Engine won't start???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 289
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
Engine won't start???
Here's the details:
- have gas
- have spark
- engine freshly rebuilt
- I installed the distributor, may be a problem with timing?
#1 at top, dropped dist. facing #1 plug wire on cap.
When I crank, it will back fire out the exhaust and
spit out of the carb but won't start.
Tried adjusting the timing, one way I still got the backfiring(towards the dist) the other way, it just cranked and did nothing, no backfire.
Afraid to crank any more as to cause problems.
- have gas
- have spark
- engine freshly rebuilt
- I installed the distributor, may be a problem with timing?
#1 at top, dropped dist. facing #1 plug wire on cap.
When I crank, it will back fire out the exhaust and
spit out of the carb but won't start.
Tried adjusting the timing, one way I still got the backfiring(towards the dist) the other way, it just cranked and did nothing, no backfire.
Afraid to crank any more as to cause problems.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Sheridan IL
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 289
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by vette rod
it's not 180 off?
The shop that rebuilt it rotated the engine to set up #1 as to
all i had to do was to drop in the dist. He turned it manually where
#1 plug had pressure comming out and stopped it on the zero timing
mark.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,068
Likes: 27
From: St. Joseph Mo
Sounds like the classic 180* off. Also might check the 'witness marks' on the damper line up (very hard to see, even with the thing in front of you). BB uses a triangle and a dimple.
Keep crankin' as it won't cause mechanical damage. Keep an old blanket handy to smother carb fires.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 289
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by VFW NO.11548
the cam position dictates what is firing....you are firing most likely no. 6 , pull distr and drop it in with the rotor pointing at no. 6 plug wire (180 degrees off)
won't start. The more i pump the pedal, the more the carb spits.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,271
Year? BB? SB? Point ignition? TI? It helps to know these things when doing a diagnosis.
Place the engine at the initial timing point (NOT TDC) on the #1 cylinder. Pull the plug and feel for compression to be sure #1 is on the compression stroke.
Remove the distributor and check that the dimple is pointed in the same direction as the rotor tip.
Further instructions may follow if you answer the questions.
Do you have a service manual for your car?
Duke
Place the engine at the initial timing point (NOT TDC) on the #1 cylinder. Pull the plug and feel for compression to be sure #1 is on the compression stroke.
Remove the distributor and check that the dimple is pointed in the same direction as the rotor tip.
Further instructions may follow if you answer the questions.
Do you have a service manual for your car?
Duke
Last edited by SWCDuke; Jul 15, 2005 at 09:31 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
you may be a tooth off, sounds like you are able to get it close by rotating the dist - suggest reinstalling dist one tooth forward or backward. Another way to try this is to walk your spark plug wires around the cap one position at a time - but don't let JohnZ or Duke hear about it - re-indexing dist caps is not one of their favorite things, but it would eventually get you to running condition. shhhhhhhhh, mums the word (and no one will ever know once you put the big shielding pice back on . . . .)
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 289
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by SWCDuke
Year? BB? SB? Point ignition? TI? It helps to know these things when doing a diagnosis.
Place the engine at the initial timing point (NOT TDC) on the #1 cylinder. Pull the plug and feel for compression to be sure #1 is on the compression stroke.
Remove the distributor and check that the dimple is pointed in the same direction as the rotor tip.
Further instructions may follow if you answer the questions.
Do you have a service manual for your car?
Duke
Place the engine at the initial timing point (NOT TDC) on the #1 cylinder. Pull the plug and feel for compression to be sure #1 is on the compression stroke.
Remove the distributor and check that the dimple is pointed in the same direction as the rotor tip.
Further instructions may follow if you answer the questions.
Do you have a service manual for your car?
Duke
Just to verify a few things, when you say place the engine
at the initial timing point,
the book says 10 B, so the mark on the balancer should be
at 10 Before. The timing tab has marks A O R each line represents
2 degrees right?
So should go towards the A side or R side. I'm thinking A side since
the engine turns clock wise and the A is before the O.
I will pull the dist. and wait for your answers to the above before
installing it again.
Thanks alot for all your knowledge.
Oh, yes I do have a service manual for the 67.
Read it and now i'm looking at How to rebuild your Chevy small block
book.
Ok, i just read "Setting the ignition timing" that answers my questions above. Here we go again.
Last edited by odqlesz; Jul 15, 2005 at 09:58 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,271
Reading the service manual always helps, eh!
1. Set the balancer notch at "A" on the tab (which is 10 deg. BTC) with the engine on the #1 compression stroke.
2. Pull the dist and verify that the dimple is pointing in the same direction as the rotor tip. Rotate 180 degrees if required.
3. Verify that the #1 wire is indexed on the proper terminal on the cap IAW the shop manual diagram and then goes CCW in the firing order.
4. Install dist with the rotor about 45 degrees to the right of vehicle centerline. You may have to tweak the oil pump drive. When seated the rotor tip should be about 20 degrees to the right of vehicle centerline.
5. While watching the points, pull up on the rotor and rotate dist. base until points just begin to open, then tweak back a hair until they just close. At this point the vacuum can should be about half way between the interference points with the manifold an coil bracket, and the window should be close to normal to vehicle centerline. If not, you're a tooth (or more) off, or since the engine is freshly rebuild there remains the possibility that the camshaft is 180 out.
If all is as above, the engine should start and the initial timing should be within a couple of degrees of 10 BTC.
Duke
1. Set the balancer notch at "A" on the tab (which is 10 deg. BTC) with the engine on the #1 compression stroke.
2. Pull the dist and verify that the dimple is pointing in the same direction as the rotor tip. Rotate 180 degrees if required.
3. Verify that the #1 wire is indexed on the proper terminal on the cap IAW the shop manual diagram and then goes CCW in the firing order.
4. Install dist with the rotor about 45 degrees to the right of vehicle centerline. You may have to tweak the oil pump drive. When seated the rotor tip should be about 20 degrees to the right of vehicle centerline.
5. While watching the points, pull up on the rotor and rotate dist. base until points just begin to open, then tweak back a hair until they just close. At this point the vacuum can should be about half way between the interference points with the manifold an coil bracket, and the window should be close to normal to vehicle centerline. If not, you're a tooth (or more) off, or since the engine is freshly rebuild there remains the possibility that the camshaft is 180 out.
If all is as above, the engine should start and the initial timing should be within a couple of degrees of 10 BTC.
Duke
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,693
Likes: 3,683
From: Central Arkansas
Very carefully check your plug wire routing too. Amazing how easy it is to switch a couple wires to the wrong plugs. However, usually it will manage to fire and run - but just barely with a lot of missing and backfiring.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,068
Likes: 27
From: St. Joseph Mo
Set static timing by;
1. Turn crank untill you have balancer mark aligned with desired advance mark on timing tab. Make certain of compression stroke.
2. Install a spare plug wire with spark plug in desired #1 terminal. let the plug lay on intake manifold where you can observe gap.
3. With key switch on, rotate dist housing clockwise well past your #1 terminal. Pop cap to verify and replace cap.
4. Rotate dist housing counter clockwise untill you get a spark at test plug.
5. Repeat 3 & 4 untill you are comfortable of housing position when spark occurs and snug down clamp.
Works on any spark ignition engine. Transistor distributers have to be rotated rather quickly, but it works on them also.
You can also run the timing light while cranking. It takes 3 hands to hold the timing light, turn ignition key and rotate dist housing, so recruit a friend.
1. Turn crank untill you have balancer mark aligned with desired advance mark on timing tab. Make certain of compression stroke.
2. Install a spare plug wire with spark plug in desired #1 terminal. let the plug lay on intake manifold where you can observe gap.
3. With key switch on, rotate dist housing clockwise well past your #1 terminal. Pop cap to verify and replace cap.
4. Rotate dist housing counter clockwise untill you get a spark at test plug.
5. Repeat 3 & 4 untill you are comfortable of housing position when spark occurs and snug down clamp.
Works on any spark ignition engine. Transistor distributers have to be rotated rather quickly, but it works on them also.
You can also run the timing light while cranking. It takes 3 hands to hold the timing light, turn ignition key and rotate dist housing, so recruit a friend.
