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Next AM, it started, died right away (no biggie, it's done this before) cranked it again, no go.
Check the carb, got gas, pull a plug, have spark, weak, but spark.
Sooo.... new points, new cap, new rotor, new plugs, new coil and wires later, still no start, not even a pop. Notice that the distributor is about 1 plug off at TDC. Are the 390s known for jumping the timing chain?
Seems wierd, as it ran fine the night before, and no backfire or pop or anything the next morning, just it's usual occasional "ok, I'm gonna start, then stop, then I'll start", but this time no start.
Moved the plug wires around 1 wire 'off', and it acts more like it MAY start.
I'm not looking forward to pulling the timing cover, but if I gotta I gotta.
Just wondering if anyone had any ideas before I dig into this?
Pull the distributor and check the gear at the bottom. I have see a stripped dist gear(not on an FE. Not that I have seen many FE's other than mine). Also try to look down inside and see of you can see the matching gear.
Take off the distributor cap. Get your big breaker bar with a socket on the crankshaft, turn it clockwise, see that the rotor in the distributor turns with it, turn it the other direction, see that the rotor turns the other direction without too much hesitation. If it passes that test, it is a good chance the problem is something other than the timing chain.
I just wasted a day pulling the timing cover for no reason.
If it's all original and has over 100K miles on it, then I'd say it jumped time. I've had a couple 302's get just over 100K and throw a chain. Runs fine, shut off and never run again. The backlash when shutting off usually makes the chain jump on the sprocket.
Rock crank back and forth and check distributor rotation. Pull distributor and make sure gear is ok and the roll pin hasn't sheared and allowed gear to move. If all is good, then likely timing chain.
cool...fomoco made some stout parts...I've got close to 53 years on my gears and wish they looked/felt that good...they slip a little more each morning but I still get going.