Blown motor?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 251
Likes: 1
From: Edwardsville IL
Blown motor?
I put the car on jack stands to put on some headers I picked up, and while it was up I figured I would do a little maintenance. I replaced the plugs and wires, but I was stupid about. Instead of replacing the wires one at a time I took them all off, figuring I could look at a diagram to put them in the right order. I found a diagram that was labeled "Gen I small block chevy" so I figured I was good to go. After replacing the wires I went to start it up.
I gave it one pump of gas, just like I always do when it's cold, but after about 3 seconds of cranking I stopped. Then I gave it 2 pumps and cranked again, and thats when the BANG sounded. It was as loud as a .50 cal, and it scared the crap out of me. I stopped, found a proper diagram, and put them in the right order. The engine still cranks over and doesn't make any grinding noises or anything, but it wont start. I poured a little gas down the carb to encourage it to start, but it just coughed and spit the gas up into the air. I pulled off one of the valve covers and don't see any bent rods. Any suggestions?
I gave it one pump of gas, just like I always do when it's cold, but after about 3 seconds of cranking I stopped. Then I gave it 2 pumps and cranked again, and thats when the BANG sounded. It was as loud as a .50 cal, and it scared the crap out of me. I stopped, found a proper diagram, and put them in the right order. The engine still cranks over and doesn't make any grinding noises or anything, but it wont start. I poured a little gas down the carb to encourage it to start, but it just coughed and spit the gas up into the air. I pulled off one of the valve covers and don't see any bent rods. Any suggestions?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 904
Likes: 46
From: Crestline CA
Youre not going to hurt the engine by mis routing the wires. Chances are they still arent right. Looking at the diagram and istalling them in the "right" locations only works if the last guy re-installed the distributor in the "right" position. Youll probably have to establish #1 TDC and either re-install the distributor in the correct position or install the wires according the where the rotor is pointing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 343
From: Allenton Wisconsin
Being that you have chrome bumpers, I suspect you have a mechanical tach drive distributor. Which gives you about 1 location for indexing the dist, if your chrome dist covers are being used. Locating #1 to TDC. Drivers side valve cover off, rotate engine, watch intake valve close, continue rotating until timing marks align at TDC. Remove dist cap and look see where rotor is pointing. There is your starting point. Should be pointing approximately toward the right rear carb mounting bolt. T
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
I agree with the others, your timing is probably way off now, and that's why it's not starting.
If you bump the motor until the timing marks line up, then the rotor should be pointing to either the #1, or #6 spark plug wire on the distributor cap. That is because the crankshaft will make 2 full rotations for each rotation of the camshaft.
If you need to find TDC, you can pull the #1 spark plug, and put your finger tightly over it the plug hole. Then have someone slowly bump the engine, when it's coming up on #1, you will feel the compression build up with your finger.
After you have TDC, make sure that the distributor is installed such that the rotor is pointing towards the #1 spark plug wire. If you want to set it according to the book, then you should make sure the distributor is clocked so as to have the rotor, while pointing towards the #1 spark plug wire, is also pointing as described, basically towards the right rear carb bolt.
If you bump the motor until the timing marks line up, then the rotor should be pointing to either the #1, or #6 spark plug wire on the distributor cap. That is because the crankshaft will make 2 full rotations for each rotation of the camshaft.
If you need to find TDC, you can pull the #1 spark plug, and put your finger tightly over it the plug hole. Then have someone slowly bump the engine, when it's coming up on #1, you will feel the compression build up with your finger.
After you have TDC, make sure that the distributor is installed such that the rotor is pointing towards the #1 spark plug wire. If you want to set it according to the book, then you should make sure the distributor is clocked so as to have the rotor, while pointing towards the #1 spark plug wire, is also pointing as described, basically towards the right rear carb bolt.
Last edited by Mashman; Aug 22, 2014 at 12:05 PM.
