300'ly,
>Rich Barber
>Brentwood, CA
>1955 C-300
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
>Behalf Of Narve Nordanger
>Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 7:30 AM
>To: artc@xxxxxxxxxxx; 300 Club
>Subject: SV: [Chrysler300] slow starting 55 new yorker
>
>The issue has been discussed previously on this list, try to look 6 months
>back.
>
>How about new battery cables (corrosion tends to creep into them, creating
>increased restistance and less cranking power), rebuilt carbs (did alot for
>me). The starter normally anyhow cranks slowly, especially when hot.
>
>In the old days I always carried a 12V spare battery and some heavy jumping
>cables with me, if nothing else helped that would do the trick. Especially
>handy when travelling by ferry where engines had to be switched off during
>transit, and everybody else was waiting for you to start up on arrival.
>Eventually, I got tired of pushing the C-300 off the ferry... Best story 
>was
>actually when pulled over by law for speeding (inherent with 300s?), and
>they afterwards had to give me 12V starting help to clear the area for new
>"customers".
>
>Nowadays I am not that fond of pushing cars, so I try to plan ahead and
>never stop the engine unless time to cool down.
>
>Narve in Norway
>22 years of 6V Chrysler experience
>
>   -----Opprinnelig melding-----
>   Fra: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]På;
>vegne av Art Cragnotti
>   Sendt: 24. mai 2007 15:52
>   Til: 300 Club
>   Emne: [Chrysler300] slow starting 55 new yorker
>
>
>   Hi Gang, Art here, In addition to my 300G I also have a newly restored
>   '55 new yorker. It's a crapshoot whether it will start at ahy given 
>time.
>   The motor turns over very slowly like a weak battery, especially when 
>hot.
>   I still have the 6 volt system and have tried everything.rebuilt
>starter,new
>   selanoid and relay and a new battery. I know these cars started better
>than
>   this when new so why not now. Ary suggestions??. This is probably a 
>common
>   problem and I hope somebody has a solution.
>
>   Thanks Art
>
>
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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