Eta-to-M50: Build thread

[BDSax]

Might want to check your chassis grounds in the engine bay too while waiting for the battery to charge.

that was my problem when first starting my swap.

hope its just the battey for ya!

[Jand3rson]

It is the only one, but it doesn't preclude one from checking it for clean metal, especially since you painted the engine bay.
Sorry, should have clarified that's what I was indicating above.

An Optima Red top also will not charge on a "normal" battery charger.

It's clean metal under the ground lug and on the oil pan, but thanks for the tip!

I've charged the Optima before on the charger I have, seems to work fine. Is there a better one you'd recommend, or beyond that, maybe a better battery? The Optima has never let me down before, but if there's something better out there that's cheaper, I'm definitely interested.

...waiting patiently... *eh hem!*

Patience, my son. Gonna go down tomorrow and fill up a 5 gallon can with fresh gas, just no more time tonight! Until then... fingers crossed!

[clavinZERO]

...waiting patiently... *eh hem!*

[UNHCLL]

It is the only one, but it doesn't preclude one from checking it for clean metal, especially since you painted the engine bay.
Sorry, should have clarified that's what I was indicating above.

An Optima Red top also will not charge on a "normal" battery charger.

[AndrewBird]

That's the only one you need.

[Jand3rson]

Might want to check your chassis grounds in the engine bay too while waiting for the battery to charge.

We have a ground going from the frame rail lug on the driver's side to the lug location on the bottom of the oil pan, is there another/more? Forgive my ignorance here, we were under the impression that was the main one.

[UNHCLL]

Might want to check your chassis grounds in the engine bay too while waiting for the battery to charge.

[87e30]

Not for me it didn't. It started with one crank.

How long was your car sitting?

My first m52 swap took over 6 months and required tons of cranking.

I did the s50 in a couple days and it still took a couple cranks but was a lot faster.

It's just a possibility.

[trackjunkie21]

I'll bet your battery isn't charged enough. Other than that it takes a lot of tries cranking to get fuel through the lines.

Not for me it didn't. It started with one crank.

[87e30]

I'll bet your battery isn't charged enough. Other than that it takes a lot of tries cranking to get fuel through the lines.

[AndrewBird]

You know you aren't supposed to set batteries on a concrete floor, right?? ;))

Complete and utter myth. More then likely came from people leaving a battery sitting on concrete for several months and instead of blaming all the time left for it to drain, they blame the concrete.

[drutt23]

Not worried about the harness so much as the battery and the lack of fuel. Something else I just thought of a little while ago, this battery (Optima Red) has been in the car since I bought it in 2005. The car was only a daily for the first 2-3 years that I owned it, and since then, has always been garaged over the winter. But while the car sat, the battery either stayed in the car or out on the floor in the garage, no tender. It's also gone completely dead a few times. Yes, I realize this is not good battery care and I fully admit to that, but I'm sure it's possible my negligence in maintaining it has contributed to its possible inability to hold a charge...

You know you aren't supposed to set batteries on a concrete floor, right?? ;)

Other than that though, coming along nicely Josh!! Can't wait to see it start and it's not even my car!!! LOL :)

[Jand3rson]

Not worried about the harness so much as the battery and the lack of fuel. Something else I just thought of a little while ago, this battery (Optima Red) has been in the car since I bought it in 2005. The car was only a daily for the first 2-3 years that I owned it, and since then, has always been garaged over the winter. But while the car sat, the battery either stayed in the car or out on the floor in the garage, no tender. It's also gone completely dead a few times. Yes, I realize this is not good battery care and I fully admit to that, but I'm sure it's possible my negligence in maintaining it has contributed to its possible inability to hold a charge...

[ShowStopper]

Mine did the same thing and it ended up to be a bad harness. :(

[shiboujin]

charge the battery, check for spark, fill with 5 gallons of new and good fuel. you can also check for a signal at the fuel pump. The ecu gets a signal regardless of how slow the car cranks over.

If you get spark and no fuel, your wiring isn't right or the pump is dead. But at this point the dead battery and low to no fuel is your immediate concern.