Car cranks, shoots fireballs out the carb
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From: shawnee, ks
Car: 87 Firebird
Engine: 5.3 76mm
Transmission: Rossler TH400, PTC converter
Axle/Gears: Strange 12bolt, 3.08s
Car cranks, shoots fireballs out the carb
Ok I just added headers, and redid the valvelash (turn push rod till resistance + 1/2 turn, flat tappet hydro cam) put in new plugs/wires and now it wont start. Set up thats in the sig.
I checked the plugs, and they were wet, so I double checked the fireing order 4 times, took the cap off, put it to TDC compression stroke on #1, put it too the floor, and cranked it again, and it spuddered out the exhaust, and shot a tower of fire out of the carb at the same time. If I leave it on the floor, and crank, stop, crank, it wont do the fire thing. I hooked up the timing light and while cranking set the base timing to 0, then 6, then 12, same results. I changed plugs again, and they are staying dry so long as I have it on the floor while cranking. The choke is also tied open.
What should I do next? I did try a little bit of starting fluid, but it didnt seem to notice at all. The car ran before it went down 2 weeks ago for headers. I also checked to make sure the balancer hadent sliped, and its just fine.
I checked the plugs, and they were wet, so I double checked the fireing order 4 times, took the cap off, put it to TDC compression stroke on #1, put it too the floor, and cranked it again, and it spuddered out the exhaust, and shot a tower of fire out of the carb at the same time. If I leave it on the floor, and crank, stop, crank, it wont do the fire thing. I hooked up the timing light and while cranking set the base timing to 0, then 6, then 12, same results. I changed plugs again, and they are staying dry so long as I have it on the floor while cranking. The choke is also tied open.
What should I do next? I did try a little bit of starting fluid, but it didnt seem to notice at all. The car ran before it went down 2 weeks ago for headers. I also checked to make sure the balancer hadent sliped, and its just fine.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Port Angeles, Wa
Car: 1983 Camaro Z28
Engine: 584
Transmission: TSI Glide
Axle/Gears: Quick performance 9 inch
I am not so sure that the headers are as much of your problem.... I think it lies in your valve adjustment maybe. Couple of questions for you..... Did you have the engine running when adjusting the valves? if not then just setting each pushrod 1/2 turn is not going to have them properly adjusted unless you brought each set of valves up and closed all of the way. They acually have a certain sequence for adjusting them all. I forget it maybe I can dig around and find it. I would check the valves out and then double check your ignition timing. Hope you find out whats wrong soon!
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: shawnee, ks
Car: 87 Firebird
Engine: 5.3 76mm
Transmission: Rossler TH400, PTC converter
Axle/Gears: Strange 12bolt, 3.08s
Oh and the ignition is a full MSD HEI set up.
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I did it by the book, or the one that I have anyways. Witch was bring it to TDC and adjust what ever ones where at rest. I also re did it and did the open/closing method, where you adjust one, as the other is closing. If I could get it start, I would gladdly take the oil spray to properly set them.
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Originally Posted by izcain
I am not so sure that the headers are as much of your problem.... I think it lies in your valve adjustment maybe. Couple of questions for you..... Did you have the engine running when adjusting the valves? if not then just setting each pushrod 1/2 turn is not going to have them properly adjusted unless you brought each set of valves up and closed all of the way. They acually have a certain sequence for adjusting them all. I forget it maybe I can dig around and find it. I would check the valves out and then double check your ignition timing. Hope you find out whats wrong soon!
Last edited by MaxxMitchell; Jul 22, 2006 at 10:40 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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From: shawnee, ks
Car: 87 Firebird
Engine: 5.3 76mm
Transmission: Rossler TH400, PTC converter
Axle/Gears: Strange 12bolt, 3.08s
I checked compression on 3 of the cylenders while I was chaning plugs, and they all came out to 118-125. Guess I could go out there and check them again. Before the headers where on, and the car ran great, I checked it on 2 of them and had the same results.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,552
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From: New Jersey
Car: 86 Corvette, 89 IROC, 1999 TA
Engine: 350, 350, LS1
Transmission: 700r4, 700r4, T-56
Axle/Gears: 3.07, 373, 4.10
try backing them all off 1/4th of a turn at a time then try to start it.. than readjust.
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From: shawnee, ks
Car: 87 Firebird
Engine: 5.3 76mm
Transmission: Rossler TH400, PTC converter
Axle/Gears: Strange 12bolt, 3.08s
Well I backed them off and it didnt seem to change. They are backed off pretty far now, I can jiggle the pushrod up and down.
I closed the choke and tried it a couple more times, and it back fires pretty constantly out the exhaust. Enough that It cought some paper towls on fire that were soaking up some oil. I just changed the oil as well, as it was thiner than I liked and reeked of gas.
Im going to start all over again on the valve lash, set it to zero lash, and crank, then start going in 1/8th at a time.
I closed the choke and tried it a couple more times, and it back fires pretty constantly out the exhaust. Enough that It cought some paper towls on fire that were soaking up some oil. I just changed the oil as well, as it was thiner than I liked and reeked of gas.
Im going to start all over again on the valve lash, set it to zero lash, and crank, then start going in 1/8th at a time.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Virginia Beach, VA
Car: '87 Iroc
Engine: 350 .060 over
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9bolt
Originally Posted by MaxxMitchell
put in new plugs/wires and now it wont start.
Last edited by The_rabbit1; Jul 22, 2006 at 11:55 AM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: shawnee, ks
Car: 87 Firebird
Engine: 5.3 76mm
Transmission: Rossler TH400, PTC converter
Axle/Gears: Strange 12bolt, 3.08s
Originally Posted by The_rabbit1
i'm leaning towards your wires are 180 out or in the wrong direction, (clockwise/counterclockwise) remember #1 tdc will have the rotor pointing towards the front of the car and crank the car with the rotor cap off to see which direction the rotor turns.
Just fliped it around and it fired right up.
HOLLY wow what a smoke show!! These headers are going nuts with smoke right now
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 103
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From: Wauseon, Northwest Corner OHIO
Car: 96 SS #15
Engine: LT 1
Transmission: M6
Axle/Gears: 3.42 ZT
Originally Posted by MaxxMitchell
U guessed it
Just fliped it around and it fired right up.
HOLLY wow what a smoke show!! These headers are going nuts with smoke right now
Just fliped it around and it fired right up.
HOLLY wow what a smoke show!! These headers are going nuts with smoke right now

I was wondering while reading this when someone was going to say 180 off.
That will make a fireball everytime.
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