Hello Everyone,

First of all, 1976 L-48 350, 4-sp. It ran fine before I did this work.

I recently replaced the timing chain, t/c cover, water pump. I aligned the marks on the timing chain sprockets. I also replaced the starter with a Powermaster unit. I had to drop the oil pan so I replaced the oil as well.

After all that work I pulled the dizzy to spin the oil pump. I carefully marked the vac advance position and the rotor position when I pulled the dizzy. After priming I put the dizzy back exactly where it was. I even lined up the oil pump shaft.

It turns over just fine but it won't start. Not even a hint of firing.

Since I went with a Powermaster starter I no longer use the starter bracket that attached to the block. I did sure the ground strap to the block was tighened properly.

I have compression. Fuel is only a couple of weeks old. My guess is that the non-start must be spark related.

Any suggestions?

UPDATE 19.OCT.17 - I checked the ground on the block by the starter and it was loose. The bolt was bottoming on the thread so I added some washers. This should help. I tried to start but it would not. I will try the plug #1 rotor alignment trick again tonight.

UPDATE 20.OCT.17 - I got it. The #1 spark plug/compression stroke/rotor pointing trick works well. It runs well enough to idle. I still need to fine tune the timing per Lars' paper.

 

First thing to check is you have spark. Second bring the #1 cylinder to tdc and check your rotor is lined up with 1. Make sure your wires to the coil are back on the proper terminals

 

For #1 or #6 TDC? You might be 180 off.

 

The old timing chain had some slack. When I put the new one on I had to slightly move the cam sprocket to bring the dot in line with the crank sprocket. This was maybe 1-deg.

As for the crank sprocket I used the standard key slot. There were two other slots for advancing timing.

 

I was not referring to the keyways or slack. I meant was the dots at 12 o'clock/12 o'clock or 6 o'clock/12 o'clock. Sprocket marks dot to dot (6/12) will be # 6 firing. You can test by reording your spark plug wires and see if it fires up.

 

Ok. The mark on the stock camshaft sproket was at 6 o'clock. The mark on the stock crank sprocket was at 12 o'clock. I put the new sprockets in place and kept the marks in the same place.

 

Sounds like the timing chain is positioned correctly then. Have you pulled a plug and grounded while cranking it to verify it is sparking? If not then look to power/GND to the coil. If is then look at dizzy rotor is 180 off (Post #2)

 

With the timing gear dots facing each other, cylinder #6 is at TDC combustion. That's where your rotor should be pointed when installing the dizzy; to plug wire #6.

Yeah, sounds like you're out 180 degrees.

 

I'm going to check the starter wiring tonight and the ground to the block just in front of the starter. The ground on the bellhousing is fine.

I'm convinced that the timing chain sprocket positions are good. I used the default sprocket keyway. The camshaft sprocket could only go on one way due to the dowel pin. The service manual calls for the cam sprocket dot to be at 6 o'clock and the crank sprocket dot to be at 12 o'clock. They were fine upon reassembly.

I will also double check the dizzy orientation and make sure the rotor points to cylinder one at TDC.

 

Make sure #1 is on it's compression stroke......

 

Finger in the hole, crank. When it blows your finger out of the hole, it's coming up on #1 TDC. Then go to the balancer, and gently turn the engine until TDC (0), lines up with the pointer.

 

Thanks Tim.

Yes, I tried this method last night. It backfired thru the intake when I tried to start it. So I think I am within one tooth of the correct position. This is the first hint of starting that I have had so far.

I also checked the starter connections and they are all fine.

I will try again tonight.

 

I pulled the dizzy and went one tooth forward with no start and then went two teeth back with no start. I kept rotating the dizzy by one tooth trying to get it to start. No change.

I had a spare ignition module so I put that in. I try the finger over the sparkplug hole trick again to get it close and try again.

 

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The very next thing you need to do is verify if the timing is correct and this requires bringing #1 Cyl up to TDC and than look at the Dist to see where the rotor is pointing.

Moving a tooth one way are the other is not going to make this engine start if it's back firing through the Carb.

 

Like said, bring the #1 cyl up to tdc, take the cap off and look where the rotor pointing to. It should be pointing to the #1 tower, if not pick up the dizzy and move it so it does, then try to start it.

 

Thanks Mr. D and Blue. Yes, I plan on doing that trick tonight.