51 220 Engine Won't Start

220 1951 MB Sedan
6 cyl
- we have compression of about 40
- Have spark
- PROBLEM ... compression coming through carb

The car sat for 1 year without being started. The only other time it was driven was just prior to that for 25 miles and there was no smoke either from exhaust or engine. The only smoke came from trying to start it and the started burned out. We replaced that and it never started again. It does turn over and has new spark plugs.

We have attempted starting it with starter fluid and even a little gas in the carb but nothing. We now have the valve cover removed and everything seems to be normal minus a few thoughts on readjustment after reading Cliff S's article on your site.

Help with any information would be helpful.

Sincerely,

Eli

Forums

Gas Engine Specific Aid

Chassis Model Number

Classic Sedans

Common problem

This is a common problem with a gas engine that has not run for long periods of time. I purchased a 52 220 a few years back (still have it) that had sat for 10 years. Weak compression. Tried all kinds of things to wake it up. You need about 90 pounds for the engine to start and run. I opened up my engine - had rust and pitting on the cylinder walls - and rust on the valve seats. Had to be rebuilt. You will have to pull the cylinder head for a complete inspection.

By the way do you have any spare body parts for the 220?

I wokeup a 50 buick sitting

I wokeup a 50 buick sitting in a so jersey farm with corn stalks growing out the windows thru the floor boards and a hornets nest in the carb.

poured 50-50 gas deisel down carb let it sit for 1 hour then can of starting fluid down the carb.

setup a 12 volt charge on the six volt system and it fired first crank in 20 years.

I blew the radio tubes using the 12 volt charge on a dead 6 volt batt.

The car was in the mummers parade the next year.

40 is a bit low...

I had a similar issue in my '77 BMW. The distributor was loose and the timing had migrated to 180 degrees or so off as it was cranked...got it started (roughly), but then retested compression and found 170-0-100-170, so it must have broken a ring due to rust or something...it sporadically got compression and ran great, but then lost it.

In the High School auto shop for a ring job now (great resource for those kids to learn and really easy on the budget since, at least in my town, every student can bring in their own "project cars" in the third and fourth years and some of them like learning about the older cars...pulling in a BMW or Mercedes is also a prestige thing as most here are boring American pickups.)