hey, i dropped a 351M in my 1966 F-100 and i just recently swaped the electronic distributor out for a HEI distributor. the motor is getting fuel and fire, but won't run. Is the problem in the timing?

 

was the engine running before you swaped or was it to try to get it running. when you swiched the dizzy out did you point the rotor the same direction as the one you removed. make shure the plug wires are right. when you crank the engine over it will miss or backfire or just turn hard that is a indacation that dizzy is in rong spot .

 

the guy i bought the engine off of had it running 2 weeks before i got it. im not sure if the rotor is turned the right way or not. im pretty sure the plug wires are right. every now and then when i crank the engine over it will try to start but it wont. what is the correct way to time that engine anyway?

 

i'd put a bill or three on the distributor being stabbed 180 deg off. You need to make sure that the engine is top dead center right after the exhaust valve closes on Cyl #1. different ways of doing that. I like to watch the valve open and close myself thus remove a valvecover but can be done w/o such hassle too. If fire and gas is there...timing and or carb issues are just about the only concern you could have when it comes to starting.

Did you buy a carb or air cleaner spacer to get the cleaner high enough...it's the only issue I have with the hei units...they're definitely affordable and work well.

 

ok thanks alot, i appreciate it. oh and the carb or air cleaner spacer thing yeah....that looked like it was gonna be a prob, but anyway thanks

 

The easiest way I have used to find Top Dead Center is to remove the #1 plug(front passenger side of the engine), and put your finger over the hole while having someone bump the starter(or jumper the solenoid). When you feel compression, stop immediately(the piston is at TDC on the compression stroke). Now find the #1 post on your distributor cap, move the rotor to that position and drop the distributor in. And, make damn sure all your plug wires are right, I have made myself look like a fool before by saying "I'm pretty sure their right". If that is all correct, it should fire right up, then set your timing and you schould be good to go.

 

yeah the plug wires were right and i had it tdc on the compression stroke it was all good. when i realized what the problem was i felt like a fool... my brother pluged the wrong wire into the distributor. i was realeved to see that, after i fixed it i tried to start it and she tried to start right up. but anyway sorry for all the trouble and thanks for all the help.

 

Sure it was your brother, I've been there before lol!!!

 

There are three questions one should first answer when troubleshooting ANY
electronic/electrical problem:

1. Is it plugged in?
2. Is it turned on?
3. Is there paper in it?

-ct

 

Another point: Is there power in the plug?