Thursday on the way to work the engine shut off (83 Z 28 5.0 HO). It will crank but won't start. Did these engines have the fiber timing gear? I have no gas at the carb. If I pour gas in the carb it will sometimes pop/crack out the tail pipe while cranking. Checked a couple of spark plug wires and only randomly have spark. Also, no oil pressure while cranking. These could all be symptoms of cam not turning 100% due to fiber gear giving up after 190,000 miles, right? Now that I've thought about it I'll pull the cap off the distributor tomorrow and see if it's turning. Just curious if anyone's seen similar problem. Thanks.

 

Yup, sounds like the phenolic has stripped off of the chinesium.

Get a timing cover, in addition to the gear & chain set; there's about 60-70% odds that the timing chain cut a hole in it down low on the pass side as the gear died.

Seen it many times.