Hey Guys

man were do i start?. well i have a fresh rebuild on a 351M by a good friend that has been in the business for along time and is very good at what he does and know's more than i ever would about motors. i am trying to get it started and it won't, i have the distributor set at #1 and am getting spark, ive got a new coil,distributor,plugs. its getting fuel But still won't start. My friend came over and tryed to help me get it started and the most it would do is try and he had to leave to go to Tucson for Thanksgiving but before he left he said he thought maybe it was the new distributor and try replacing it, well i did and it still wont start it is getting fuel we checked that and checked and rechecked
the plug wire to see if they were in correct firing order and they are.

i know i probably leaving something critical out but could use any thoughts or help to get this thing running!

Thanks Allen

 

I should have said it is in a 77 supercab

again thanks for any help here!
Allen

 

fuel and spark make an engine run...but you have both...weird.

Does it just crank and crank and crank and crank and not do anything?

Is your carb tuned right? I mean are you flooding the engine before it starts?

What about timing? And by spark, do you have strong spark, or is it weak?

Have you checked your coil and brain box?

Just a few guesses...maybe someone else will chime in soon.

 

This is a fresh rebuild that has never ran before, correct? It's probably worth doing a compression check.

 

well let me tell you about the motor,, I bought it of craigs list for $325 and at first it was to have a block to rebuild and then install, But when i got this thing it was clean and what i mean about that is it looked to have a fresh rebuild on it and it had chrome valve covers an eldelbrock manifold on it and a up grade on the timing chain and gears. SO.. we checked it over and story short,installed it, Well it ran but had a very faint knock! SO i took it back out and we went 30 over with it and re-installed it and it had a crack in #8 cylinder so i had it re sleeved and thats were i am with it right now ( with it back in)
i have a new edelbrock carb, new coil and brain box on it new everything for the most part , new fuel pump also. i get a strong spark also and it does crank and crank and crank and the closest thing i got out of it is a faint pop and fire in the carb!
i have not done a compression, check so no there! this thing is blowing my mind, i really dont think OLD BLUE wants to run again!!!!
Thanks again for your Help!
Allen

 

Faint pop and fire in the carb sounds like a timing issue. Maybe 180 out? pull the valve cover on number 1 side and turn motor until you get number 1 on t.d.c. Check push rods and make sure you can turn both freely. Pull dist cap and make sure rotor is turned towards number 1.

 

Yeah Im gonna have to say something's up with the timing.

 

gatorfor88, i did pull the valve cover and watched for TDC and set the distributor at #1
although i did not check the push rods, Can i ask a stupid ? they should turn freely?
should they be loose enough to say spin them with your finger and not be under allot
of pressure because that could be a problem as i did tighten them down snug!
i am probably the idiot here as i put the heads back on the block? and i was under the understanding that they needed to be drawn down snug or (tight!) Oh Boy, sounds like this could be at least one of my problems?
Really appreciate all your guys Help!!!
Allen

 

When you are at tdc there should be little to no pressure on pushrods.You dont want to just crank down on the rocker arms to adjust them. I dont recall the exact procedure, but there should be plenty of info on-line. If you cant locate it let me know and I'll go through my manual and refresh myself and post it.

 

I did get it running!! had a friend of mine come over and i had it firing on #1 but he sprayed a little carb cleaner while cranking it over and it fired up, we are thinking with the carb sitting for a year it might have been gummed up a little!
Anyway Its Running! Thanks for everyones Help!
really do appreciate it!
Allen