The timing on my car was 180 degrees out. Surprised it actually ran! Fixed it this week. Its now correct. Also Got a new distributor cap,and a new rotor
The spark plug wires were in the wrong order too. So we got those all done
Now the timing is VERY screwy and it will start but only for a second
Is the fuel return line plugged? Or does the top of the card have to be rebuilt? Like where the spring is?
I cant figure it out. And theres been so many hours of work done to this car its killin me!
Any ideas?
And also, how can you tell which line is the fuel in and fuel out?
Thanks guys

 

Engine wont run with the timing 180 degrees out. You'll just get backfiring. Did you check to make sure the # 1 cylinder is on the compression stroke before isntalling the dist.? Its also possible that the timing isnt set properly.

As far as the fuel lines, the smaller is the return.

 

Yeah thats what i said
its on the #1 cylinder

 

no place did you say it was one the number 1 cylinder... that why he asked.. did u change this over from tbi to a carb?... What "spring thing" are you talking about... sorry not trying to be a *****.. but the last guy asked a good question and got a semi smart responce... sounds to me like you need to get a chilton manual... or take a pick of this "spring thing" and post it so we know what your talking about...

 

Haha im sorry bout that
Its a fuel injection carb
Theres a spring rebuild kit for whatever it is
I think its the silver part that mixes clean are with the gas? Not sure!

 

That's an interesting idea.

 

LOL, i bet he ment TBI...but i agree , the car wont run on 180 OUT at all !!!!!

SO u better start over with this .
#1 TDC, and then point the dizzy in that direction, set the pickup shortly after and then follow the correct firing order.
START and then set the timing with a light !!!!

 

To check to be sure that the engine is on the #1 comp. stroke (if you haven't done this already), you'll need to pull the plug and stick your finger in to feel for compression while turning the engine over clockwise. Once the timing mark on the balancer comes up to TDC, you should feel compression. If not, your on the #6 compression stroke.

You should also use a fixture to turn the engine over instead of the balancer bolt. Summit/jegs sells fixtures that bolt to the front of the harmonic balancer and allow you to turn the engine over w/o risk of stripping the crank threads.

 

I beg to differ having had a small block RUN AND DRIVE with the timing 180* out. Ran like crap, no low-end power, multiple backfires under 2,000 rpm but rev it up and it would pull like a freight train past 5,000 rpm.

 

Are u seriously saying that a motor ..no matter which one can run with the timing 180 out ???

U got to be kidding right ?????????????????

 

I wouldn't have thought it could either, until it did. I pulled the distributor, rotated it 180* and the issues that I was having went away.

One of the issues being it would only run with 20* + initial timing, less and it would backfire while cranking. Opening the throttle under 2,000 rpm with a load would cause the engine to backfire and stop running.

 

I had the dizzy out 180 a bunch of times..and never ever did a motor start...no SBC or BBC !!! and every time i was PISSED !!!

So maybe u have a magic engine ???

 

Well magic, I dunno about because I was pretty pissed that it wouldn't run worth a damn after I spent a sunday swapping the cam and switching to ported vortecs only to have nothing for power and driveability issues.

I parked it and messed around with it. Pulled the valve covers off and while adjusting the rockers thats when I realized it was timed wrong.

I lined the timing chain up dot to dot, forgot to turn the crank 1 time before stabbing the distributor.

Don't ask how, but the damn thing started, ran, and drove, giving me a hell of an issue to diagnos.