V8 rebuilt, won't start, wet plugs

Hi All - just finished a top end rebuild of my '93 4.2 LSE.

HGs were absolutely fu.. past their best.
All nicely cleaned, heads acid dipped, checked for flatness, composite gaskets, new valve stem and injector seals etc, cam & followers all OK and clean.

Damn thing won't start, Turns over OK, spark at all the plugs, Dizzy wasn't removed so timing is same as before. Compression in each bore.

It coughs a couple of times at first, then nothing. Take the plugs out and they're wet with fuel - even after only 5 - 10 secs of cranking.

Shine a torch in the hole and I can see the top of the pistons are wet. All the connections were tagged & numbered so I know they're in the right place.

Any clues why there's too much fuel?

are you sure theres too much fuel?are you sure theres a spark-especially off the king lead from the coil.something to look at

I had this happen but to be honest I cant remember how I got it started - try advancing your distributor a touch.

Failing that it could be that there is an air leak; check plenum and feed pipe, all vacuum lines.

Have you tried holding the accelerator on the floor when you crank it over?

I'm not sure if it would make a difference at this stage but it might be worth just unplugging the ECU and give it a reset (it only needs to be disconnected for 30 seconds or so as it has no volatile memory). Being a '93 I assume you're running with cats. I assume all connections are in place.

Hope that helps.

or take the fuel pump fuse out, turn her over till it sounds like she is going to fire then whack the fuse in, it might just give the intial start. and check the cap/rotor are clean

remove 1 spark plug and spray gt85 in there then light with blow lamp.This will dry it out and fire it up.do as many a u can get at and refit plugs then start.

1992lse said:

or take the fuel pump fuse out, turn her over till it sounds like she is going to fire then whack the fuse in, it might just give the intial start. and check the cap/rotor are clean

Click to expand...

Update - somewhat delayed - been on holiday, But many thanks 1992lse, the fuse trick worked a treat. Took a few tries to get the timing of the 'whack' right, but eventually it started, runs nice and quiet, oil pressure comes up much quicker 3 or 4 seconds. Still a bit lumpy/hesitant when cold I suspect it's still overfuelling, but I can't take it for a proper run as the EAS is now inop.

It's had a soft fault for about 18 months, never been too much of a prob as it goes down overnight (due to a slight leak - now fixed) and it would always just go up to standard height whatever you did with the buttons. But after the rebuild it won't do anything. I've jumped power to the pump and it runs OK but doesn't seem to build up any pressure (at least, the bags don't inflate), the soleoids click when you operate the door switches, but the pump won't run. I'm wondering if the 2 months with the battery disconnected has robbed the EAS ECU of it's memory/senses. I'm going to have a full diagnostic check done at a local auto elec. but I'd prefer not to have to drive the three miles on bump stops.

Any ideas will be gratefully received . . .

THX Alastair