Thread: Starting it

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Hey everyone
i have a 49 lincoln with the 337 flathead Im having trouble starting it the only way I have been able to start it is by shooting 12 volts to it and that gives it enough to hit and start. I've only started it once on its own power the starter has been rebuilt but it still doesnt turn the motor over like needed to start the thing any suggestions?

Sounds like your bell housing is to narrow and it's rubbing, this happened on my grandfathers 67 c10 4x4 when they swaped a 305 V6 to a 350, he had to hook 2 batteries up to start it.

If its been sitting for an extended period of time the rings may have become rusty and are causing the pistons to "stick" as theyre trying to move. Ive had this problem with several flatheads that were stored a long time that ive worked on. By the way I hope you decide to keep the lincolns flathead motor in it, it would be a shame to remotor the car just because a modern motor is slightly more reliable.

how many amps is your starter drawin?? Maybe it is bad. Could do some rewiring on the car and make it a 12 volt system. Or make it start on 12 volt and run on 6?? None of the 6 volt systems were known for good starting.

Yes it has been sitting for quite awile and the starter was just rebuilt, a 12 volt conv. will be my next move probably unless I can find some way to get the motor crankin better. Yeah the flathead will probably reside in its current place for awile.

Timing and/or Clutch adjustment

Check the battery cables,6 volts require a thicker cable. If someone has replaced the cables with the gauge for modern 12 volts replace them. I had a starting problems with a 50 chrysler and a 51 ford and after I replace the cables with new ones it started like a 12 volt,make sure where the ground cable attaches to the block is clean. If it still has the braided ground cable,replace it as I have had problems with them,I think they were the major problem with the 50 chyrsler and 51 ford. Jeff