No Start issues
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No Start issues
Good Morning from Utah,
I’m a new 19 year old enthusiast that bought a 1983 Ford 150 Stepside. It’s got a 300 Inline 6 with a Holley 4 barrel carb and offenhauser in it and sounds amazing. Although after 15 miles of pure joy I parked it at the gym and when I went to start it, the engine would crank but sounded like no spark. My gym buddy helped work out it was not sparking so I realized the distributor rotor was worn out. Upon that discovery I saw that the previous owner had wires in a Chevy distributor! Regardless I replaced the cap and rotor but now it was backfiring out the carb. Mysteriously it seems the ignition timing is off and I have reset the distributor. It ran down the road really rough. Now it doesn’t start and the distributor is now pointing at the next cylinder in firing order but the engine timing is still correct. The shaft and cam gears are healthy looking and the cam is in one piece. Do you guys have any ideas?
I’m a new 19 year old enthusiast that bought a 1983 Ford 150 Stepside. It’s got a 300 Inline 6 with a Holley 4 barrel carb and offenhauser in it and sounds amazing. Although after 15 miles of pure joy I parked it at the gym and when I went to start it, the engine would crank but sounded like no spark. My gym buddy helped work out it was not sparking so I realized the distributor rotor was worn out. Upon that discovery I saw that the previous owner had wires in a Chevy distributor! Regardless I replaced the cap and rotor but now it was backfiring out the carb. Mysteriously it seems the ignition timing is off and I have reset the distributor. It ran down the road really rough. Now it doesn’t start and the distributor is now pointing at the next cylinder in firing order but the engine timing is still correct. The shaft and cam gears are healthy looking and the cam is in one piece. Do you guys have any ideas?
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
It ran ok when you first got it. Then it would not start. When you messed with the distributor, now it will start but not run correctly. I think you messed something up. Happens to me all the time. You need to go back through everything you did, something you did is not correct. Sounds like the distributor is not correct. Do you have a timing light?
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
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I wonder if your “Chevy distributor” might be an aftermarket HEI conversion swap meet special. In other words, a piece of Chinese junk. Is the coil built into the cap? Follow Dave’s advice for troubleshooting, but if you need any ignition parts, that could get fun.
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Triple Check.
Thank you for the advice and yes it’s chinese trash. I’m gonna triple check everything but I read on another thread that the Haynes book I have is incorrect on how to find TDC so I’m gonna use a stick in the cylinder to aid me in finding the right markings. Yes I have a timing light.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
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I do not care to discuss how I know this.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Angier, NC
I don't see why you cant put a finger over the #1 plug hole and tap the key (starter button) and when air pushes the finger off it is coming up to TDC and then just turn the motor over by hand to line up the timing mark.
And for the ones that say "but what if the damper has slip?" please tell me how many you have seen slip?
In all the motors I have played with and some of them race motors, I have never seen one slip or be that far off you could not get the dist. lined up for #1.
I would like to see what this bad rotor looked like.
Dave ----
And for the ones that say "but what if the damper has slip?" please tell me how many you have seen slip?
In all the motors I have played with and some of them race motors, I have never seen one slip or be that far off you could not get the dist. lined up for #1.
I would like to see what this bad rotor looked like.
Dave ----
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Tuned
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 311
Likes: 30
From: MD
For BigBlue2:
For OP:
Congrats on the vehicle and you've definitely come to the right place for help. You'll love the 300 it is a great motor.
For OP:
Congrats on the vehicle and you've definitely come to the right place for help. You'll love the 300 it is a great motor.
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From: Virginia
Thank you for the advice and yes it’s chinese trash. I’m gonna triple check everything but I read on another thread that the Haynes book I have is incorrect on how to find TDC so I’m gonna use a stick in the cylinder to aid me in finding the right markings. Yes I have a timing light.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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Thanks for sharing. That's one of the purttiest 300's I've seen!
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,240
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Not wanting to 
, but what are your plans for that 300? You working on a set of wheels to install it in? Maybe you already have a post on it? Share the link?
, but what are your plans for that 300? You working on a set of wheels to install it in? Maybe you already have a post on it? Share the link?
Tuned
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 311
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From: MD
https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/...rd-inline-six/
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