I need serious help!!!
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I need serious help!!!
I just tried to stat my 400 i just rebuilt for the first time and i am having some major problems. At first nothing happend when I cranked, After a while fuel started spraying out of the carb through the port on the top. It popped a few times but didnt sound like it was firing right. I adjusted the timing a little to see if it would help and I got back in and turned it over and it backfired through the carb and my whole shop just about blew up. Does anybody have any idea what i should do. Is there something i might have put in wrong? Do any of the aftermarket 400 camshafts have different firing orders?
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I think some dirt got into it and the float stuck, im gonna have my friend look at it hes good with carbs. As for the timing ive checked and double checked and i know its on, right now im hoping i didnt put the timing chain on wrong.is there any way i can check for this without taking the whole thing apart?
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From: chicago burbs
the distributor can be "on" but on the wrong cycle, the timing gears being wrong is possible too. with the passenger side valve cover off bring the engine around to TDC with your finger in the plug hole. you should see the intake rocker open and close the valve, then some compression should blow out the plug hole right before the timing marks line up at TDC. at this point the rotor should be pointing to the #1 tower of the cap, about 1:00 as you look at it from the front.
when installing a timing set the crank sprocket key and the cam dowel pin are both very near but not exactly center top, and the alignment marks are close together in the center near each other. other engines are different, some need the alignment marks both at the top of each sprocket. i've fixed a few that were put together wrong like that by chevy guys.
when installing a timing set the crank sprocket key and the cam dowel pin are both very near but not exactly center top, and the alignment marks are close together in the center near each other. other engines are different, some need the alignment marks both at the top of each sprocket. i've fixed a few that were put together wrong like that by chevy guys.
Last edited by grclark351; May 6, 2006 at 02:16 PM.
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Im pretty sure i had the timing chain on right but is there any way i can check to make sure without taking the whole radiator and water pump etc. of and looking?
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From: western montana
I'm probably way simplistic here...but you can tell tdc by watching the rocker like grclark says above- once at tdc where would the rotor be pointing if it were all lined up right- it would be putting fire to #1 right? So if you KNOW your distributor is right then it should fire #1 ehwn it's lined up. Now I could be missing something here as i suck at the whole electronic thing but it makes sence that it would tell you whether your close enough to tune it in.
or should I be riding the short yellow bus to work tomorrow? would not be the first time.
or should I be riding the short yellow bus to work tomorrow? would not be the first time.
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From: chicago burbs
"with the passenger side valve cover off bring the engine around to TDC with your finger in the plug hole. you should see the #1 intake rocker open and close the valve, then some compression should blow out the plug hole right before the timing marks line up at TDC."
about a half turn of the crank later the exhaust rocker should start to open, and another half turn later close the exhaust valve. the intake should be opening again at this time and start the process over again.
from TDC #1 firing position; the piston goes down: power stroke
exhaust valve opens, piston goes up, X valve closes: exhaust stroke
intake valve opens, piston goes down, I valve closes: intake stroke
both valves are closed, the piston goes up: compression stroke
the spark plug fires, you are at the beginning again, otherwise known as Suck Squeeze Bang Blow
about a half turn of the crank later the exhaust rocker should start to open, and another half turn later close the exhaust valve. the intake should be opening again at this time and start the process over again.
from TDC #1 firing position; the piston goes down: power stroke
exhaust valve opens, piston goes up, X valve closes: exhaust stroke
intake valve opens, piston goes down, I valve closes: intake stroke
both valves are closed, the piston goes up: compression stroke
the spark plug fires, you are at the beginning again, otherwise known as Suck Squeeze Bang Blow
Last edited by grclark351; May 7, 2006 at 12:08 PM.
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This thing is driving me nuts, I took the valve cover off and watched the intake valve open and close then felt the compression coming out of the plug hole, I cant find anything wrong with it. I am 100% sure the distributor is on but it still acts like the timing is way of, it spits back throught the carb, it pops every once in a while throught the exhaust but it does not at all act like it wants to take off. Im gonna talk the the mechanic in town on Monday about it hes pretty experienced with this kind of thing.
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From: chicago burbs
when you set up the firing order, are you aware of the cylinder numbering system? it is way different than GM! passenger side is 1 2 3 4, and drivers side is 5 6 7 8. wouldn't be the first time...
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A friend of mine rebuilt a 351W and had all kinds of trouble starting it and about a week later he found out that the firing order for the aftermarket cam was different than it was on the stock motor. Tourque1st said all firing orders are the same for the 400 cams and i think hes probably right. Ill call comp cams tomorow just to make sure though