I just replaced a push rod, stud, and rocker arm nut. Everything is back on. I had trouble getting the distributor in the right place but eventually did. Started at #1 TDC... distributor now points towards the number one cylinder.

The timing seems to be off too much. Obviously it's off but I can't get the car to run, even turning the distributor slightly. The carb floods and seems to be getting plenty of gas. Every now and then it will backfire/ flame out of the carb.

Chevy 350, Dart heads, Weind Intake, Edelbrock Performer Carb, Mallory Distributor (I think)

Where do I go from here? Thanks

 

It's been about 20-34 degrees out for the past month. Could that be my only problem?

 

Have you tried having someone crank it as you turn the distributor?

Just rebuilt mine and getting the timing set for the first start was a pain. Every time we got the number one up, put the distributor where it seemed correct, it spit, sputtered, ran the battery dead and was just overall miserable.

After jumping a few tooths in both directions, my uncle had me crank it as he moved the distributor and we got it to start, but the distributor had to be turned way to too far counterclockwise, so we jumped it back a tooth and we got it, but we couldn't get it by just turning the distributor a little bit at a time between cranks.

Something worth trying.

 

My dad has been slowly twisting the distributor back and forth trying to find the best spot but it doesnt seem enough. And every time I go to take the distributor and move it one tooth over, it won't drop down all the way.

It will only drop down in the spot it is or 180degrees around. Now this makes sense because there is a little slot for it to drop onto. It definitely seems to be an issue with this alignment.

From what I've read, the distributor should point at #1 when it is at TDC #1. Like you said, it may be a tooth off, but I can't get it to drop down one tooth over and still keep TDC #1.

I think I'm missing something to this whole alignment thing.

 

When you cranked the engine and it finally found the right notch, was it far from TDC #1/where you originally thought it would be?

 

check out my video on distributor installation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjNS_PHTRog also check your spark plugs, if they are black it likely won't start.

 

I'll watch that now and try it again. Plugs were in great shape. Thank you

Haha this was the video I was trying to go off of yesterday

 

We simply jumped it a tooth, slightly held down on the distributor and bumped the starter until it fell in the oil shaft, then put the holder back on and went from there.

If it didn't start, we loosened it back up and slid the clamp off, jumped it a tooth and bumped it until it fell in. It may take a 180 for it to fall in again, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's way out of timing, just that the engine and distributor turned until it aligned with the oil pump.

 

Alright. Great video btw. I follow you completely until you cranked it just a little bit more. I tried that and it would drop down. Let's say that I do get it to go back down, isn't it bad to crank it back the other way because it could loosen that bolt(I noticed the plate you had on there)?

 

I just used some heavy sheet metal, drilled holes to match the damper and welded a socket to it. I made a tool since i do this kind of work often. you can usually grab the damper by hand or sometimes put a 15/16 socket on the alternator pulley. when you're done the rotor will point straight ahead if #1 is at TDC. It will point toward #1 on the cap only if the timing marks are lined up to whatever your base ign. timing is.

 

She runs!
Thanks a lot guys. Big help

Yesterday I couldn't get it to drop over one notch but cranking back and forth a little bit did the trick.
Thanks again