trying to start engine for the first time...

[rrubel]

Mad Mic came over this evening and we tried starting the new engine. No dice :cry and I'm looking for suggestions to try.

1. We have fuel pressure - about 38 lbs - and about 1/3 tank of gas.
2. The engine cranks fine, or seems to.
3. While cranking, I see about 50-55 PSI of oil pressure.
4. I get occasional pops from the exhaust, so we're pretty sure there's spark.
5. Mic tried playing with the distributor, but that didn't help (and it won't turn far in one direction). Anyone remember which way is advance and which is retard? My books (incl. the shop manual) just say "use a timing light and turn the distributor until the lines match". Can you use a timing light when the engine isn't running, to see if the timing is even close?
6. There's an occasional moan that I can't figure out, mostly after I've stopped cranking the engine. Uncombusted fuel/air escaping under pressure?

ANY suggestions would be welcome. I'm wondering if somehow I got wires wrong on the distributor or something.

Thanks.
[RICHR]

 

[maxrevs85]

Start over, bring to top of #1 compression stroke againand line up crank 0 with timimg pointer. find #1 on dist cap and set dist in with rotor lined up to #1 on cap ...rotation is clockwise (advance counter clockwise) Make a Mark on dist body where #1 is , makes it easier...

 

[Ken]

... we're pretty sure there's spark.

Pretty sure?? C'mon guys, you're both better than that. Get one of those cheap lights that indicates when a plug fires, that is, if you don't want to stick a screwdriver or something onto the boot while you hold it near a ground.

... which way is advance and which is retard?

Advance should be counter-clockwise I believe, Rich.
Mic doesn't know that either? And he just got through modifying his engine? :confused

Can you use a timing light when the engine isn't running, to see if the timing is even close?

No. If there is a way I'm unfamiliar with it.

 

[rrubel]

Well, we're getting backfires or something, so there's combustion of sorts.

A timing light is supposed to fire when the plug its induction probe is on fires, right? So I can use a timing light to check each plug.

If advance is counter-clockwise, then I should be OK clearance-wise. Clockwise there isn't much play before hitting the intake.

I did have the rotor lined up with #1 on the cap; I'm wondering if that's where I went wrong. The manual says to just set the distributor so the rotor is BETWEEN 1 and 8.
[RICHR]

 

[maxrevs85]

Thats basically the position of the rotor. yes.You should be just past the #1 clockwise. If your back firing , you could be 180 off. That would be on the exhaust stroke of #1. You need to be RIGHT ON TDC on #1 when you drop the distributor in.Another thing , check and recheck your plug wires for correct position on cap and plugs. That can get you real easy.

 

[3TT3V]

Beleive it or not you can actually install the rotor button on 180 out!....I've done it about 30 years ago. Check that, check for correct drop of distributor into engine, check for plug wire placement. goodluck.

 

[larry bud]

Beleive it or not you can actually install the rotor button on 180 out!....I've done it about 30 years ago. Check that, check for correct drop of distributor into engine, check for plug wire placement. goodluck.

Yeah, he might sparking on the exhaust stroke instead of on the compression stroke!

 

[Mart]

On my stock distributer you can't install the rotor 180 out, it only installs one way.


Mart

 

[ZumZum]

Can you use a timing light when the engine isn't running, to see if the timing is even close?

You can use a timing light while just cranking the motor over. The motor doesn't have to be running.

 

[rrubel]

Heh- if the rotor is 180 degrees out, I'll blame Ken! It's his old distributor !

Ok, tomorrow I'll check for proper distributor alignment again. It was NOT easy getting the oil pump lined up with the distributor shaft such that when I dropped the distributor in, it lined up with #1 AND the oil pump...

Triple-checked the wires; they should be OK.
[RICHR]

 

[maxrevs85]

The rotor thing wont work , square peg ,round hole thing ...

 

[Dammit man]

In my 85 I put all plug wires on upside down, this made the same noises you are explaining

Worth a look

 

[redc4corvette]

The right firing order is 18436572 clock wise for a small block #1 should be just above the vac advance.
remove the #1 spark plug and put your thumb over the hole and crank the engine when it blows your thumb out that is the compression stroke and then set your dist to #1 or take the valve cover off on the drivers side that is where #1 plug is located first plug at the front of the car drivers side.
when the rockers on #1 are even and not moving up or down you are on #1 should be the compression stroke see if the balancer is lined up on tdc or 0 degrees on the balancer.the closer the vac advance is towards the intake the more advance.moving back to the fire wall wil retard.

 

[maxrevs85]

There aint no vac advance on an 85And the #1 plug on the cap is to the front ,just right of center,towards the driver side. nice pic huh ? its early

 

[curtis]

I would bet you are one gear off on the distributor cam relationship. If was 180 off it will ususally backfire through intake. Do the thumb thing to find compression stroke for #1 then move crankshaft to TDC on the indicator. With distributor out , turn rotor about 45 degrees before where #1 is on the cap and drop it in. If don't go in all the way pull it out and adjust the oil pump with screwdriver and try again. If it drops allthe way in it should fire up.

 

[rrubel]

IT LIVES!!!!!

Today I started from basics again, and with the distributor a little more advanced than I thought it would be, it fired up and ran. It still needs a bit of tuning, and it's very loud with no exhaust, but it runs!

Got the driver's side valve cover and plug wires in place, but the passenger side needs some trimming down first .

Thanks for the help and encouragement, guys!

[RICHR]

 

[Ken]

:J
It won't be long yeh, yeh,
It won't be long yeh, yeh,
It won't be long yeh, yeh,

Till it belongs to you.

Congrats Rich, you're on your way!

 

[curtis]

Good to see progress Rich. Get her set and go out and squash a few rice burners and muskrats.

 

[rrubel]

Well, everything is buttoned up except for the exhaust (and EGR pipe - I've clamped a quarter over the end for now). All the covers and wires and hoses are in place, though I need to find a place to mount the rev limiter. Hopefully I can set the idle and the timing tomorrow, change the moly-clotted oil, top off the coolant and overdrive fluid, and drive it!
[RICHR]

 

[Ken]

One thing I don't envy you Rich, is your schedule; you have to get it back on the road before the snow flies. I got all year! :L