jmd

iTrader: (4)

Such as after an intake manifold swap.

I usually tape my firewall and mark where the dist. housing was pointing and where the rotor was pointing. I did that.

Got fuel, got spark. All I'm getting now is slight backfiring.

Sparkytfl

Thats the same thing I do. Only time it ever failed me was when i accidently lined up the rotor pointing at the tape on the firewall when I was supposed to point it away.

camaronewbie

1) remove #1 spark plug
2) hold finger over #1 spark plug hole
3) have someone manually turn over the engine until you feel air pressure on your finger (pushing outwards), then stop
4) manually turn engine until the timing mark lines up with zero on timing tab
5) look at distributor - where ever the rotor points, that HAS to be the #1 spark plug wire
6) arrange remaining sprk pluig wires in firing order

jmd

iTrader: (4)

I did happen to put it back to the firewall tape marks.

Then yesterday, I manually turned it over until the timing notch in the balancer was at 0. The rotor was already right at #1.

camaronewbie

If still getting backfiring - maybe a plug boot is not all the way snapped on a plug, maybe a wire is bad. Did you recheck firing order around the cap just to be sure?

freaky

make sure your distributer isn't 180 degrees out

pancherj

Try rotating it an inch or so counter-clockwise and see if that helps (you may not have enough advance to get it started).

jmd

iTrader: (4)

I don't remember it pointing away, but that's what it was...

And soon, smog time!

zacharyhorn

iTrader: (1)

I set mine to 20 degrees inital before start up. Usually wind up setting it to 22-24 deg. to get my full 36 degrees all in.

freaky

glad it was a easy fix i done that once on a jeep amc 360 i built . i messed with it for hours an my dad listened to it try an start an laught an said you got your distributer in backwards an he was right .lol

64elko

ok timing problems after putting on new heads,,, setting the perload on lifters i then set the timing to tdc with the finger over the #1 cyl trick,, it was a little past after poping my finger out,,turned it back a little to tdc,, then put in the dizzy pointing the rotor cap to #1 where i put a mark on the top of the pentium befor i took the heads off..so i knew it was going back to #1 tdc when i stuck the dizz in.. so what is happing is it turns over but will not start.. i have fuel,,,40 pds of fuel press, blue spark ,air ,140 pds compression,,, pluse to the ecm from the dizzy and pluse to the injectors (plugs show fule on them) timing is on the money via the finger pop methed... but still not start,,, could use some help,,, and it is cheaper to get my TPI running the do a carb swap at this point right now. i am an old school carb hot rod guy.....new to TPI ...

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Start over with the timing verification.

64elko

helllo
ok will do when it stops raining ,,thanks...

K88-79

What if there is no timing tab?

jmd

iTrader: (4)

Look down behind the waterpump.
Or club with a connecting rod whomever put the engine together without a tab.

K88-79

Lmao.....oh yea..they did that...idiots!

Sparkytfl

That might be better than the guys who put mismatched tabs and dampeners. "why does my engine only run if the timing's like 30 degrees off?"

ASE doc

Once you have spark, you can use a timing light to check timing while cranking. Have a helper crank the engine or use a remote starter and check timing with the light. At cranking speed, you should have base timing.

DAVECS1

iTrader: (2)

Take the drivers side valve cover off. Rotate the engine over until the timing mark comes to TDC after the intake valve has cycled open and shut. This is TDC read to fire. Then look at the rotor on the distributor. Were it is pointing is were the number one spark plug wire needs to go. If you do not like that position move the distributor at this point were you wnat number 1 to be. Now install the cap hook a multimeter to the center post and you planned number 1 post on the cab rotate the cap until you get continuity. The timing is now 0 degress advance dead nuts on.