3.5 rover v8 won't start

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1

109inches

Well-Known Member
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644
Location
Devon
So I finally bit the bullet and bought a Range Rover classic last weekend and for £300 I wasn't expecting much but I can't get the damn engine started.
It's got a weber/edelbrock single carb on it which I have cleaned and inspected and the jets were blocked but now they are free flowing. I've checked the spark and fitted a new coil, ngk spark plugs and ht leads. After doing this the spark is really good And the timing correct. Lastly I checked the compression which was at 140 odd which i don't think is too bad. So we got fuel, we got a good spark and we've got good compression. It's trying to start and has nearly caught a few times but with a weeks worth of trying it still won't fire.

Has anyone got any other suggestions?
 
Try some fuel direct into the top of the carb and see if it fires while cranking.
Has it got points, condenser.
What year etc, more info and a pic just for fun.
 
Last edited:
Still points and a condenser. It's a 1984 and completely original except the single carb.
The fuel is all squirting and the timing appears correct. Fuel in the top makes no difference.
I will get some pictures later on
 
Change the points and condenser, condenser can make it kick and never fire.
Timing appears correct - loosen distributor and crank it over while turning distributor one way and then the other.
Condenser would be first choice, little thing that causes lots of problems.
 
Another possibility is a blocked exhaust!

I have come across this only twice, but it caused all manner of mayhem.

We undid the pipe from manifold and away she went, albeit somewhat noisily :p

Anyway, the exhaust had rusted inside and collapsed, the fibre glass packing did the rest....
 
Is it road legal. £300 sounds like a great deal. Have you checked the rest of the carb? Vacuum advance and pipes, choke etc. I'd reset/ rebaseline the card settings.
 
New choke and throttle today, along with quarter of a tank of petrol. I think it's a fuelling issue. At certain throttle positions it picks up yet at idle it doesn't want to do anything at all.
Does anyone know of a guide to resetting the single weber carb for a 3.5 v8?
 
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