buckweber

I am getting spark and the TBI appears to be shooting gas as it should. When I crank it, it will start and run rough for about 2 seconds. After that is just spins. I think it floods. Next day same thing. I thought I was going to have to pull the heads to fix a rocker arm problem and pulled the distributor. I marked how it came out but then without thinking I turned the motor to install valve stem seals and then adjust the rocker arms. So my marks were worthless. I turned the motor over until I felt air coming out of cylinder 1. Presumably the compression stroke. I brought the timing mark up to TDC. I assumed at that point I was top dead center and not 180 degrees out. I installed the distributor with the rotor over cylinder 1. Hooked up all my wires making sure they were all correct. I marked the distributor lockdown bracket and distributor to insure I put the advance back where it was before I took it apart and put it back to the mark. It seems as if the car is out of time or I am totally missing something. If you all have any ideas on what I can check I would be much obliged. I am out of ideas. Note: I do have a timing light but I can't see the timing mark on the timing gear cover as the water pump is in the way. Is there any other way to check the timing. Thanks

305sbc

iTrader: (3)

An easy way to find out is to just connect your wires to the distributor cap 180* out and see if that fixes your problem.

buckweber

I will give it a shot

travis401

iTrader: (1)

it doesnt matter what direction the rotor is pointing as long as the wire its poiting at goes to the #1 cylinder when the #1 piston is at tdc on the compression stroke.

you said you turned it over until you felt air comming out of #1 cylinder, but were was the air comming from? the spark plug hole?

buckweber

Air was coming out of spark plug and both valves were closed on cylinder 1

travis401

iTrader: (1)

well that would be the compression stroke. is the timing cover and balancer stock?

buckweber

Timing cover and mark are stock and I haven't messed with them

travis401

iTrader: (1)

pull the spark plugs and the fuel pump fuse and spin the engine over a few times. check to make sure the plugs arent fouled while you have them out. then stick um back in and try to crank it again.

Damon

Put your timing light to it and have someone else crank it over. You'll still see the timing mark. You have the distributor in the right place but it's pretty easy to get the rotor off by a tooth with it turning as it's inserted and lining it up with the oil pump driveshaft. Or you could just turn the distributor about 25* (about half a plug tower difference) in either direction from the baseline position and see if it fires. If it does, you're off by a tooth in the same direction you turned the distributor.

FYI- distributor has 13 teeth.

travis401

iTrader: (1)

with the OP saying it start and ran for a few seconds, i dont think its a timing issue.

buckweber

Travis. Is there anything else I should be looking for?