Volvo Repair: Engine wont start., zenith stromberg, front wheel bearings

Question
Hello,

I've got a problem with my Volvo and thought I may find an an answer here. I am new to Volvo so forgive me my ignorance. I've tried to point all details to make it easier recognizing a problem, sorry for a long text and thank you in advance for any help.

This is a 1983 245GL with B23A engine, automatic transmission and 107.000 (I hope original) kilometers on gauge. I've bought it like a week ago - quite good condition as for the price, however it was held motionless for something like a year and you could notice that (few small leaks, dirt etc.). Even so it was starting on the first attempt, and I mean it - you touch a key and the motor is running. All electrical systems seemed to work correctly too. I bought it cheap and took it home (about 30km) running without any problem. Transmission was changing gears smoothly, acceleration was decent, I didn't try to exceed 100km/h though. After this ride I started motor few times and did only short trips (like a hundred meters or so), engine was still starting on first attempt. Next few days I spent on looking for parts that I've found necessary to change - shock absorbers, front wheel bearings, belts, all fluids, filters etc. When collected all, I've started from changing fuel filter, oil filter (the old one was stuck like hell - i removed it with help of a hair dryer), changing engine oil, air filter and spark plugs. I was cleaning everything I met on my way. Now a little note: carburator mounted on this vehicle was probably changed. In specifications on www.volvoworld.com I've found it should be Zenith-Stromberg, and I do have SU, model probably HIF6. You can see it on photo and maybe help me identify it correctly.

http://www.polcom.cl/volvo/carb.jpg

http://www.polcom.cl/volvo/carb1.jpg

I can see that someone who was doing this conversion felt that vacuum hoses wouldn't be necessary and cut them. You can also see it on photo.

http://www.polcom.cl/volvo/vac.jpg

What worried me more was that I haven't found famous flame trap that I've read so much about. Hose from the air filter runs directly to something that I think is oil trap (on photos).

http://www.polcom.cl/volvo/oiltrap0.jpg

http://www.polcom.cl/volvo/oiltrap1.jpg

So, going back to my story - the only thing I did to carburator was disconnecting fuel source, taking off its cover (3 screws) and carefully taking out piston with the needle. I suppose there should be some kind of spring giving tension between cover and piston but even if there isn't car was running good. I've cleaned everything with the 3M solution in spray (as you can see it was pretty dirty) and mounted it back. Below you can see photos showing state of the old air filter.

http://www.polcom.cl/volvo/air.jpg

And spark plugs. Note they were Bosch W8DC when I think they should be W7DC (that's why I bought Champion RN9YC), they were black but not wet-black.

http://www.polcom.cl/volvo/plug.jpg


Now comes the problem: when I've put it all together - car won't start! I was trying until my battery (already weak) has completely discharged. Even if everything seemd to work, engine caughed few times but never started. I injected some fuel into carburator, checked if there are sparks on the plugs, changed spark plugs back to the old W8DC type, checked if fuel pump is supporting carburator with gasoline and nothing. When the battery was charging I thought of one thing - I've comitted an error leaving a car without oil for all night and than letting it wait few hours before first starting attempt. If these are hydraulic valves they could have (lack of english here) "caught air", especially I've heard some clicking comming like from the 4th cylinder (counting from the front of the car) on start attempt. Would it be tappet or valve? Hope didn't bend it. So, I've let off the oil (it was a little bit darker, a little bit thinner and for some reason had some smell of fuel what can be pretty important - hope it's rather fuel pump membrane than piston's rings), heated it a bit, poured it back and attempted to start the engine again. This time, after few tries the engine started for like two seconds but didn't let me to get itself on higher revolutions. It happened like 3-4 times and at the moment I felt that throttle pedal was a lot softer. Then it came back to a "hard one", engine didn't start again and finally battery is charging again. The crazy thing is that the battery dashboard light stopped to iluminate at this time even that the engine wasn't runnig. Oil bulb seems to be OK and it stops lightening after a second of trying to start so if the sensor is good there should be some oil pressure.

What you think can be the cause of this situation?

Best Regards,
Radek

Answer
this car is way before me even if it was a United States spec. car.whcih it must be European to be this year and have a carb.we had fuel injection.if it ran before cleaning the carb then something is wrong in the carb now I would find someone who can rebuild them and have it rebuilt.the box you pictured is the flame trp box.leaving it with no oil should not do anything to it.the car will have solid lifters not hydraulic.I would have that carb rebuilt.

Rege