AMC 360 won't run

glennsea

New Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Location
Waxhaw
I just got a Jeep Scrambler with an AMC 360 out of a Javelin that was rebuilt and has about 5000 miles on it. Last night I went and got some gas and since it was cold I played with the chike some to see if it made a diff. After a while it started bogging down a little. This morning I went to the store and by the time I got there it was really bogging down and didn't want to run. I pulled into a parking lot and it just wanted to die.

I first was thinking fuel, maybe bad gas. The fuel filter looks good and clean and full. I took the gas cap off, put it back on etc. with no change.

I then thought timing so losened the dist bolt and turned it a little each way but it would never run. I screwed it back down but was then thinking I didn't mark where it was.

I took the aircleaner off and noticed that the choke arm looked like it was wedged on the filter so maybe I thought I had put the choke off but it was not. I could now get it to start but it idles really rough. I was then thinking that maybe I had the timing off so I have been playing with turning the dist. to see if I was off a little but no dice. I can get it to start and idle. I can turn the dist and find what I think is the sweet spot but if I give it gas, it just shuts off.

What should I be looking at now? Could it still be the timing or should I be looking at fuel?
 
Vacuum hoses

If its not your timing maybe check your vacuum lines, I had the same problem on mine and it was due to the smaller hose on the front lower part of the carb coming off.
 
Like Ray stated, the spark plugs are probably fouled...IMO you should stop f'ing with everything else and figure out your choke issue first.
 
Today I continued working on the Jeep. My main delay point was cranking amps in the battery so there were delays waiting for it to charge.

The butterfly’s open fine, it is getting gas fine. After a while the engine would not turn over. I started troubleshooting this now and replaced the starter solenoid with no change so I then replaced the start motor. The engine would still not turn over. The solenoid was clicking. I manually turned the engine over one full revolution at the crank and then it turn over fine.

The plan was to check the timing but it will not start and run. I have disconnected the vacuum line and plugged with no change. I have put gas and starter assist spray in the carb with no change.

I removed the plugs and they were definitely fouled so I cleaned them really good and replaced. I am not planning on running these but am still trouble shooting so I will replace them.

At this point I can get it to start but barely. It will run for maybe 10 seconds and very rough. When is cuts out it backfires out of the carb.

At this point I guess I am looking at it as the timing it off and I need to start from scratch. Thoughts?
 
Stop!!! Was the jeep running before you Adjusted the choke? If so you have fouled your plugs. How long has it been sitting?
 
glennsea said:
I just got a Jeep Scrambler with an AMC 360 out of a Javelin that was rebuilt and has about 5000 miles on it. Last night I went and got some gas and since it was cold I played with the chike some to see if it made a diff. After a while it started bogging down a little. This morning I went to the store and by the time I got there it was really bogging down and didn't want to run. I pulled into a parking lot and it just wanted to die.
I first was thinking fuel, maybe bad gas. The fuel filter looks good and clean and full. I took the gas cap off, put it back on etc. with no change.
I then thought timing so losened the dist bolt and turned it a little each way but it would never run. I screwed it back down but was then thinking I didn't mark where it was.
I took the aircleaner off and noticed that the choke arm looked like it was wedged on the filter so maybe I thought I had put the choke off but it was not. I could now get it to start but it idles really rough. I was then thinking that maybe I had the timing off so I have been playing with turning the dist. to see if I was off a little but no dice. I can get it to start and idle. I can turn the dist and find what I think is the sweet spot but if I give it gas, it just shuts off.
What should I be looking at now? Could it still be the timing or should I be looking at fuel?
Click to expand...
CLICK "RESTORE OPTION" AND START OVER!!!!!!
 
The Jeep was running fine before the choke got stuck open. I am replacing the plugs tomorrow. It has not been sitting long as I have continued working on it.
 
Here is how to adjust the choke:

When you get in the truck in the morning, turn the key to the on position (but don't crank it over), then press the gas pedal once to the floor (that activates the choke and closes it). Don't press it more than once. Next, go out and look at the choke plate in the carb.....there should be a 1/8" gap between the butterfly and the side throat of the carb interior wall. If not, you need to adjust it back (I use a 1/8" drill bit with a piece of string taped to it so that it doesn't fall into the carb). Once you loosen the choke during adjustment, the butterflies may open......but don't worry, keep adjusting the other way and they'll close back up. Just get the gap to around 1/8" when closed and you'll be good.
 
Thanks, I'll do that. Today I reset the dist to piston one TDC so it should be where it needs to be to fire up. I also got some new spark plugs that I will gap and install after work so hopefully I am close.
 
Just to eliminate it as an issue, I drained the fuel and put new fuel in. I turned on the fuel pump but it is not getting the fuel up to the filter so I am trying to figure out how to get that done. What needs to be done?
 
glennsea said:
Just to eliminate it as an issue, I drained the fuel and put new fuel in. I turned on the fuel pump but it is not getting the fuel up to the filter so I am trying to figure out how to get that done. What needs to be done?
Click to expand...
Bleed air from fuel rail.
 
So far I have done the following with no change.
New battery.
New Starter.
New Starter solenoid.
New Spark plugs.
Set timing to 0 for #1 Spark plug. Adjusted a little each way to see if it made a diff.
Drained fuel and put new fuel in.
Tried starting with carb start spray and fuel in carb.

At this point it will crank up good but after about 7 seconds it starts to bog and die. If I give it gas at all it dies. I am now thinking it is the carb, maybe flooding?
 
glennsea said:
Just to eliminate it as an issue, I drained the fuel and put new fuel in. I turned on the fuel pump but it is not getting the fuel up to the filter so I am trying to figure out how to get that done. What needs to be done?
Click to expand...
Did you get the fuel to the carb? I assume it has an electric pump. Sure sounds like it is starved for fuel. If it is flooding, the needle valve on the float make be stuck open but usually gas runs everywhere wen that happens. What carb does it have? Some models have a brass filter where the gas line goes in. I have seen those stop up as well.
 
Thank you.
I am pretty convinced it is the carb. Everything points to it running rich. I tapped on it to see if it may be a float but that didn’t do it. It has an arm that the fuel line connects too. The bolt that holds it on has a hole where fuel passes through so I am thinking of turning it slightly to “starve” it of fuel to see if that helps. I could also start clamping down on the fuel line as well so may do this instead.
 
The carb is a Holley 600 CFM or 1850-4. I am not sure about the pump yet.

From what I am seeing it looks like it is running rich. If it were a vacuum leak and I sprayed fuel or starter in the carb would it shouldn't it run?
 
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