81 302 wont run

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Oct 7, 2006 | 09:30 PM

DictatorDanny

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81 302 wont run

Helping my buddy getting his 302 running. He got the truck and let it sit last winter he started it up and smoked a cigarret in the shut if off. Never stared again. He put a new fuel pump and used carburetor motorcraft 2 bbl. When I came into the picture he thought It needed to be timed well I brought number one up and dropped the ditributor back in and lined the rotor up to number one on the cap and tried it nothing just back firing through carb ok so maye were on the wrong cycle do it again bring it back up and drop distributor in and lined everything up this time nothing at all. So I put it back to the way it was and you can here that it wants to run you can here it exhaling through the exhaust when its backfiring. So I check the timing chain pull water pump off any everything nope key and mark are lined up typically amount of play in chain. through is all back together and pull the valve covers off and check that all the springs are workin yup. Dont know what to do what cold possible be wrong there is spark its getting fuel? Need help Thanks

Oct 7, 2006 | 10:27 PM

surewhynot

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I think that cigarette he smoke gave it a cancerous tumor in the distributor lol.

Seriously though, it does sound timing related. Are you sure that the firing order is correct? Have you tried slowly advancing or retarding the dizzy any?

Oct 7, 2006 | 10:57 PM

81fordf-250

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From: Chrisney Indiana

well

are you sure your getting a good strong flow of fuel? It could be that the fuel filter is stopped up and is letting very little fuel threw. It might be enough to fill the bowl but maybe not enough to run. Try some choke cleaner down the carb. Not a lot just a quick shot and then crank and see if it fires up any. if it does then you have fuel probs if no difference then it is spark related. unless the plugs have become fouled out.

Oct 7, 2006 | 11:09 PM

DictatorDanny

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No its getting plenty of fuel. And while he is cranking on it I turn the distributor left and right until I get the most reaction. As far as the fring order i used a haynes manual And I am pretty sure its a 302 the truck is pretty frankenstiened but I know for sure Its a small block and even it its a 351 it should have the same firing order. 1234 5678 And I dont think its a 289 but i could be wrong would that be a differnt firing order. Thanks Danny

Oct 8, 2006 | 12:55 AM

81fordf-250

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From: Chrisney Indiana

wrong

the 302 and the 351 have a diffrent firing order in some years.

Oct 8, 2006 | 08:15 AM

Sport45

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From: Too close to Houston

Quote:

Originally Posted by DictatorDanny

Its a small block and even it its a 351 it should have the same firing order. 1234 5678

That might be your problem. I don't know where that firing order came from, but if it's a 351 (W or M) the firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. A 302 will have a firing order of 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 unless someone has put a 351W cam in it. In that case use the 351 firing order. The cylinders are numbered 1-4 front-to-back on the passenger side and 5-8 front-to-back on the driver's side.

Oct 8, 2006 | 08:25 AM

F3Beam

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Have you checked for a hairline crack in the distributor cap? Looked inside for signs of misfiring or carbon buildup where the rotor makes contact? Checked where the wire from the coil attaches in the center of the cap for good contact or blockage? Or raised the hood at night and looked for sparks jumping from the plug wires while cranking? I'd check that stuff too.