i had just built a 85 chevy 350 im at the final stage of the build trying to get the engine to start, i have taken the distibutor out and positioned the engine at tdc drop the ditributor in and wired it all up but yet the engine is not hitting i know it's getting gas but no spark...........also the engine has an edelbrock performer intake with only one vaccum line in the back where does that go?? and where do the vaccum lines hook up from the carb? (holley 650 dual feed carb) all advice is welcome im trying to get a 2 and a half year project started thanks

 

Did you drop in distributor on TDC of the compression stroke?

Not familiar with your carb, but should have brakes and body vacuum lines off intake, vac adv dist off carb (ported vac) and PCV off of carb (manifold vac).

 

yes the number1 cylinder was all the way up im getting power to the distributor but no spark to the plug, the button is facing the number 1. and the vaccum switch required? there is a block off plug in my intake where the thermo vaccum switch goes but it can not be removed, im running trying to run the least emmisions as possible i know witch one goes the the vaccum advance and pcv but that still leaves two one on the back of the intake and one on the carb and i still dont know witch ones are for the brake booster

 

If you are getting power to your distributor, but not at any plug, then it is not your timing. If your timing is off, you would still get spark, just at the wrong time. Have you checked your contact points on your cap and rotor? If you are using a HEI distributor, which I would imagine you would in a 85, check the coil. If all those things check out good, replace your ignition module, and unless you have a bad distributor, one of those things should have been your problem. Hope this helps.

Also, as for your brake booster vacuum line, if you have a 3/8 port on the back of your carb, thats where it goes, and if not then it should go into the intake.

 

i have an accel hei coil with the accel cap and button and the hei ditributor is new so im not sure why im not getting any spark, i have the three prong plug pluged into the distibutor and a hot wire ran to the side that says bat. and nothing plugged into the part for the tach but i would imagin that it would not be an essiential to complete the circuit

 

ok so i've got spark to the engine now. i give it gas threw the carb and it will shoot gas and flames out the exhaust when the cylinder hits is that the carb or not enough advance or retard on the distributor

 

Sounds like the distributor is installed 180 degrees out.

See post #2. The piston on the way up does not define the compression stroke. The piston is on the way up on the exhaust stroke, too.

 

engine has cranked sounded like it wanted to start but failed, i have no vaccum lines hooked up to the car as of right now and no trans or stall converter, shot flames up threw the carb also i dont have any thing indicating tdc except for when the piston is at the top of the cylinder i can feel the piston all the way up...is there any way to tell a difference between the compression stroke and the exhaust stroke?

 

To find the compression stroke, remove the number one spark plug. Now put your finger over the hole and turn the engine over by hand. This is easier if you have a second person to turn the engine over. When you feel the pressure pushing your finger out, you are on the compression stroke. Now continue the rotation until you reach TDC, which I am assuming you know how to do. With the number one piston at TDC on the compression stroke, drop the distributor in with the rotor facing close to the number one cylinder point in the distributor cap (Which should generally be pointing almost directly at the number one cylinder). Make sure you leave yourself a bit of room for rotation of the distributor on either direction of the number one. Also, check and make sure your firing order is correct. It should be 18436572 in a clockwise direction. Once you have this correct, plug off any open vacuum lines, and you should be able to start your engine. It may take a little playing with the distributor to get it just right, but once you get it started, you should be able to get it adjusted fairly easily.

 

thank you for all the advice im about to start my day and head to my garage and get this beast fired up i will update you guys when i get a chance

 

Be sure you disconnect the power from the coil before you put your finger over the #1 spark plug hole and turn the engine over. If the distributor is 180 degrees off, and only the #1 spark plug removed, you'll get flame coming through the #1 spark plug hole, which isn't a favorable condition for your finger.

 

haha thanks i also have another question about my rear axel will the gears inside hold up to a v8 since the car was a factory made v6? its a chevy 10 bolt but really dont know for sure what the gears are, also what would be the best gears and trans if i were looking to do speeds of 140 or 150?? i'd like to make it do these speeds but on some what of a budget, i know my engine is up for the challenge.

 

It's a long drive from Cinci to the Bonneville Salt Flats. I don't think they're running at Daytona Beach anymore.

 

haha funny man, but my engine is no longer shooting gas but now its making what i would call a hiccup out of the exhaust