Very hard starting, no power

[GreyGTV6]

I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!
I must remember my car needs a strong coil or it will not run!

[ToonRboy]

'Course this is a two person operation (unless you rig a remote start), but were you able to check spark at the plug lead?

[GreyGTV6]

I had spark, but not strong enough. When I managed to get the car to run I saw spark, and pulling a lead I could hear it spark so I dismissed it as a cause. The coil I bought from the wreckers was either not strong enough (it came from a wrecked Nissan), or it was defective as well. The car was flat-bedded to the agents, and within the hour it was perfect. He has a coil tester and all the specs were wrong. I was as happy as a 3 legged man at a butt kicking contest. It cost me 1 hour labour and $20 for the coil. And to think this has given me 6 months of hell!! Somehow it always seems to be the simple things. But I also found a whole lot of air leaks during my hunt.

[gt601]

I would buy a MSD red Blaster coil for the car. I had a helluva time with my '83 where it would fall on it's face at around 7,500 rpm with the Bosch blue coil. Bought the MSD coil and it pulled to 9 grand without an issue. Good strong spark is everything.

Paul

[GreyGTV6]

Err, thanks but I haven't found the desire to use 7,500 revs let-alone 9000. The motor would self destruct long before then. Will look for the coil if I feel mine is not up to scratch.

[gt601]

Quote:

Err, thanks but I haven't found the desire to use 7,500 revs let-alone 9000.

[ToonRboy]

Gee Grey,

You think that Nissan coil was a bit of info you neglected to leave out when you described your problem?

You can't just use any ol' coil on an L-Jet. Anyhow, glad you got it fixed.

Quote:

cost me 1 hour labour and $20 for the coil

[GreyGTV6]

I did kinda discuss the coil but I did not spend too much time with it as I had no faith in the coil I bought, and it being the source of my problem. I happened to pass a wreckers on the way home and thought "what the heck I'll give it a go".

As for being legal to drive, that's another story. They're pretty anal here and fail the car for the smallest thing. It's a ripoff of major proportions. Cost of MOT is $80 and most garages fail the car as they want the repairs. Retest is about half that if taken in 10 days or it's a complete retest. My daily driver failed on a rust spot the size of a finger nail and number plate light not working. Then there is the small matter of the paperwork. Hopefully it will be done within the month.

Thanks for the help.

[Devilspeed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt601 I would say then that you need to build the engine then Get rid of the rev limiter and enjoy the song of an Alfa V-6 the way they should sound. Straight pipe with a Super trapp on the end sounds pretty good. Paul

[karmat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devilspeed This is exactly right! I have 3" pipes going straight back and the sound is heavenly.

[Devilspeed]

I'm already deaf. A) I fly Cessnas, B) I play drums, and C) growing up, my uncles drag raced a 71 Nova big block so I was in the pits with them every weekend and in the garage all week. My GTV-6 sounds like K.I.T. in whisper mode compared to all that! LOL

I'd like to know if the MSD coil is compatble with the Bosch module too. Tho I was thinking about eventually going MSD all the way anyhoo..

Quote:

Originally Posted by karmat And deafening! I agree the thing sounds great... I love the sound. But even the Stebro and hollow cat that my old car had was too loud for long cruising. I drove it 14 hours once and was nearly deaf when I got out. On shorter trips it was a blast, though! Paul, does the MSD coil work okay with the Bosch ignition module? Karl

[ToonRboy]

That's a real shame Grey. I just went over the MOT and was shocked
MOT Test UK - Car owner's guide to the MOT Test

Hell, here in the states I'm amazed at some of the POS cars people drive. 'course we get bent over on license plate, sticker, and county/city fees.

I guess the good news is emissions (since the GTV6 is pre '92). But thanks to the Itralians, the electrics and rust could keep her grounded. -Guess you need to find some feller (MOT tester) at the pub and make friends... ;p

Good luck with that,

[Grant]

Paul, would you like to tell us your engine specs here?

I'm pretty sure even the Autodelta race engines never saw 9,000 rpm. Did you replace the SOHC v6 with a Honda 4 cylinder at some point, and maybe just forgot?

My redline is 5,800 or 6,300 if I'm using the 2.5 ecu

[gt601]

I had completely rebuilt a pretty good engine that the car came with when I bought it. I bought a new set of 2.5 pistons and liners. Made sure that they were pretty close in weight. The crank & flywheel were balanced. The heads were ported and polished with honed/port matched intake runners. The valves were big(don't remember what size off the top of my head). Heavy duty valve springs. Ignition was MSD-6AL. Injection was Zats Pandoras box with a Super sucker AFM.Had a Zat ignition module. AR Ricambi Rally EG cams.( HC at idle was close to 4000 ppm) They were a bit lumpy.
Had a guy at the auto cross at the Nashville Convention ask me if I had a Chevy motor in it.

Shankle headers.(leaked and pretty much sucked) AVO adjustable shocks.(would make you want to poop after about 15 min if set on stun)
She ran pretty good. I'm not pulling a DD by saying that the engine would run all day past 9 grand by any means. I hit over 9,500 at a couple of auto crosses not paying attention. It was still pulling hard. I somehow shifted into two gears at once at 8,900 rpm at an auto X ant exploded the front bell housing,driveshaft and transaxle. It bent two shift shafts at that time also. I had a telltale tach so that is how I know how many revs I was doing.
Oh.. the ECU had no rev limiter.

The car is still on the road last I heard.(rust bucket) The new owner mentioned "It'll still run a hundred and forty!!" I wouldn't do it.
Used to be Fetta78's wifes car. Before the guy I bought it from bought it.

Paul

[AR4me]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt601 Had a guy at the auto cross at the Nashville Convention ask me if I had a Chevy motor in it.