2.8 mpi to 305 carb help
12-20-2015, 03:41 PM
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2.8 mpi to 305 carb help
Alright here is the deal, I swapped my 2.8 to a 305 carb. Hei distributor, holley 600cfm 4 barrel, with performer intake. I got the 305 from a friend he had it rebuilt with a cam he forgot what kind a few years ago, never fired it up. I got it in my 89 firebird it tries like crazy to run but just wont. I've checked and double checked and triple checked the timing, it's spot on. It's gettin plenty of gas and spark. Hits really hard and fast, but wont seem to fired up. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
12-20-2015, 11:38 PM
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Car: 1988 Camaro
Engine: 355, 10.34:1, 249/252 @.050", IK200
Transmission: TH-400, 3500 stall 9.5" converter
Axle/Gears: Ford 9", detroit locker, 3.89 gears
Re: 2.8 mpi to 305 carb help
Check for spark... Pull plug out, put wire back on it, hold plug close to exhaust header/manifold as someone turns the key and tries to start engine...
Do you see a spark going from plug to exhaust manifold/header?
If so, move on to next thing..
If no spark, check to make sure you have 12 volts feeding to the distributor and hooked to the place marked "BAT"
Make sure the 3 wire plug going from distributor body to cap is plugged into cap.
Pull off the tach wire and try starting again. I have seen this happen a few times, if tach wire grounds out somewhere it will keep the module from working.
If still no spark... It will be a bad module or maybe coil, but module would be the go to thing in this case.
If you do have spark but not firing... Make sure your plug wires are on correct and in right order..
Clockwise around cap 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Driver side back front to rear is 1-3-5-7
Pass side back front to rear is 2-4-6-8
If that is correct and still not firing...
Pull fuel line off the carb inlet, put it in a bottle/jug/can, etc and try cracking engine again? Are you getting fuel into that bottle/can/jug?
If no, then you have a fueling prob with pump or something
If all the above is tested/done and still not firing... My money would be on the timing... I know you said you checked, double, triple checked, etc but I have seen this happen MANY times.
Heck my Mom's hubby tried for 2 mo. straight to get his V8 S10 fired up... Pulled the distributor out 20+ times, rotated it everywhere.. Mama talked him into calling me and asking for help... I came over, and with in 30 min, it was running... I pulled the dist. out, got #1 to TDC, put dist. in, put wires on and it tried to crank, rotated the dist. body a little and she fired up, put timing light on it and set the timing.. My guess is he kept installing dist. on #6 compression stroke.. #1 and 6 is at TDC at same time, but only one of those is on true compression stroke.
Do you see a spark going from plug to exhaust manifold/header?
If so, move on to next thing..
If no spark, check to make sure you have 12 volts feeding to the distributor and hooked to the place marked "BAT"
Make sure the 3 wire plug going from distributor body to cap is plugged into cap.
Pull off the tach wire and try starting again. I have seen this happen a few times, if tach wire grounds out somewhere it will keep the module from working.
If still no spark... It will be a bad module or maybe coil, but module would be the go to thing in this case.
If you do have spark but not firing... Make sure your plug wires are on correct and in right order..
Clockwise around cap 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Driver side back front to rear is 1-3-5-7
Pass side back front to rear is 2-4-6-8
If that is correct and still not firing...
Pull fuel line off the carb inlet, put it in a bottle/jug/can, etc and try cracking engine again? Are you getting fuel into that bottle/can/jug?
If no, then you have a fueling prob with pump or something
If all the above is tested/done and still not firing... My money would be on the timing... I know you said you checked, double, triple checked, etc but I have seen this happen MANY times.
Heck my Mom's hubby tried for 2 mo. straight to get his V8 S10 fired up... Pulled the distributor out 20+ times, rotated it everywhere.. Mama talked him into calling me and asking for help... I came over, and with in 30 min, it was running... I pulled the dist. out, got #1 to TDC, put dist. in, put wires on and it tried to crank, rotated the dist. body a little and she fired up, put timing light on it and set the timing.. My guess is he kept installing dist. on #6 compression stroke.. #1 and 6 is at TDC at same time, but only one of those is on true compression stroke.
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