86 base bird w/2.8mpfi maf system. Put a 3.1 block with it's own heads.changed all the intake oil sending unit and such over onto the motor.Now the parts from the 2.8 were in a box and the block had no heads on it.So if there was somthing on the old heads I was suposed to have moved that didn't happen. This motor turns over fine,I shot some starting fluid into the TB and it did't even try to fire. So I pulled out a spark plug grounded it to 2 different areas of the motor and turned it over and couldnt see any spark.At night.I'm not to good with these meter things but put it on both coils. Got the same reading of each.Which wasnt much.My meter thing is a cheapy.sperry DM-210A. set it on 200k. I've had this car the longest and have fixed 2 others,one with a 3.4 swap and one tranny job.I've had the gas tank out 2 times.First fuel pump didnt work.I've never even heard this engine run.I'm tempted to just go get another one and check this one out some other time.Help if ya can.

 

if you're not getting any spark, there's no reason to pull the engine out and put another one in. The problem is going to be in the ignition system, most likely. Only other possibility coming to mind right now is a grounding problem. Be sure that the ground wires are hooked up properly. On my 91 there's a small cluster of ground straps bolted to the back of each head and the big ground wire from the battery on the front of the block, by the timing cover. If that's all in place as it should be, check the ignition control module (ICM)...check it out yourself or go to the parts store with it and have them check it. Its mounted inside the distributor. Check the cap and rotor. If you tried two coils already, its no likely that they both were bad but, its still possible. Also, keep in mind that the coil has to be grounded to work. Then, be sure your plugs and plug wires are good, too. Once you check through that stuff, let us know the results and we'll help more if none of that fixed it for you.

 

thanks for the reply!I didn't put another coil on it.Just tested a spare I got to see what kind of number the would read.I didn't get much though.This engine had goten rained onby PO. Took the coil wire off and a few plug wires and the had some white chaulky stuff in them. I figure the dizzy probly got wet too. The tarp this guy had it under sort of rotted off of it. I traded a 82TA not running for this engine and tranny that were supposed to be out of a recked 91. is there an easy way to change the coil.They are rivited into the bracket and some of the bolts and nuts are in hard to get to spots.I will try to get back to work on it buy this weekend.Thanks again

 

If I were you I'd test it first, IE take a new coil and just hook the wires from the old one to it and see if it fixes your problem, and if it does I'd go from there.

 

you can do this but be sure and grab some heavy gage wire and ground it. For replacing the coil...unbolt the bracket from the head. This will likely be the hardest part. Then, drill out the rivets and put the new one on with small bolts and nuts. I would clean the bracket pretty good where the coil sits against it.

 

I got the dizzy cap off and looked inside! There is rust all over everything. I have another one off the orignal 2.8. It has very little rust on it. Can I use some spay stuff on it for electronic type stuff and help it out? I'm afraid the one in the car might be to far gone. I'm thinking about changing both while I'm at it. This would have been alot easyer on the engine stand! If nothing else,I'm learning to check out all the suport components as well as the block itself. my wife said she didn't like how the guy was doing in our trade. If it runs good when I do get it started than I'll stop fussing. Thats a good Idea on the coil test. 10 gauge wire heavy enuff?

 

I'd just buy a new cap and rotor, they're cheap. 10gauge may or may not do the trick...could give you a false since of whether thats the problem or not. advanceautoparts.com shows the Accel cap and rotor for 19.99. MSD coil from them is $52...Accel is $59. It is common to find a bad coil...especially if its the original!

 

I guess I made it sound like the rust was on the cap. The rust is all over the metal parts of the distributer itself not the cap.Autozone said 129.00 for one of thoughs.I've got another one with very little rust on it.wondering if they can be cleaned up some how?

 

ohh, on the prongs...yeah, just wire brush the rust or use some fairly fine sand paper of it. Might want to put a new pickup coil in it, too, while you have one that's not on the motor.

 

I will try that first

 

OK,Pulled the dizzy out put a cleaned up one in,hooked up another coil that was able to hook right up to the harness conectors without using temperary wires.conected a ground wire.shot starter fluid in the TB and turned her over.I got 1 good fire out of her before the smog pump pulley fell to the floor.Smog pump is locked up from setting so long by PO. The good part was it did show some fire.Checked on a shorter belt to deleat the smog pump.Already have the AC deleated.I guessed the belt needs to be about 7 and a 1/2 to 8 inches shorter.parts store had one 7in.shorter. I'm fealing good enuff about it to get some new plugs and wires.Didn't want to put them in unless the engine showed me some sort of life!

 

I wouldn't bother buying anything for it until I knew it was going to run for sure. Then again I suppose the plugs could also be fouled out, but if I were you I'd just pull them and wire brush them off and save some money until I knew what was going on.

 

Thats what im doing!

 

Well how did it go then?

 

OK! finaly got the car started.Dont know if all the vac lines are right,probly not.I got this car with no motor block and a box of parts that had been rained on for 2 months.Picked up a 3.1 that had sat so long outside the tarp that covered it had rotted off and acorns hulls and garbage all over it.Smog was locked up on one of my start up trys.Fuel pump was dead on my first attemp.But today,1 and a half years after I got it.It actualy started up.The dizzy I stuck in was the best of the bad.It still has the funky old plugs and wires.The dizzy cap and button need replacing.ran for about 5 sec and died started 2 more times with the last one lasting about 20 seconds.Didn't hear any engine noise.No knocking at least.This car has stole my heart.It's a base model 86 firebird with hard top.Nothing fansey.But no rust and rear quarters sides doors hood,top back front have no damage of any kind.interior is clean exsept seats and headliner.

 

Changed the spark plugs,wires Dizzy cap and took the temperary coil set-up off.Re hooked the old coil up.It started a little hard at first.Still have to put water and antifreeze in.So I only ran it long enuff to feel good about it.Tomarrow I'll water her and set the timing.Then see if she can move on her own power out of the carport so I can have my carport back.