jakeoster Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 I have a 1972 240z with a stock L24 that will not crank over. I'm going to be doing an RB25 swap into it soon but I am kind of busy at the moment so I won't be able to do the swap for another week or two. I thought it would be cool to try and get it running because it looks great and a lot of friends and family would like to see the stocker running. I have zero experience with the L series engine (my 280z didn't have an engine in it before the swap). When I turn the ignition, all I hear is a clicking sound and nothing else. The engine does not even attempt to turn over. I read the beginners thread above and tried to clean the battery terminals and even put a new battery out of my 280z, same result. I'm not looking to spend a lot to get this engine running, but if it is just some little thing then I would like to fix it. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasper Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Put the trans in 4th gear and push/rock the the car. This will tell you if the engine is siezed. If the engine spins, I would look closely at the starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeoster Posted June 20, 2010 Author Share Posted June 20, 2010 Engine does move when I rock the car back and forth in 5th (5 speed swap by the way). So I will have to take a look at the starter then. Thanks for the guidance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeoster Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 I went to test the starter and it was bad. So i got a new one and hooked it up. When I went to turn the key it clicked once then the battery appears to be dead. Maybe hooked up the solenoid incorrectly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeoster Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 (edited) Ok, got it to start and idle. Took it around the block and it is belching out a lot of white smoke from the exhaust. It was a lot of white smoke. The car has been sitting for a long time I heard without being started. What do you guys think? Edited June 21, 2010 by jakeoster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasper Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 "Sounds" like a head gasket. Check coolant level. Pull spark plugs and compare. Look for a clean plug, possibly indicating the bad cylinder(s). Look into the cylinders with a flash light to view the tops of the pistons ( may have to turn crank). The "cleaner" one(s) are generaly the ones that are blown. Or a compression test will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeoster Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 I checked the coolant level and it was very low. I was so excited that it started that I forgot to check. I filled it up but am not sure if its a good idea to start it again or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woldson Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Compression test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeoster Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 (edited) I pulled out the plugs to do a compression check and the number six cylinder is leaking coolant out of the spark plug hole. None of the others are doing this. Would that indicate that number six is the bad cylinder? Edited June 21, 2010 by jakeoster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeoster Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 (edited) Pulled the head and snapped one of the head bolts in the process. Luckily there is enough of it sticking out for me to get some vise grips on it and get that sucker out of there. Everything looks to be fine, the head gasket was indeed blown right next to the number six cylinder. I believe a new head gasket ($17.99), head bolt ($2 lifted from junk yard), oil filter, and oil change are in order. Not too bad. Edited June 22, 2010 by jakeoster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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