Okay, so here's the short and skinny of it... I just dropped a well taken care of L98 to replace my tired 305. I got everything with the engine including the 700R4 and computer. Anyway, I got it in this weekend. Somehow between the late hours, beers and having to put it in three times, the nut on the distributor wasn't tightened down all the way. I started the car three times and had to get the battery charged. I wasn't letting it run very long and the battery was pretty low anyway. When I put the fresh battery in, I started the car and heard what sounded like it went through one cycle really hard and then it died. Loud boom then nothing. Wouldn't start. This is when I noticed the distributor was still loose.

I thought it might have bumped the dist. out of time, so I set the engine as close to #1 compression TDC, adjusted the oil pump slot, and reset the distributor. At this point, I tried to start it up, but yet again, it wouldn't start.

On a hunch, I tried to "bleed test" the fuel pressure and got nothing.

How far down should I have to push the pin to get anything? Last I remember, it wasn't that far.

I tried to listen for the fuel pump priming, but with the damn chimes in the car, I could barely hear it when I knew it was working.

I know this is a long "short and skinny" back story for a simple question. I'm hoping someone might have some insight into anything else I should check.

Thanks

 

You should not have to depress the valve that far to get fuel spraying out. It is important to listen if it is priming. If you have to get somebody in the back to do it. If it isn't priming I would then test to see if it is getting power.

 

As far as I remember, it should be pretty loud. I used to be able to hear it over the chimes. I'm pushing the pin down 2-5mm and getting nothing. I think I'll hit it with some starting fluid later today and see if it tries to fire up.

Just so I'm not hunting everywhere for it later, the fuel pump relay is on the driver side of the firewall, correct? Now that I think of it, I didn't even hear it clicking. I'm hoping that is the issue. I hate changing the fuel pump in these cars.

Thanks.

 

Nope, it wasn't priming. Wasn't getting power at all. The 20A continuous fuse near the battery wasn't completely blown, so I missed it. Just looked a little chewed up. I replaced it and it fired right up... Now to work out the other issues. Started a new thread for those.