SOT: 3.3 Conversion difficult to turn over

914helo · #1 02-05-2008, 11:42 AM

I'm finally back at work on my Porsche 914 conversion. I'm using a Kennedy adpater/clutch to mate my 3.3L and Porsche tranny. I've got them connected on a bench next to my car and have sorted most of the wiring. However it's turning over slowly. I've got a good battery, new high-torque starter for my Porsche transmission, and verified good voltage at the starter motor. The engine turns over, just slowly and seems difficult.

Any suggestions as to what I might be missing? Thanks

SVXRide · #2 02-05-2008, 12:10 PM

Have you tried pulling the plugs and seeing if it turns over easier? Yes, it won't start

, but it will tell you if you've got a mechanical issue since it should spin freely with no compression.
-Bill

huck369 · #3 02-05-2008, 12:44 PM

Did you replace the timing belt....if you got it out of time it could be making it hard to crank...

Also, any chance you let the cyilders get flooded with fuel when messsing with the wiring (like left the injectors open) is so it could be hydrolocking on the fuel..

FrankenWedge is a beast to start when it's cold...but always cranks over good.

914helo · #4 02-05-2008, 01:03 PM

I will pull the plugs today to see if there's too much fuel in the cylinders. I'll also see if it spins more freely. I did replace the timing belt. I can pull the covers off and check to make sure it's not off a notch. Thanks

JaySVX · #5 02-05-2008, 01:45 PM

Is the engine properly lined upw itht he transmission? I dont' know what type of transmission you ahve bolted up, but it can't be conventional. If it was misaligned it could be causing difficulty to turn over.

huck369 · #6 02-05-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaySVX

Is the engine properly lined upw itht he transmission? I dont' know what type of transmission you ahve bolted up, but it can't be conventional. If it was misaligned it could be causing difficulty to turn over.

this is true, but the Kennedy kits are usually top quality....so this "Shouldn't" be the issue...but it is a possibility..

914helo · #7 02-05-2008, 11:39 PM

OK so I checked tonight and it is not hydrolocked with fuel. It definately turns over easier with the plugs out. I also pulled the tranny/clutch/flywheel off and put them back on again. Everything seems to line up well. My next attempt tomorrow is to check all the electrical connections. I think my connections may not be grounded as well as they should be. I've got my battery grounded to the car and my engine/tranny grounded to a different spot on the car. I'm going to clean up these connections.
Also, how do you verify you've got spark on the 3.3L?

I know I've got fuel. Other cars in the past I've held a spark plug to the case and looked for a spark but I can't do that with the coil on plug. Thanks again.

Trevor · #8 02-06-2008, 12:32 AM

If you first measure the voltage at the starter during cranking and you have near 12 volts you can forget checking things electrical. If you don't have a meter, use a lamp/bulb and compare illumination direct across the battery, verses across the starter and its ground point. You can not be far wrong.

huck369 · #9 02-06-2008, 05:17 AM

Kent,
You can pull a couil off the put a plug in it, and see if it gets spark, same as puting one on a plug wire....

Is it cold where you are?
As mine, and another swapped EG33 on th eboard has trouble getting it to start when it's cold.

I have to play with the throttle on FrankenWedge to get it to start when it's cold...sometimes takes quite a while to get it to start....but once it has started once, it starts right up.

914helo · #10 02-06-2008, 08:20 AM

I don't remember the exact voltage at the starter when cranking, but will double check that Trevor.
I will also try with a plug in the coil today Huck for spark. It's not too cold where I'm at (next to Death Valley) - lows in the high 20's. I have a small heater in my garage and even at night it's not too bad. I haven't been playing with the throttle at all though. Maybe I give that a shot too. Thanks for all the suggestions.

914helo · #11 02-06-2008, 11:02 AM

OK, so I put on some new battery cables and ground straps and the engine turns over fine. I checked for spark with the #1 spark plug in the coil and held the spark plug right next to the case while someone cranked the engine. I initially got one spark and that was it - nothing else during multiple starting attempts. My guess now is I'm not getting spark. I have another igniter in the garage I can swap out later and I'll check my wiring diagrams again tonight to make sure I'm getting power to everything that I should. Back to the troubleshooting...

huck369 · #12 02-06-2008, 11:19 AM

The plug needs to be held against the engine to ground it, to get a good spark...so might need to double check that...

914helo · #13 02-06-2008, 03:46 PM

I thought I did, but I've been wrong before. I'll double check tonight.

Suby Fan · #14 02-06-2008, 09:06 PM

is your check.... wait do you have a check engine light?

914helo · #15 02-06-2008, 09:07 PM

OK, so I tried again to verify spark by holding the spark plug (still attached to coil) against the engine case and didn't get one single spark. I went over the electrical diagrams regarding the igniter and it should be alright. I also checked the MAF and TPS with good results. I swapped out a spare igniter but that made no difference. Could it be a crank/cam/knock sensor? Would they prohibit spark? The lousy Chilton manual I have doesn't provide a way to test a lot of the sensors without an oscilliscope!

I do not have a check engine light, but I also thought about trying to make the connections for one. Thanks again.