Car won't start
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Auburn, MI
Car won't start
My 85 Camaro won't start. But first a little backround.
About 3-4 weeks ago I was replacing the fuel filter, and stripped out the carb. So I went out back and pulled off an old Q-jet, cleaned it up and put it on the car. Since this one isn't CC, I also put in an Accel distributor. Along with new plugs and wires. One thing I noticed is when I was putting in the new distributor, the rotor didn't line up in the same position (everything fell into place though). So I got the engine to TDC on the #1 cylinder and put it in again. Once again the rotor didn't line up correctly. The next day I talked to my auto shop teacher, and he said try and start it. Just to see if it will run, and then figure out the rotor miss-alignment.
The car ran ok for the condition of the engine (if you rember my other post, about not having much, if any power when giving it gas). I didn't try to start it with the new carb on it with out replacing the distributor.
The engine sound like it want's to start, but only when it fires on a certain cylinder (I'm guessing it's the 5 or 7). The rest of the time it just spins over. If I pump the gas more than 5 times it will flood (so far I've gone throgh 2 sets of plugs, and it hasn't even been running). I know it's getting spark, and fuel. If it warms up a little I'll do a compression test.
The motor has over 250,000 miles on it, so I know it's dying. And currently my only transportation is my truck (8mpg isn't even funny) I'd like to get the car running and drive it instead of letting it sit and rust.
Anyone have any ideas on what my problem could be? I'm thinking the timming chain may be part of the problem. Thanks
About 3-4 weeks ago I was replacing the fuel filter, and stripped out the carb. So I went out back and pulled off an old Q-jet, cleaned it up and put it on the car. Since this one isn't CC, I also put in an Accel distributor. Along with new plugs and wires. One thing I noticed is when I was putting in the new distributor, the rotor didn't line up in the same position (everything fell into place though). So I got the engine to TDC on the #1 cylinder and put it in again. Once again the rotor didn't line up correctly. The next day I talked to my auto shop teacher, and he said try and start it. Just to see if it will run, and then figure out the rotor miss-alignment.
The car ran ok for the condition of the engine (if you rember my other post, about not having much, if any power when giving it gas). I didn't try to start it with the new carb on it with out replacing the distributor.
The engine sound like it want's to start, but only when it fires on a certain cylinder (I'm guessing it's the 5 or 7). The rest of the time it just spins over. If I pump the gas more than 5 times it will flood (so far I've gone throgh 2 sets of plugs, and it hasn't even been running). I know it's getting spark, and fuel. If it warms up a little I'll do a compression test.
The motor has over 250,000 miles on it, so I know it's dying. And currently my only transportation is my truck (8mpg isn't even funny) I'd like to get the car running and drive it instead of letting it sit and rust.
Anyone have any ideas on what my problem could be? I'm thinking the timming chain may be part of the problem. Thanks
TGO Supporter
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,811
Likes: 1
From: Jackson County
as i understand it your car ran fine, or ok before you decided to "fix it"? you screwed up and had to swap carbs and distributor. it's logical that your problem is the carb or distributor and not the timing chain. since you couldn't get the rotot to line up as the original was don't you think that may be your problem, or the bigger part of it? bring #1 to TDC on compression, check timing marks, then check rotor location. if rotor isn't at #1 or the distributor can't be turned to make it point to #1 pull the distributor and reinstall. rotate the oil pump drive shaft so you can install the dristributor with the rotor pointing to #1 or close enough that you can rotate the distributor to make it.
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