I just got the car put back together after a headgasket replacement, and it will not start now. My dad keeps telling me it's because the timing is 180* out, but would that cause not a single cylinder not to fire? I can tell it's getting fuel, I can smell it coming from the exhaust. It is getting spark, I pulled a plug out and checked.So I think this is just a timing issue. Only thing I've done is finally put my headers on, and the heads were freshened up.

 

some cylinders will fire enough to backfire, or blow out into the exhaust. verify it, so you don't have to wonder.

be sure #1 is TDC COMPRESSION. put a finger or a wad of wet tissue in the plug hole, turn engine -I use alternator nut and turn backwards- the wad will blow out as the balancer mark nears tdc. if it does not it is on #6, so turn engine one revolution.

 

Remove the #1 spark plug.
Remove the distributor cap.
Note the location on the distributor base where the The #1 spark plug wire connects to in an up & down vertical line.
Mark the distributor base with a black or red sharpie marker.
With a helper to crank over the engine....
Insert your index finger into the #1 spark plug hole.
Have him or her crank the engine over for a second or 2.
When your index finger pushes back at you very hard & you hear a very loud rush of air coming out,
You are approaching Top Dead center of cylinder #1.
Both intake & exhaust valves are closed & on the compression stroke making its way close to the top for the POWER - Ignition Lightoff stroke.
Have the helper again rotate the engine over with the ignition key in 1/2 second cranking times.
When your index finger pushes back, yell to your helper to stop.
Take a look where the harmonic balancer mark is in relation to the timing pointer.
"0" mark on your L98 sbc is the large triangle window cutout in the timing cover pointer.
Get the balancer to line up there as close as you can.
Take a look where the distributor rotor is exact now.
It should be real close to the #1 mark you made on distributor base prior.
If not, loosen the 9/16" bolt & rotate the base till the mark lines up with the rotor.
Reinstall your distributor cap.
Recheck the plug wiring routing starting at #1.
In a clockwise fashion...........1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 route the spark plug wires.
Double check again just to be sure.

Disconnect the timing connector.
Thin brown wire with black trace on it towards the drivers side on the main wiring harness near the distributor.
Have a decent Inductive ignition timing light nearby & connected correct to the #1 spark plug wire & vehicle battery if not self powered.

Start your Corvette,
It will fire up easily now if you have followed all my directions correct.
let it warm up to 150F water temp.
Set the base ignition timing 6 to 8 degrees before top dead center.

Shut your car off.
Reconnect the timing connector.
Start your 1986 Corvette & you are done.
Drive away & burn rubber down the block & around the neighborhood.

BR

 

Follow Brian's advice to the letter.

 

I took out the dist, turned it around 180* and it started right up! Its throwing a code 42, is that because of the open headers? I'm about to follow the last bit of brians advice!
Oh, before I raise hell, I still don't have a dipstick tube in it. There's just an open hole in the block. Is it gonna hurt anything to drive it down the street like this?
Edit:, nvrm code 42 is for esc, I forgot to connect it after checking timing.

 

be sure to tell your dad that he's either a good mechanic or lucky! maybe both.

joe

 

Put the dipstick tube back in.

Then go burn rubber around the block.

Then around town at 3am too.

 

I broke it, and none of the local auto parts stores have one available. They cant even order one. Can't even get one from summit...