Shdggsdv

So I finished the engine work and turned the key today. It's just sputtering, but not starting.

It's spitting gas up through the carb so I see the fuel pump is working. It is igniting here and there, half the time backfiring and setting fires on the carb. So that means I have spark.

I checked that my dizzy is on correctly (MSD HEI which was previously installed and working before my engine rebuild). I felt for the compression stroke and then set it to 0 for TDC. Checked the little oil pump notch was pointing to #5 intake. And then I checked the dizzy pointer was pointing to cyl #1. I checked all plug wires were on correctly.

Sooo I'm lost on what else I can check.

I'm afraid that I may have the timing gears on backwards .-.

Rescue Rogers

sounds like its 180* out. try pulling the distributor and rotating the motor 180 and trying again

L88Plus

Timing gears only have alignment dots on one side, so if you lined 'em up, they have to be on correctly.
It does sound like you're 180* out. Pull a valve cover and watch the intake valve on #1, the first TDC after it closes is the one you need.
Make sure you have a good cooling fan, timing light, etc. ready when it fires.
And a good shop towel to wipe that grin off your face.

gungatim

recheck the distributor timing. make sure tdc is with both valves closed. rotate the motor by hand a couple times if you have to to verify you know exactly what stroke you are on.

check the plug wires are on correctly as well.

both are easy mistakes to make.

Big2Bird

Quick check. Place #1 plug wire where 6 is, then go 18436572 from there.

Shdggsdv

So first off, my spark plug wires were pretty wacky (Realized I used a wiring diagram for a different engine ) so I rewired them and it runs, but it misses backfires like crazy. So after a bunch of troubleshooting, I opened the valve covers





So I have no idea what happened. My locking nuts apparently came apart? Luckily those little set screws were all recovered and none went into my engine. But so I'd say that's probably why it wasn't running right.

I'm sorta lost on why that would even happen and what to do now.

forman

sometimes if you crank them down too hard the top will split and the lock will back out ,,if its not split ,, lock tight helps

forman

you have to reset all of your valves first

L88Plus

When you set the polylocks, don't just set the nut, then tighten the setscrew. Tighten the nut, then back off about 1/16 turn, then tighten the setscrew, then TIGHTEN BOTH THE NUT AND SETSCREW TOGETHER. Until you start doing it this way, you'll fight loosening nuts all the time.