I have a 1987 firebird formula 305 5.0 v8 4 barrel carburated I've had it for almost a year, it was sitting before I got it, I did an oil change and a nice tune-up, I had it running, it was choppy but it was running, I was backing it out, and it stalled, now she wont start, I was checking the timing and when the har. Balancer was at the timing mark the rotor was facing towards the back, 6 instead of 1, its the right rotor, so I tolhought it was the timing gears, got the timing cover off and the chain and gears are fine, and everything lines up (timing marks, har. Balancer and piston 1 is up) but the rotor doesn't line up all the time, occasionally it does though, and the distributor gears are fine, is it possible that a tooth broke off of the cam?

I'd really appreciate all the help I can get, I really want to get her on the road

Thanks in advance

 

You do realize the crank that your harmonic balancer is bolted to turns around two complete revolutions to every one revolution that your rotor in the distributor makes.. So the rotor in the distributor can be pointing at 6 when the #1 piston is top dead center and your timing mark lines up. Its just not on the compression stroke for the #1 cylinder.

And its very unlikely that you broke a tooth off the cam. The distributor gear is designed to fail before the gear on the cam.


Get the #1 cylinder to top dead center on the compression stroke and re-install the distributor with the rotor pointing at #1 and go from there.

 

The rotor will either line up at #6, or it will line up at #1.

There are TWO spins of the crankshaft for every ONE cycle of the valvetrain.

There is the COMPRESSION stroke - when the piston rises, but the valves are closed, and the gas/air gets compressed for spark.

There is the EXHAUST stroke, where the piston rises, but the exhaust valves are open, and the piston pushes the exhaust gases out of the cylinder.

If you line up the balancer mark on zero, remove cap, and rotor points at #6 wire, then you probably are on the exhaust stroke. Turn the motor over 1 revolution, line up balancer mark at zero again, and I'll bet you'll have rotor pointing at #1 then.

Doesn't solve your issue, but I doubt it's a firing order/cam/timing chain problem.

Make sense? DON'T remove distributor until you verify this for yourself - I don't think you have any need to remove it!

 

Thank you both very much, I did not realize that but I understand it now, but what would chase it to not start FYI when I took the new #1 plug out to see if the piston was up, it was dirty as hell, should I take them all out and clean them? , would that chase it not to start, after I had it running?

 

1) double check the rotor button to #1 like I said above, if it points at #6, turn motor over 1 revolution and should point to #1 wire then.
2) then double check firing order clockwise on your dist cap.
3) did you replace fuel filter?
4) is the fuel pump running (yes, your car has an electric fuel pump in the tank even though it's a carbed car with a mechanical pump - there's a "helper" pump in the tank) Put ear against tank while someone turns on the key, should hear it whine
5) You siad it sat, how long? Might have sludge buildup in the gas - get a bottle of Seafoam and follow directions adding to the tank.
6) If you just put in new plugs, sounds like they are soaked with fuel - remove each plug one at a time, put plug wire back on the plug and let it dangle on the wire - mark wire boot with cylinder number, and then repeat for each plug - let it all dry out overnight, and clean the plugs off with a rag before reinstall. If you did not replace plugs, then replace them - you mentioned tune up so I'm assuming new plugs, wires, rotor, dist cap.
7) Spend $15 on an elcheapo timing light, disconnect EST wire, and check timing.

 

Yes I put iridium plugs in her and they are as filthy as the original ones I took out and it was only running for a total of like 20-30 min, I will try cleaning the plugs tomorrow and will reply with how it turned out, thank you so much for all of your help, this is my first car and am still learning, so thank you for all your help and kindness

 

So I cleaned the plugs and she started up, sounded pretty good, but when I turned her off, smoke was constantepouring outta the altenator until I disconnected the positive batt. Wire, anyone know whats causing that? I had everything apart to get to the timing chain, and im 98% sure that I put everything back together correctly, help os greatly appreciated cuz im getting fed up with this car, its 1 problem after another