[fordmustanglx]

Hi my name is Pat. I got a 1969 Mustang coupe with 302. Just purchased it 1 months ago but the engine will not start. It's got a edlebrock card and edlebrock performer intake. The engine turns over but it will not start. Also it seems that gas sometimes sprays out the carb and also catches on fire. Does anyone know what is going on here?

[Print Dad]

Hello Pat,
Welcome to the forum.
I would suggest you get a good manual like Chilton's to help you learn.
This forum will also help a lot but it easier to help if you have an idea of what people are writing.

What a motor needs to start is
1. - Fuel and 2. - Correctly timed spark.

Was the motor running before?
The first guess is the motor is out of time. You need to rotate the motor to get the #! piston at TDC on compression. The you check the location of the rotor. (this is inside the distributor cap) The rotor should be pointing at the number one plug tip in the cap.

There are several things You need to know
1. - what firing order means
2. - Distributor and it's components
3. - Spark Plugs
4. - Top Dead Center (TDC)
5. - Compression storke versus exhaust stroke
6. - Throttle linkage
7. - Choke

I will stop here because I don't want to seem like I am discourging you. Far from it. I say we all gotta learn.

Search for a few books. Attend a car show and ask the people questions.
Search the internet for videos

But to get you going you need to figure if you have spark and fuel and the spark needs to be at the correct time.

You can do this Pat if you are willing to learn and it seems like you are. Print Dad

[nigel]

Welcome to the site. Sounds like you need to rebuild your carb.

[stars]

Simple things first, does the choke work (the trap door located on the top of the carburetor, it should be nearly closed when the engine’s cold)? An inoperative choke alone could do what you’re describing. A slipped timing chain could also cause these symptoms. How many miles are on the engine? If the choke’s not the problem, turn the crank to align the timing marks for top dead center. Check the points to see if they just opened and that the rotor is pointing to either #1 or #6 posts on the distributor.