This is becoming a nightmare. A few weeks ago, I purchased this ’71 500 L . It has the 126 (650cc) engine and 110F100 tranny with the 126 bell housing. I found this car in Miami. I bought it from an estate. It was stored for four years. It supposedly had a crate engine and transmission installed back then. The car was sent to a mechanic a month prior to my purchase. He changed the fluids and got it running.
I test drove the car and it performed flawlessly. I made the purchase and the car was transported by trailer to Atlanta the next day. I picked it up directly from the transport trailer and I drove it one and a half miles to my house. The car drove without issue. The next morning I could not get the car to start (yes, I checked for gas in the tank).
I called the previous owner for advice. He told me to continually crank the starter and eventually it would start. “Sometimes it takes a while” he said. I soon realized that the starter was burned up. I put the car in the garage and ordered a rebuilt starter that took five days for delivery. I installed the new starter this past Sunday. It turns over with plenty of power.
I still couldn’t get the car to start so I figured that it must be the timing. It has a 1-2-3 distributor ignition. I got the manual and followed the instructions, putting the car in fourth gear and pushed it to the timing marks for TDC. I set the LED on the ignition and supposedly the timing was now set. There is a spark but it still wouldn’t start. I put it in neutral and pushed it back into the garage. I figured it must be the carburetor and I would tackle that next week. The car has not moved since then.
The next evening, I got home and observed that there was a steady drip from the flywheel. It had never leaked before then. It appears to be oil from the transmission. After I shat my pants, I stuck a plastic bin under the drip. The next morning, it looked like most of it had drained out. I’ve attached some photos for your consideration.
I’ve been busy at work (seven days a week) and cannot tackle the problem until the new year. Your help and insight will be greatly appreciated.
I test drove the car and it performed flawlessly. I made the purchase and the car was transported by trailer to Atlanta the next day. I picked it up directly from the transport trailer and I drove it one and a half miles to my house. The car drove without issue. The next morning I could not get the car to start (yes, I checked for gas in the tank).
I called the previous owner for advice. He told me to continually crank the starter and eventually it would start. “Sometimes it takes a while” he said. I soon realized that the starter was burned up. I put the car in the garage and ordered a rebuilt starter that took five days for delivery. I installed the new starter this past Sunday. It turns over with plenty of power.
I still couldn’t get the car to start so I figured that it must be the timing. It has a 1-2-3 distributor ignition. I got the manual and followed the instructions, putting the car in fourth gear and pushed it to the timing marks for TDC. I set the LED on the ignition and supposedly the timing was now set. There is a spark but it still wouldn’t start. I put it in neutral and pushed it back into the garage. I figured it must be the carburetor and I would tackle that next week. The car has not moved since then.
The next evening, I got home and observed that there was a steady drip from the flywheel. It had never leaked before then. It appears to be oil from the transmission. After I shat my pants, I stuck a plastic bin under the drip. The next morning, it looked like most of it had drained out. I’ve attached some photos for your consideration.
I’ve been busy at work (seven days a week) and cannot tackle the problem until the new year. Your help and insight will be greatly appreciated.