issues getting engine swap to run, help.
New User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 20
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From: Kirkland
We have spark at the plugs, the distributor is turning, timing is what we are thinking. We had to pull the old distributor to put the new one in, and we kept the rotor facing the same way. It doesn't even sputter at all, even with bad timing it should try to start, shouldn't it? We can't get a wrench or ratchet on the crank because it's too close to the radiator.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,577
Likes: 29
From: Pekin, IL
Hey good one on the distributor rotation Sam! i think this was mentioned before but make sure that the dist. is on #1 at the top of the COMPRESSION stroke. not the intake stroke. i have screwed this up more than once! lol
edit: they like to shoot flames up thru the carb if its on the intake stroke! lol and will seem to backfire a little...wake up the nieghbors...
edit: they like to shoot flames up thru the carb if its on the intake stroke! lol and will seem to backfire a little...wake up the nieghbors...
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
We have spark at the plugs, the distributor is turning, timing is what we are thinking. We had to pull the old distributor to put the new one in, and we kept the rotor facing the same way. It doesn't even sputter at all, even with bad timing it should try to start, shouldn't it? We can't get a wrench or ratchet on the crank because it's too close to the radiator.
Sam
Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 907
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City, Mo
Items not seen. Do you see fuel flowing in the carb throat, smell gas. Have you reduced the fuel pressure to 5-7 lbs. What is causing the problem? Elimination process. Fuel/ wiring/timing, etc
Other ways to find TDC, use compression tester, either hand held or the type that screws into the spark plug hole.
I always removed all the plugs as it reduced the resistance the starter has to overcome. Makes the battery last longer during testing. Easier to bump the crank small amounts without over rotation.
I have also used a air hose into the #1 cylinder to confirm compression stroke. I hope this helps. It does get to be frustrating.
chuck
Other ways to find TDC, use compression tester, either hand held or the type that screws into the spark plug hole.
I always removed all the plugs as it reduced the resistance the starter has to overcome. Makes the battery last longer during testing. Easier to bump the crank small amounts without over rotation.
I have also used a air hose into the #1 cylinder to confirm compression stroke. I hope this helps. It does get to be frustrating.
chuck
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,352
Likes: 1
From: Waleska, GA
Or, just put your thumb over hole #1 while bumping the starter. then check for alignment on the balancer. That will give you #1 on TDC. From there, put the wires in the correct firing order in a counterclockwise direction. It sounds like all you need to do is get the fire to the plugs at the right time. Does it hit on a cylinder even once in awhile?
New User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Kirkland
Okay, so we put the engine at TDC on the compression stroke, tried starting it and it hickups sometimes, but won't start, and it looks like the 4th of July on top of my carb with all the flames/backfiring shootin out of it. When we stabbed the distributor, we put the rotor at #1 while the engine was at TDC.
While I'm turning the engine over, Andrew is rotating the distributor to try and find a spot where it will even kind of run, it seems to help a bit, but not enough to get it to run at all. We have the PCV vent on the carb just open to the atmosphere, that shouldn't keep it from starting as that's just to make things more efficient.
I'm using a Mr. Gasket fuel pump that pushed 5-7 PSI. Yet again, we're at a loss here.
While I'm turning the engine over, Andrew is rotating the distributor to try and find a spot where it will even kind of run, it seems to help a bit, but not enough to get it to run at all. We have the PCV vent on the carb just open to the atmosphere, that shouldn't keep it from starting as that's just to make things more efficient.
I'm using a Mr. Gasket fuel pump that pushed 5-7 PSI. Yet again, we're at a loss here.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
Okay, so we put the engine at TDC on the compression stroke, tried starting it and it hickups sometimes, but won't start, and it looks like the 4th of July on top of my carb with all the flames/backfiring shootin out of it. When we stabbed the distributor, we put the rotor at #1 while the engine was at TDC.
While I'm turning the engine over, Andrew is rotating the distributor to try and find a spot where it will even kind of run, it seems to help a bit, but not enough to get it to run at all. We have the PCV vent on the carb just open to the atmosphere, that shouldn't keep it from starting as that's just to make things more efficient.
I'm using a Mr. Gasket fuel pump that pushed 5-7 PSI. Yet again, we're at a loss here.
While I'm turning the engine over, Andrew is rotating the distributor to try and find a spot where it will even kind of run, it seems to help a bit, but not enough to get it to run at all. We have the PCV vent on the carb just open to the atmosphere, that shouldn't keep it from starting as that's just to make things more efficient.
I'm using a Mr. Gasket fuel pump that pushed 5-7 PSI. Yet again, we're at a loss here.
I ended up taking the valve cover off to verify #1 TDC, front passenger side was actually after the intake valve closed.
Sam
Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 907
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City, Mo
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,352
Likes: 1
From: Waleska, GA
I agree. Maybe you should put all wires opposite from their current positions to check this out?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,577
Likes: 29
From: Pekin, IL
Okay, so we put the engine at TDC on the compression stroke, tried starting it and it hickups sometimes, but won't start, and it looks like the 4th of July on top of my carb with all the flames/backfiring shootin out of it. When we stabbed the distributor, we put the rotor at #1 while the engine was at TDC.
While I'm turning the engine over, Andrew is rotating the distributor to try and find a spot where it will even kind of run, it seems to help a bit, but not enough to get it to run at all. We have the PCV vent on the carb just open to the atmosphere, that shouldn't keep it from starting as that's just to make things more efficient.
I'm using a Mr. Gasket fuel pump that pushed 5-7 PSI. Yet again, we're at a loss here.
While I'm turning the engine over, Andrew is rotating the distributor to try and find a spot where it will even kind of run, it seems to help a bit, but not enough to get it to run at all. We have the PCV vent on the carb just open to the atmosphere, that shouldn't keep it from starting as that's just to make things more efficient.
I'm using a Mr. Gasket fuel pump that pushed 5-7 PSI. Yet again, we're at a loss here.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,577
Likes: 29
From: Pekin, IL
Hey good one on the distributor rotation Sam! i think this was mentioned before but make sure that the dist. is on #1 at the top of the COMPRESSION stroke. not the intake stroke. i have screwed this up more than once! lol
edit: they like to shoot flames up thru the carb if its on the intake stroke! lol and will seem to backfire a little...wake up the nieghbors...
edit: they like to shoot flames up thru the carb if its on the intake stroke! lol and will seem to backfire a little...wake up the nieghbors...
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Wetside, WA
As a side note, we had it hooked up and it did the same thing, then we rotated it 180, it is currently back firing etc... Hopefully andrew will work on it while I'm out of town and update you guys.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,352
Likes: 1
From: Waleska, GA
Does it fire on any cylinders at all?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 7
From: Moyie, BC Canada
I don't know what alse to add to this. Iv'e been following your delemma for some time. I had a pontiac motor way back in 67 that was acting the exact same way as your describing, we tried everything. Finally, my dad and I took the heads off and there were holes in several of the pistons. Don't ask me how they got there but there they were. After thoughts we had about it ...was, we tried to start it way too many times with the timeing 180 degrees off and burned some of the pistons. I sure hope this isn't what yours did but I thought it might be worth a mention.......mervy.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
I don't know what alse to add to this. Iv'e been following your delemma for some time. I had a pontiac motor way back in 67 that was acting the exact same way as your describing, we tried everything. Finally, my dad and I took the heads off and there were holes in several of the pistons. Don't ask me how they got there but there they were. After thoughts we had about it ...was, we tried to start it way too many times with the timeing 180 degrees off and burned some of the pistons. I sure hope this isn't what yours did but I thought it might be worth a mention.......mervy.
Sam