Need help with '69 Camaro

[Cam1970]

Hello - My husband just went out to sea for 4 months (he's a merchant marine engineer), leaving me with his precious '69 Camaro. I don't drive the car, as I already have a little Z car to tool around with, and a reliable 4Runner to get me to work. His car has (to me) a gigantic engine, way too powerful for me and is in a way definitely a guy's car (*his car is at http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/652353). Plus, with no air conditioning, I'll pass out from the heat the engine produces (and it takes premium gas....)

But I promised I would start up the car every now and make sure all the bells and whistles work. I let the car just sit there for the past 3 weeks with a car cover on it, and when I went to start her up this weekend, all the electrical parts of the car started right up when I put in the key, and as usual, the car did an almost-start. Literally a second later, I tried to start up the car again, but this time got nothing. No clicking, no lights, no 'check engine' light. The aftermarket tach that sits on the steering wheel showed the tach needle going counterclockwise, sitting at the 6000 rpm area. if I leave the car for a few hours and I go back to it, I get the 'open door' buzzer sound when I put in the key, but then again, nothing. There's a little over a quarter tank of gas in the car, there are no leaks anywhere, and nothing looks out of place. I smell no burnt wires, nor see any smoke. I removed the battery and had it checked out - it's fully charged and works fine.

Before I email my husband and somehow tell him that I might have killed his car by ignoring it, can someone please help with hopefully an easy checklist? This engine is not the original, is a brand-new, 454-ci behemoth, with aftermarket headers, carburetor, new starter (from a newer Camaro, I think it was LPT1 or something like that), was installed by the prior owner before we had the car shipped here. Outside of a popping sound from the exhaust at low speeds (which we're going to get fixed when we can find a decent mechanic here in south TX), there is nothing wrong with the car. I can figure out the engine in my little '70 Z only because it's fairly primitive, but looking inside the engine bay of the Camaro makes me very nervous, as I really don't know where to begin looking or what to look for. The only semi-knowledgable mechanic in town has in the past released my little Z with a leak in the gas tank, and later mis-installed the Carbs, so I am understandably reluctant to entrust this car to him.

Any help, any pointers, or websites would be greatly appreciated.

[99civichic]

Sounds to me like you might just need to jump it...Maybe battery isn't any good anymore...You go to start it and all lights in the car but car doesn't start but it sounded like it tried first time out. Try hooking up a set of jumper cables and see if it starts. If it does let it run a while so the battery can charge back up.

Looks like a VERY nice car. I was a convertible 69 but they are a little to expensive for my blood for now so i'll stick with the coupe.

William

[Genopsyde]

Originally Posted by Cam1970

No clicking, no lights, no 'check engine' light. I removed the battery and had it checked out - it's fully charged and works fine.

Maybe one or both of the battery cables are too corroded now.

[99civichic]

I'm sorry i didn't read the entire thing. I guess if you already had the battery tested go from there. Like was mentioned check the battery cables to see if they're corroded and if they're ok then maybe look at started solenoid?

William