Birdsong_'89_RS

This is the same '86 Ive been working on for over a year now, the old one blew up, and I pulled it out when I first got it. I've tried replacing parts, and what not, then I pulled the motor out again the other day and did a some major checking, making sure I had the timing chain gears properly aligned, and put in a new rear seal and put it back together.

This is what I've replaced so far.
PCV Valve
Air Filter
Plug Wires
Plugs
Vaccum Lines
Dist Cap
Dist Rotor
Dist Module
Pick Up Coil
Fuel Pump
Fuel Filter
Firewall ground cable
ECM
TPS
IAC
MAF
Both Oil Pressure Switches
Coolant Fan Switch
Coolant Temp Sensor

My injectors aren't new, but they were replaced with ones off another '86 that was running not to long ago, same with my EGR Vaccum Solenoid.

I can hear my injectors clicking when I turn it over, and after it turns over, I can smell gas. It has 45 psi pressure at the injecton rail. I know for sure its getting fire, I checked it using with a tool, and later, felt it first hand.

Just until yesterday, I wasn't sure what to set my timing at, but I finally found the tag that shows it (it was cover in dirt and grease) I have it set at TDC instead of 10 BTDC but my mechanic freind told me it should still try to start. I plan to set it back soon as I can.

I've set the valves twice and my uncle has done it once, its hold compressionv (about 145 psi)

When I turn it over, it don't hit most of the time.

The only thing that I know it could be is a frayed ground wire from the harness, but I don't know how that could keep it from starting.

enswrob

set it to 10 tdc should fire right up. made the same mistake after changing lifters..

rsrsrs

iTrader: (9)

Are you sure you put the Spark Plug wires on the correct locations on the Distributor?

Birdsong_'89_RS

Yes, I've made sure of it many times, with three diferent sets of plug wires...I used stock Originally, then the Accel 8.8mm off my street stock, and finally when I had the engine out this last time with 8mm Accel's that one of my freinds bought for the project.

I'm gonna try setting my timing back to 10 tdc, see what it does

Birdsong_'89_RS

Okay, I set the timing back to 10 BTDC, it will hit now some, but still no start, its smells like it floods out quickly.
I'm gonna reset the valves again.

Gumby

If you got spark and fuel, you should have fire.
Has to be something like timing or valves.

Have ya tried using startin fluid???

often if that wont pop it off, its spark.

also change youre plugs, they can look good but be fouled.

autolite platinums are cheap and work great where other plugs fail.

Birdsong_'89_RS

I just tried the starting fluid on new plugs, it just spins over and makes a loud clinking sound.

With out starting fluid, it barely hits.

Birdsong_'89_RS

I just finished resetting my valves and I'm sticking it all back together, I'll be ready to try to start it again in about an hour

Birdsong_'89_RS

Okay its all back together, it hits waaay better now, but it still won't start, even on starting fluid. It has fire to all 6 plugs and I'm using all new plugs, still nothing. it tries but no start

enswrob

sounds like weak spark now...

Birdsong_'89_RS

I'm gonna replace that next

Gumby

How are the wires???

I had bad wires cause problems, even though they wern't that old.

Birdsong_'89_RS

The wires are new out of the box 4 days ago (cost me $60), I just replaced the coil, and it still won't start.
It smells like its flooding out. If I sit in the car and spin it over for a bit, I just about pass out.
Does an Autozone TPS need to adjusted on the 2.8, I read the 3.1 need to be but, I couldn't find it in either the chilton or haynes

Gumby

could be your dizzy, maybe the pick up coil is gone. It would still give some spark but not enough.

Had that go on my V8 car, figured it out by putting a timing light on it. It still "ran" but I could see that it got very random spark. Like half of it was bad, so each cylinder only got spark every other time.

Yea you adjust the TPS, I done it years ago but can't member.
I know there are post aobut it here somewhere.

enswrob

.54v for the tps

Birdsong_'89_RS

I've just replaced all of the distributor parts, I originally had no spark
I'll adjust the TPS as soon as I find my multimeter

Birdsong_'89_RS

TPS adjusted, still nothing

mvftw

iTrader: (1)

Did you use a cheap distributor module or GM? Check the wiring going to it...

Birdsong_'89_RS

The cheaper Module from Oreilly's, I'm looking into replacing both of the connectors at the Dist and Coil, they're not in great condition

mvftw

iTrader: (1)

The Dist. Mod. not only controls spark, it also controls the Injectors...I would get a GM brand...

ScottieB

did you bust a timing chain? i got a timing chain set for 29? or $35 from oreillys. make sure you get the gaskets too

if its been ran more than 50,000 miles, go ahead and replace it if you want!

it sounds just like what my 89 is doing, it started running really shitty, so i replaced the dizzy, all plugs, cap/rotor, and still the same thing... now it wont even start after i reset the timing... it started acting like i was in 5th gear at 30 mph and stuttering, even at 100 mph it still vibrated like hell.

anyways, it just wont start now, so im going to replace the timing chain on my next day off! driving my truck for now... let us know what the solution is!

Birdsong_'89_RS

I'm stuck driving a '94 TBI V6 Cheyenne Single Cab long bed, with a worn out engine and a transmission that no longer has overdrive, and barely reverse...

My timing chain is brand new, SDPC double roller that I got with my crate engine, I checked it the other day, its in really good condition, since then engine has never been ran, just cranked and cranked on for over a year.

I'm gonna have some more experienced mechanics check it out when I take my car out to have the t-tops done, I was hoping to drive it, but its looking like I'm gonna have to trailer it.

ScottieB

it may have spark, but remember that our dizzy's have a hexagonal shape to them... i did this with my truck to make it run (it has a different dizzy bottom though).

here is what i did to truck:

piston 1 all the way up, matched it with the harmonic balancer and took dizzy out, put screwdriver down inside of dizzy hole and turned the bottom "notch" where i wanted it to be, put dizzy back in... i had to do that a few times to "tweak" it where i wanted it, lol. shine a flashlight down into your dizzy hole, you should see a hexagon... but with having that, its going to be hard to adjust it how you want

with the camaro im going to try to get a socket on that hexagon and turn it to where i want it, if my timing chain doesn't fix the problem.

its worth a shot if you got time to bust!

Birdsong_'89_RS

That didn't help. still nothing

XxXChrisGXxX

iTrader: (1)

Ignition control module replace it.

keep turning that distributor untill it fires eventually, then time it with the car warm and the ALDL grounded 10 degree's.

Kevman

Well here's my crazy thought, I came up with it in the shower.. If you rebuilt the bottom end, did you remember to stagger the piston rings so the gaps weren't in line? Thanks, KP.

Birdsong_'89_RS

Yeah, I staggered them, I've been doing this for a while with V8's for the dirt tracks...

I've tried turning the dist until it starts, and I can turn it all the way around and it still not hit a lick...

hydrolic144

iTrader: (2)

Check your fuel pump?

golden

Ok... It has 45 psi of fuel pressure, fire and still doesn't start. You said earlier that you've replaced the pick-up coil. Did you check the pick-up coil adjustment? Magnetic crank sensors requires minimum gap to send a proper signal to the ICM...

hydrolic144

iTrader: (2)

Did you check your fuel pump?

Mark242

So, did you figure it out? I have an '89 that's been kicking my a** with similar symptoms: 115 - 125 psi compression, spark (replaced distributor 2x), replaced timing chain, good fuel pressure 40+psi. I made a break out cable with diodes and verified that the computer is driving the injectors. All is well, but not start.