Cant get the new motor going!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Madison Heights Michigan
Cant get the new motor going!
Hi All,
This is my first post. I traded a motorcycle and so riffles last fall for a 81 corvette. The motor and trans had been pulled and owner had a brand new create 383 stoker pulse all the original parts. And all high performance edelbrock extras. I couldn't pass it up. So I got a shop manual and started putting the motor and trans together. I finally got it in the car a month ago. This is the first motor I have ever done and i'm not the most savvy with it come to this but I always wanted a C3 corvette. However it wont start.
The car cranks and gets gas but backfires or shoots gas out the carb. After asking around it sounds like when I set the distributor (vacuum not electric) in I might have it 180 off. So I turned it around same result. So I figured maybe my balancer is off and got a piston stop tool. lined it all up and tried again. (FYI the piston stop gave me different tdc than the actually timing make.) Same result. I have spark and fuel but it feels like there not firing right. And im at a loss now. Please give me any suggestions you might have.
This is my first post. I traded a motorcycle and so riffles last fall for a 81 corvette. The motor and trans had been pulled and owner had a brand new create 383 stoker pulse all the original parts. And all high performance edelbrock extras. I couldn't pass it up. So I got a shop manual and started putting the motor and trans together. I finally got it in the car a month ago. This is the first motor I have ever done and i'm not the most savvy with it come to this but I always wanted a C3 corvette. However it wont start.
The car cranks and gets gas but backfires or shoots gas out the carb. After asking around it sounds like when I set the distributor (vacuum not electric) in I might have it 180 off. So I turned it around same result. So I figured maybe my balancer is off and got a piston stop tool. lined it all up and tried again. (FYI the piston stop gave me different tdc than the actually timing make.) Same result. I have spark and fuel but it feels like there not firing right. And im at a loss now. Please give me any suggestions you might have.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake Virginia
just using the TDC tool doesn't insure you are TDC on the compression stroke. you need top make sure that part is right before you try to install the dist.
also, are you using a non-computer carb (I hope so), as the computer carb for that car won't run very well without the electronic dist. in place.
you may be better off to find someone local to you and see if you can get some "hands on" help with it.
also, are you using a non-computer carb (I hope so), as the computer carb for that car won't run very well without the electronic dist. in place.
you may be better off to find someone local to you and see if you can get some "hands on" help with it.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Madison Heights Michigan
just using the TDC tool doesn't insure you are TDC on the compression stroke. you need top make sure that part is right before you try to install the dist.
also, are you using a non-computer carb (I hope so), as the computer carb for that car won't run very well without the electronic dist. in place.
you may be better off to find someone local to you and see if you can get some "hands on" help with it.
also, are you using a non-computer carb (I hope so), as the computer carb for that car won't run very well without the electronic dist. in place.
you may be better off to find someone local to you and see if you can get some "hands on" help with it.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake Virginia
if you tell us where your at, there may be someone on here who lives nearby and can help you out, baring that.
lets make some assumptions for a minute, it's a new motor so MAYBE it was assembled correctly, that said, pull the #1 spark plug, put your finger over the plug hole and bump the motor over a little at a time, you should feel pressure trying to escape from the cylinder when the motor is on the compression stroke for that cylinder, once you start feeling the pressure, you should be able to align the timing mark on the balancer with your timing tab (mark dead on 0*), then you can look at your dist, the rotor should be pointing towards the number 1 cylinder (more or less), when you install your dist. cap, the spark tower that is aligned with the rotor tip will become the #1 spark plug wire, then base everything off of that using the normal SBC firing order.
lets make some assumptions for a minute, it's a new motor so MAYBE it was assembled correctly, that said, pull the #1 spark plug, put your finger over the plug hole and bump the motor over a little at a time, you should feel pressure trying to escape from the cylinder when the motor is on the compression stroke for that cylinder, once you start feeling the pressure, you should be able to align the timing mark on the balancer with your timing tab (mark dead on 0*), then you can look at your dist, the rotor should be pointing towards the number 1 cylinder (more or less), when you install your dist. cap, the spark tower that is aligned with the rotor tip will become the #1 spark plug wire, then base everything off of that using the normal SBC firing order.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Madison Heights Michigan
if you tell us where your at, there may be someone on here who lives nearby and can help you out, baring that.
lets make some assumptions for a minute, it's a new motor so MAYBE it was assembled correctly, that said, pull the #1 spark plug, put your finger over the plug hole and bump the motor over a little at a time, you should feel pressure trying to escape from the cylinder when the motor is on the compression stroke for that cylinder, once you start feeling the pressure, you should be able to align the timing mark on the balancer with your timing tab (mark dead on 0*), then you can look at your dist, the rotor should be pointing towards the number 1 cylinder (more or less), when you install your dist. cap, the spark tower that is aligned with the rotor tip will become the #1 spark plug wire, then base everything off of that using the normal SBC firing order.
lets make some assumptions for a minute, it's a new motor so MAYBE it was assembled correctly, that said, pull the #1 spark plug, put your finger over the plug hole and bump the motor over a little at a time, you should feel pressure trying to escape from the cylinder when the motor is on the compression stroke for that cylinder, once you start feeling the pressure, you should be able to align the timing mark on the balancer with your timing tab (mark dead on 0*), then you can look at your dist, the rotor should be pointing towards the number 1 cylinder (more or less), when you install your dist. cap, the spark tower that is aligned with the rotor tip will become the #1 spark plug wire, then base everything off of that using the normal SBC firing order.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake Virginia
do you know if the engine was bought as a "long block" (heads and valve train installed) or as a "short block"? if whoever put the engine together didn't adjust the valve train correctly and got them too tight, you may never feel pressure. you really need to get something in there and see if the pressure is there, maybe get someone with smaller fingers or rent/borrow a compression gauge from a parts store. you HAVE to find TDC on the compression stroke before you can do anything with the DIST.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Madison Heights Michigan
do you know if the engine was bought as a "long block" (heads and valve train installed) or as a "short block"? if whoever put the engine together didn't adjust the valve train correctly and got them too tight, you may never feel pressure. you really need to get something in there and see if the pressure is there, maybe get someone with smaller fingers or rent/borrow a compression gauge from a parts store. you HAVE to find TDC on the compression stroke before you can do anything with the DIST.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Madison Heights Michigan
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
To narrow down what is going on, I would advise a compression test. This will let us know 2 things.
1) that you have good compression, your valves aren't too tight and the timing chain was installed correctly.
2) if all checks out, you can direct your attention back to the distributor. Firing order, 12volts producing a spark, timing marks set correctly and then timing is set correctly.
Many things can cause your problem!
the good news is it just means something is off and can be fixed easily and cheaply 
1) that you have good compression, your valves aren't too tight and the timing chain was installed correctly.
2) if all checks out, you can direct your attention back to the distributor. Firing order, 12volts producing a spark, timing marks set correctly and then timing is set correctly.
Many things can cause your problem!
the good news is it just means something is off and can be fixed easily and cheaply
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Madison Heights Michigan
To narrow down what is going on, I would advise a compression test. This will let us know 2 things.
1) that you have good compression, your valves aren't too tight and the timing chain was installed correctly.
2) if all checks out, you can direct your attention back to the distributor. Firing order, 12volts producing a spark, timing marks set correctly and then timing is set correctly.
Many things can cause your problem! the good news is it just means something is off and can be fixed easily and cheaply
1) that you have good compression, your valves aren't too tight and the timing chain was installed correctly.
2) if all checks out, you can direct your attention back to the distributor. Firing order, 12volts producing a spark, timing marks set correctly and then timing is set correctly.
Many things can cause your problem!
the good news is it just means something is off and can be fixed easily and cheaply 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Madison Heights Michigan
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Madison Heights Michigan
Yes because I don't know what I'm doing I went by the book literally. I mean its possible I messed up but I followed the instructions and asked a lot of questions before I did it. so (fingers crossed) I think I got it right.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
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From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!