I ran into a tiny problem. Hopefully you guys can help me out. The 355 is finally in the car and last night I turned the key. It wouldn't start.
Bottom line - No compression as in 0 compression on cylinders 1 and 2. I don't really see any reason to check the rest.
Anyone have any ideas on what to check?

350 block bored 30
flat top pistons with 30 over rings
350 heads torqued in sequence (shop manual) with arp bolts and to arp's specs

TIA

 

run the valves, i'll bet you have a lifter or two over tightened or rings not seated.

 

When tightening valves I'm supposed to tighten the rocker arm nut until there's no more up/down movement of the pushrod correct?
What do you mean by the rings may not be seated? There are 0 miles on this engine.

 

Do you mean you've tightened it so that the pushrod does not move up and down at all?!?!?

 

The rings may not yet be fully seated in the grooves, allowing a lot of blowby. You should still read SOME coimpression pressure, however. I'd check the valve adjustment as well. For a cranking compression test, even a little loose on the valves isn't going to hurt anything.

BTW - What are you planning to do with the old 305? Specifically, the heads? I know someone who needs a little more compression, and all the local "usual suspects" don't seem to have any lying around their yards. Maybe we could arrange a swap of some sort?

 

depending on what part of the cam lobe the pushrod is sitting against will determine how tight the push rod is.. overtightening of a rocker, especially in the wrong posisition will wipe the cam lobes off causing the valves to stay closed at all times, do a search for setting valve lash, its been gone over many many times here

 

vader where are you from? i ask because here in jersey/pa i can think of half a dozen local yards that i've seen several fully intact 305 in f-bodys

 

Try just backing off every valve 1½ turns. If you adjusted them using the correct method but went to the really tight point instead of just to where the push rods met the lifter seat, that should put them at about the right spot, and the car should run fine, long enough to prperly adjust them after it's running.

 

I adjusted each valve when it was in the closed position. According to my Helms it stated to do that and then tighten 1 additional turn. I only added 1/2 turn and that was too tight.
The problem was that they were too tight. I started loosening them 1/4 turn at a time and the car now runs smooth and quietly.
Thanks for the help. Now onto some final assembly.

Vader - If I remember correctly you're local to me. I think we may be able to think of something. PM me if you're interested.