Well i got my T56 put in last week. Took it for a test drive and it was running great, shifting perfect, no noise etc.... About 10miles down the road i was in 6th gear at about 1500rpm when i heard a bang and a lot of clanking and rattling. That was it, my car refused to fire back up. Now i was pretty sure that i had just thrown a rod but i just pulled all of my spark plugs and when i had someone crank it with my fingers over the holes i could feel that all cylinders have good compression. So what broke? Im pretty sure i didnt throw a rod, but what happened? Can anyone give me any hints?

By the way, i removed my exhaust at the y-pipe when i was driving it, (it had gotten bent when i was putting the tranny in and didnt want to line up right so i just pulled it off) Its a possibility that all the banging and clanking i heard was just misfires amplified about 100x. Could my timing chain have slipped a tooth?

 

It is possible that you snapped your timing chain, which would explain the no start. I can't see it being transmission related because then your car would at least start seeing as how it's not even engaged with the transmission on startup. I also can't imagine your ignition going out like that at the same time you heard alot of clunking around. When you try to start the car, does the starter at least spin? What type of timing chain did you have in there? If it was a double roller then I doubt that is the case. And I also doubt that the timing chain slipped a tooth without breaking. Was there anything else done at all at the time of the swap that maybe could be giving you this problem now? Any other modification at all?

 

no its not the timing chain, i checked. all of my valves are still opening and closing and the distributor still turns. i did put a new cap and rotor on it, and it seems that the rotor was rubbing the inside of the cap a bit but i dont think its enough to make a difference. the starter spins fine, and the tranny is perfect. no problems there. ive been working with cars for quite a while, and have built 3 thirdgens but this problem is really getting the best of me right now....

 

well i just put the plugs back in and it fired right up
i have no idea what happened or why. i guess tomorrow ill double check the timing and take a test drive. this doesnt exactally inspire a lot of confidence though, i dont like not knowing what the problem was or if it will happen again. i like to think that im a fairly good mechanic but i feel like a total idiot right now

ill keep yall posted after i try it tmw......

 

Hey man it happens. Sometimes these cars throw crap our way that cant be explained. Hope it's alleviated itself though.

 

i think i got it figured out. i bent the distributor shaft.