If you followed my other post about "is my rocker adjustment going to be off?" You'll know the situation. sorry about going to another post but I don't know how to do it without writing it all over.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ent-gonna.html

 

then starting a seperate post is a waste of time then isn't it?

so you adjusted your rockers, put your distributor back in, and it won't start eh?
why won't it start? haha! no seriously though, does it backfire while cranking? starts, chugs, dies? cranks and doesn't fire? cranks really slowly? turn the key and nothing happens at all?

it's extremely common to have the distributor in wrong, but it sounds like you've got it in right, are all your spark plugs in order?

 

It spits and sputters and tries to start but it just won't. I have spark and the carb squirts gas when I pump the pedal. I just don't understand why it won't start. Yea It was kinda pointless to start a new thread but I thought I might get more help.

 

well if you have spark, and you have fuel, and you're sure you have ignition timing right......Then you're wrong on one of them.

Pull your distributor, turn the motor over by hand until #1 spark plug pushes air out, then keep going until 0 degrees on your balancer. Then put in distributor such that the rotor points to the #1 terminal on the cap. Then trace the wire back to the #1 plug. Then follow around the cap clockwise making sure each wire goes to the correct cylinder according to the firing order. Then restart it.

 

Couldn't the carb be screwed up somehow?

 

yup . It can . Recheck the plug wires on it . Possible you have them in the wrong spot , made me think that after you said it chugged and almost starts

 

I've checked and rechecked the wires they are in right spot 18436572. I am probably gonna have to get the carb rebuilt.

 

Did the carb work before you worked on the car?

Has anything happened to it in the meantime?

Then it's probably not the problem.



If it squirts gas in when you push the pedal, but it still won't start, then it's not the problem.



In short, leave the carb alone; it's just a diversion from the real problem. Which is, the ignition timing.

Find actual TDC, by some means other than the timing mark. I'd suggest using the hose in the #1 plug hole method; then look in the cyl while turning the motor by hand, and watch for the piston to come to the top. Stop the motor a few degrees before the piston reaches TDC. Then observe some things.

The rotor in the dist should be pointed at the #1 plug, somewhat past the terminal toward the #8 terminal. The little star wheel in the center should be just clockwise of the inner star teeth lining up with the outer ones. If they're not, twiddle the "timing" until they are.

Observer where the timing mark is. If you have a stock balancer and an aftermarket timing pointer, you will probably see that the mark on the balancer is about straight up (12:00) right now, but the stationary mark is over at about 1:30. In which case, ignore the mark.

Then once you have observed those 2 things and set the timing properly, put it back together, lock the timing down, and try to start it. If it runs, don't bother trying to set the timing with a light.

Sounds to me like the timing is about 40° retarded, because of the mark mis-location problem as described.

 

I checked that the piston is at top dead center when it was at 0 degrees on the timing tab. I took the plug out and stuck a screwdriver in there and the piston was right there. Man I wish i could explain how it tries to start. It will turn over then catch then turn over then catch. Then it won't do anything for a while(possibly flooded).Then It would do the same thing again.

 

That description almost sounds like the teeth stripped off the cam gear.

What work did you actually do to it?

 

Headgaskets. It feels like the tooth are good.

 

Shouldn't I be able to put a timing light on it and turn it over and when it lights it should be at tdc on the timing tab right?

 

Does anyone know if this works? Or if it will get me close. I really don't want to take the valve cover off and I don't have a helper to turn it over. So I'm looking for another way to do this.

 

Ok I have a small video with sound if someone can help by hearing it.Please tell me how to upload it or send it to you.

 

well now I got it running. I rebuilt the carb and it fired right up. I just have to adjust idle and timing. but right now its running great as is.Thanks for all your help.