the only thing new on my engine, are the heads which came with the valves installed, the roller rockers, and the cam. All the other parts, carb etc, were working fine a year ago when I yanked the engine.

I tried starting it today, but all it did was sputter a lot. The exhaust had the smell of raw gas, and there was some smoke coming out of the breathers on the valve covers after i tried starting it. After checking everything on the engine, the only thing I could come up with is that maybe i put the distributor in 180deg the wrong way. I was pretty sure it was top dead center, but u never know. Would that make it near impossible to start and leave raw gas in the exhaust?

Im assuming that the carb is still ready to run since i haven't screwed with it after i took it off the car, the ignition is a msd 6a, blaster 2 coil, distributor and wires and its all wired correctly.

So, what else should i check, and if you think it's the distributor being in the wrong position, whats the proper way to find tdc? the rotor should also be pointing to the #1 cylinder once tdc is found, right?

If any other info is needed i'll check back soon and reply with it.

Thanks for any help,

Scott M.

 

The timing could be way off, there is a way to find tdc easily. Take out the #1 spark plug and cut a piece of thick wire to put in the hole, stick it in until you get the hang of finding the piston, and crank the engine over by hand. You will feel the piston moving up, and when it stops you are at tdc.

I would say yes, timing is very important and having it wrong can screw up a lot of things. And yes, the rotor should point towards #1.

 

Keep in mind that you may be 180* off even if you have the #1 cylinder at TDC since the engine is a four stroke and the piston goes to TDC twice in any given full cycle of the engine. If you have it 180* off, as you continue to turn the engine over from TDC, the #1 intake valve will open as you were on the exhaust stroke and not the compression stroke..... If you have it right, the valves will stay closed until the piston begins to travel back up and then the exhaust valve will open. Usually if you have it 180* off the engine won't actually start but will pop back through the intake a bunch....

Just an idea for ya..........
Good Luck
Laterzzzzzzzzz

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1987 GTA L98 MD8
355, TFS Heads, LT4 Hot Cam
My GTA

The Minnesota F-body Club

 

Take you dist cap off, note where the rotor is pointed, pull dist, drop the dist exactly 180 degrees from where it was at. Put cap back on. Now start it up and enjoy.

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L98, 3.27 9-bolt, Hooker shorty headers, custom 2.5inch Y-pipe, no cat, 3inch 2chamber flowmaster, JET AFPR, Ported MAF, Best ET: 13.86 @100mph. 1.99 60'
17 inch ROH "ZS" wheels. 17x8.5(front) and 17x9.5 (rear). Firestone Firehawk SZ50s. 245/45/zr17s and 275/40/zr17s. T56

On the way... Radar Blue 89 Formula, T56, Ram Jet 430, Ram Air, 17inch ROHs.