I recently purchased an 1985 rx7 street port 12a, It started fine when I went to look at it and it idled beautifully. The previous owner stated that it would flood at half throttle, and it needs some work. It drove on the trailer and drove off the trailer but I tried to start it the other day and it won't seem to fire. I pulled the plugs and cleaned them all off and stuck them back in because I thought that the engine was flooded. When I pulled the plugs they were all black and wet so I wire brushed them and dried them off and stuck them back in and it almost fired a few times when I pumped the gas. It gets lots of gas down the carb and compression seems okay. It has a holley 650 double pumper which might be a part of the problem and the fuel is a few months old but like I said it was fine like 2 days ago. Any help would be appreciated, I'm going to replace the spark plugs next and then I'm not sure what.

 

Watch to see if your tach is bouncing when you try and start it

sometimes the ignition switch contacts wear out

 

The tach does bounce

 

Try putting some MMO or engine oil down the gullet and rotate the engine with the front pulley. It's possible the flooding situation has washed all of the oil from the housings and seals, and it's lost compression. If this gets it running, then you may have a low compression engine on a good day (* worn seals), and a non-running engine when flooded. Also, pull starting it with another vehicle will probably get it running, as this spins the engine much faster, giving it less time to lose compression. Also, check your battery; a weak battery won't spin the engine very fast.

 

I'll try this next. I was concerned that there was too much oil in the engine as the spark plugs get immediately black when I put them back in and the OMP seems to be functioning well.

 

Update: Put new spark plugs in and it starts on the second crank and runs great,

 

I installed a 12A in another brand sports car 20 something years ago. Parked it 20 years ago and now getting it back to running well again. But Cold weather starting is a pain even with my 600CFM elderbrock. Have almost 20 fouled plugs that once fouled are useless. Even with MSD multispark installed on the leading plug.

The Adaptor mine has is open designed which allows the secondary to open all the time so it has a higher idle like a bigger cam.

Timing ---Mechanic timing is set at idle and fully advanced by 1750 RPM's Mine Idles at 1600 so the advance is mostly used by the time I set it. The vacuum advance is 15 degrees off of the posted vacuum port. If hooked to the manifold vacuum port. Then that advances the timing and makes it hard to start. If not hooked up at all then the starting timing setting has to be advanced enough that it is hard to start COLD. ( my carb does not have a ported vacuum port so i put a brake vacuum pump to the advance pods and marked the vacuum advance degrees on the gauge and can add in the car after it is running and warming up.

Used the same set of plugs all summer, but fouled a set 2 days ago due to the cold weather.

So replacing the plugs was my suggestion. Also check the timing and advance.

 

Got tired of messing with Elderbrock Carbs on these things and no one around here wants to mess with the Nikki's. So This week broke down and bought a Holley Sniper EFI. OMG what a difference !!!! Installation was straight forward. High pressure fuel pump, clean wiring and setting up the throttle linkage. Cranked first try. ( Use extra Throttle return spring. ) High idle. but worked it down. Drove it 100 miles and it keeps getting better. Cold starts easily. Tuning the idle down as it tunes itself. Stared at 1800, now 1300. Hoping for 1000 to 1200, but will see. can set the cold water temp setting to boast the cold idle to the actual water temp to -40 F. Just a matter of adjusting it and playing with it over time. VERY IMPRESSED!!!!

 

Replaced the stock manifold a Holley adapter plate. Replaced it a couple weeks ago with the Racebeat street port manifold. Remapping the EFI. Awesome!!! Replaced the old battery. was down to 200 amp and 103 rpms in 20 degree. New battery 800 CCA 250 to 300 rpm before firing up. About 15 to 20 seconds of grinding. before it catches but then starts every time. No grinding as long as the CTS is 60degrees or above. Have not fouled a spark plug yet.. Had one of the Holley 650 double pumper on my old hopped up '65 Corvette. May need to reduce the volume of the acceleration pumps to avoid flooding. Good luck.