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Rebuilt top end(again) fresh skim on head, composite gasket everything to the book, now it won’t bleeding start! I’m losing the will to live

Air leak on the inlet manifold perhaps.

Nooo! Never hate your mini, it's just a bit sore. For it, it's like you going to the dentist. Check plugs, points conderser spark and petrol. Timing wasn't changed, so it will go , eventually

xxxxx

Just work through the process.
Do you have fuel where it needs to me and in the correct quantity? You can start a car on ezi start or brake cleaner. This will prove if it's fuel related

Next, the sparks. Are they happening? Remove a plug and turn over the engine with someone holding the plug against the block. You should see it sparking. If not, then there's something wrong.

Have you had the dizzy drive out? It's really easy to get the drive 180 degrees out (my 18 year old self will tell you this).

Getting the inlet manifold seated correctly is harder than it should be as you can't see if it's in the correct position.

It's a challenge, you'll solve it, we've all been there.

has it been standing for some time or overheated before the head came off ?
put one pump of oil down each plug hole from your oil can, crank it over with the plugs out & try again

Dead Petrol ?

Sadly, the trouble is with you Jason. You have given the forumers the archetypal '.....my car won't start. What's up"?. You haven't told us the whole story.

It only needs three things, in the right order and in the right amounts. A bit of petrol, a bit of air and something to set fire to the mix. Let us have a bit more info and your prayers will definitely be answered

Plugs are sparking, not touched dizzy since refitting rebuilt jobby from Dizzy Doctor, fuel is few weeks old and is getting to float bowl, it ran briefly but manifold gasket was leaking badly, would that be the problem? Weak mixture/air leaks?

might be a stupid question. but!!! have you checked the tappet gaps after refitting the head ?

Yep, tappets all done, only difference from last time is leaking manifold gasket?

You say that it has run briefly..... Briefly for how long? Distributor. Has it run with the rebuilt distributor and have you set the dist manually first?

I suspect that it's 'out of spark' timing And fuel in the fuel bowls doesn't mean fuel to the jets if there's crap in the fuel bowls. Suck them both clear with a vacuum cleaner and set the ignition timing manually to start with

Frustratingly been there with both of the above. If you lived near here, we'd have that started and running nicely just in time for a beer at The Black Horse at lunch time!

Jasonking wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2024 9:56 pm Plugs are sparking, not touched dizzy since refitting rebuilt jobby from Dizzy Doctor, fuel is few weeks old and is getting to float bowl, it ran briefly but manifold gasket was leaking badly, would that be the problem? Weak mixture/air leaks?

How have you set the timing, as this is a new distributor ?

Jasonking wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2024 9:56 pm ...... but manifold gasket was leaking badly, would that be the problem? Weak mixture/air leaks?

YES

It ran for 20-30 seconds this time, but has run/ticked over well since fitting dizzy and settling timing via the little port in flywheel cover, unfortunately leaking head gasket got in way of further running

Manifold leaking is a big reason why it will not run.
I was also going to add a blocked jet. I had one on a rebuild, the engine would fire but not run.

Thanks for all your support/suggestions, will check carb tomorrow, manifold gasket is totally knackered! Carb gaskets are very wet with petrol, guess should’ve replaced them too

I never knew about the little collar to set the carbs to inlet together...actually cost me a trip on a flatbed..

Tried today to reset points and set timing but no different just turns on starter but no firing, im obviously doing something basic wrong, but for the life of me can’t get me head round what it is Last time I fiddled with points was 1977!

If it ran for 20 to 20 seconds before, what has changed ?