Its my first time ever timing an engine from scratch, first time ever rebuilding an engine(78 ford f250 400m with an RV cam)...dont go too hard on me! I just finished completely rebuilding my engine from a bare block...so im bound to run into problems but this one has me completely stumped.... I think i have the base timing set up correctly but the truck puts out 0 effort to start.

So heres what I i did:

1. I have fuel and spark.

2. I'm certain I set the timing chain correctly so the dots line up and pointing at each other.

3. Turned the engine over so that the dizzy was pointing at #1 cylinder at 6 degrees btc.


4. No matter where I would turn the distributor it would not start unless i turned it the whole way clockwise to where it was touching the waterneck...then it would attempt to start. That seemed to me like the distributor was 1 gear out on the cam...I moved it 1 gear in each direction and adjusted it in its full swing of rotation and that didn't help one bit...

5. All the plug wires are in the correct firing order


Like i said the engine will ONLY attempt to start when it is turned the entire way counterclockwise...and even then it sounds like the worst thing in the world.

I'm stumped on how the truck just pops and sputters when the timing "should" be correct. So can anyone give me any pointers on to what i may have overlooked?

Thanks

 

Sounds like you may have the distributor 180 degrees out...

 

I had the same problem when I replaced my 400 and this is what I did.

1. Made sure the #1 cylinder was on the top of the compression stroke. I removed the plug and stuck my finger over the opening to feel the air pressure. I made sure the distributor was pointed to the #1 plug.

2. Knowing that the first step would get me in the ball park I had to move the distributor a full tooth over to get my truck to start.

I'll bet you just need to do step #2 and it will fire up.

 

I suggest you do a search on this forum since it has been covered numerous times and then start over. If you had #1 cylinder TDC set on the intake stroke and your firing order is in fact correct it would back fire through the carb when you tried to start it (you didn't state it did this so I assume it just cranked and no start). Sounds like your firing order is off and or your number one on the distributor isn't going to the number one cylinder which is throwing everything off. You can get a more accurate TDC using a straw inserted to the #1 cylinder, turn the engine over by hand and watch it rise. Once it stops, mark the balancer and then turn the engine the opposite direction and after the straw drops and rises again to a stop, mark the balancer again. In between those two marks should be TDC. Of course you could make you a fancy tool or buy one... Turn the engine over again until your on the compression stroke and stop on the middle mark you made. Drop your distributor and what ever terminal on the cap the rotor is pointing at, that is your number 1 cylinder. Install your wires in the correct firing order from there... You can then turn the distributor a little bit clock wise (just a hair) and it should fire right up (if everything else is right).

 

Here's another issue I ran into, The distributor grounds out against the block, sparks, and shocks me sometimes. Of course the key is on but i dont think it should do that otherwise. I figure I need to get a new distributor?

 

Check the two wires going into the distributor. One is hot the other is ground. You have either found a way to cross them or the hot is grounding out somewhere between the plug and the pick up... If you fried it then you can just replace it instead of the whole distributor... Maybe FMC400 will chime in and give you more specifics on the matter...

 

Ok I had some time to play with it today. I started from scratch and now the distrbutor is in rougly the normal place for #1 and adjustment. I put my timing light on it and it fires around 12 BTC, which somebody told me is a good place to start at. It will run, but is hard on starting and still runs rough.

Ive also notice that the coil gets pretty hot with the key just on, and the duraspark box gets warm. The diz still grounds out against the block but the truck is fireing.... It seems like it is still 180 degrees out but will the timing marks line up at 180 degrees?

Thanks

 

It won't start if its 180* out. You should probably forget about timing right now and figure out your electrical problem.

 

Im going to completely go over the electrical system in short notice it does run now...runs great. It was 180 degrees out, fixed that, still wouldn't start.... well this meat head thought he memorized the firing order...apparently not! Thanks guys I apprecate it. NEVER overlook the simplest things!

 

You were 180 out before that's why it wouldn't start, you can at least start now, albeit rough, you just need to fine tune the timing/carb and you'll be golden.