Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

351w wont start

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 10:46 AM
  #1  
BRay09's Avatar
BRay09
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 1
From: Elyria, OH
351w wont start

Well the long trek to get this truck going again with a few more ponies is turning into a real headache. Everythings in and attached correctly. Grounds are good. Fuel pressure is 40 psi. It is getting spark. The motor turns over and acts like it wants to start, but will only fire a few times and not run. What am I missing? Took the #1 piston to TDC and the rotors right where #1 wire is and the balancer says 0*. try starting it and nothing. Turn it over and move the distributor left or right slowly, nothing. I dont know whats going on!!!!!! please help
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 11:03 AM
  #2  
Lazy K's Avatar
Lazy K
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
Likes: 10
Are you confident that when you have No. piston at TDC it is on the compression stroke?
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 11:23 AM
  #3  
Elderstarr's Avatar
Elderstarr
Tuned
20 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Okanagan
What have you done to it for more ponies? Sure the firing order is correct? I got mine mixed up after changing camshafts and it eluded me for the longest time. (5.0 is different)
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 11:28 AM
  #4  
BRay09's Avatar
BRay09
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 1
From: Elyria, OH
How do you know when it is on the compression stroke? I thought TDC was TDC? When the pistions at the highest it can go. Am I wrong?
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 11:31 AM
  #5  
BRay09's Avatar
BRay09
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 1
From: Elyria, OH
Originally Posted by Elderstarr
What have you done to it for more ponies? Sure the firing order is correct? I got mine mixed up after changing camshafts and it eluded me for the longest time. (5.0 is different)
I have a 74 351w block bored .040 over. Stock intake and plenum and a stock bottom end. The heads are Gt40s with 1.7 RR in them and Flowtech LTs on them. The cam is a crane 444232 cam and the same as the origional firing order I believe as it was for the 351w?
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 11:56 AM
  #6  
Lazy K's Avatar
Lazy K
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
Likes: 10
To be on the compression stroke both valves have to be closed. The best way to verify this is to remove the valve cover and with No1 at TDC both rockers should have play. If one valve is open then you are 180 degrees out.
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 12:00 PM
  #7  
Elderstarr's Avatar
Elderstarr
Tuned
20 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Okanagan
Quickest way to check TDC on compression stroke is to put your finger over the spark plug hole and bump the starter until your finger is blown off, then line up the balancer. Then check to see if the distributor is still lined up to #1.

The cam firing order looks to be the same.
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 12:36 PM
  #8  
BRay09's Avatar
BRay09
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 1
From: Elyria, OH
Well it was on the compression stroke, but it isnt firing. timings at 0*. I pulled out the plugs and they were wet with gas. When cranked over the fuel pressure goes to 45 psi. Is that too much and killing the spark= wont run?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-2

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-4

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-5

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-8

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 12:47 PM
  #9  
Lazy K's Avatar
Lazy K
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
Likes: 10
Are you sure the plug wires are on right? Are you sure the valve lash is not too tight?
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 02:23 PM
  #10  
BRay09's Avatar
BRay09
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 1
From: Elyria, OH
The plug wires were gone over twice. They are on correctly and in the right spots on the distributor. Valve lash? Not sure what that is exactly. Please explain...
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 02:42 PM
  #11  
Lazy K's Avatar
Lazy K
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
Likes: 10
The valve lash is the adjustment on the rockers to ensure that the valves are not being held open very slightly on the compression stroke.
If the valves are held open, however little, the engine will have no compression on those cylinders.
You have double checked the firing order and that the dist is in right and I don`t think the fuel pressure is the problem.
running out of ideas.
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 02:59 PM
  #12  
BRay09's Avatar
BRay09
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 1
From: Elyria, OH
Well I torqued the rockers down to the required torqe setting that the paper said. Should I loosen these up, or should I run a compression test on all cyclinders as a test prior to this?
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 03:10 PM
  #13  
Lazy K's Avatar
Lazy K
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
Likes: 10
No, if you torqued them down properly you should be OK.
You seem to have done everything right. As mentioned in a previous post the firing order for the 351 is not the same as the 302. Have you got a manual with the right firing order shown?
You say you have spark. Did you check the spark with the plug set on the engine or the spark at the coil.
Did you check the inside of the dist cap for cracks?
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 03:16 PM
  #14  
BRay09's Avatar
BRay09
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 1
From: Elyria, OH
The cap and rotor are both new. I checked for spark at the plugs and there was good spark there. I dont see why this thing isnt running right now. There is spark and gas, why wont it run??
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 03:17 PM
  #15  
BRay09's Avatar
BRay09
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 1
From: Elyria, OH
yes i have the haynes with the correct firing order and they were the same as what I had.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:30 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-1
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-3
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-7
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE