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View Full Version : Done with new timing Chain. Truck wont start! Help!


will e
09-16-2003, 10:27 AM
EDIT: After writing this post it occured to me that the crank turns over twice for every one time that the cam does. When I put the distributor back in I didn't check to see if I was on the compression stroke for Cyl number 1.
I am going to rotate the distrib 180 degrees (with the mark on TDC of course).

Edit again: Yep. Fired right up. I can't believe I did that! Did the same thing on my mustang engine. Okay. Back to work. I am going to leave this post, maybe it will help someone doing a search.....

Original post:

Truck won't start.
Can't figure it out.

My timing chain cover sprung a leak. I got a new one from BJ's. While I was in there I replaced the timing chain. Eldelbrock brand.

All done putting it back together and it won't start!

I have spark. I had marked where the rotor was on the distrib with the timing mark on TDC (or darn close). I have fuel. Seems to crank over fine. It was running fine before.

Problems I did have while doing the work:

1. stock distributor harness broke. Just the outside. I am using the same harness and, like I said, I have spark. No doubt about that!

2. When I took the timing chain off I saw that the marks were not lined up. They were 180 degrees off on the cam side. I put the OLD chain and gears back on and rotated the engine by hand until they were lined up.
I put the new edelbrock timing gear on using the 'normal' key. (you can go 4 degrees advance or retarted). It basically slipped right on. I didn't move either the cam or the crank.

Other than that (and the usual stuff) it all went good. I had figured that if the engine didn't start I would check for spark and if I didn't have any spark I would splice the distributor wires. I most certainly do have spark.

I tried rotating the distributor in both directions. No good. I let it sit for a while in case it was flooded. No good. I put the distributor back to where I had marked it and tried it again (did this several times) and still no good.

Anyone with any thoughts at all?

[ September 16, 2003, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: will e ]

bvibert
09-16-2003, 11:05 AM
Yup, I've done that myself. Really sucks until you figure it out huh? ;)

35sNoLift
09-16-2003, 11:18 AM
Show of hands for everyone who's done that? And don't lie!

paddyp
09-16-2003, 12:36 PM
Been there, done that.

will e
09-16-2003, 01:01 PM
Thats two out of two for me. Got her fired up. Doesn't look like I have any leaks. Adjusted the timing and it is running good! Same lack of power it had before! (81 was not a banner year for horse power). Good oil pressure. I am stoked! It took me two and a half days to do the job with a couple of trips to the auto parts store tossed in. I am not fast but I am pretty good.

Tad
09-16-2003, 02:00 PM
Glad to hear it Mike.
smile.gif

jeepsr4ever
09-16-2003, 03:30 PM
just for guys who might need it heres summits info on timing chains
http://www.bulltear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=420

will e
09-16-2003, 04:08 PM
Yes! That was part of the excitement installing the chain. I didn't see the instructions which where hidden under a piece of cardbarod.

There were 3 notches. One had a triangle top, one had a square top and one had a round top. I figured the 'normal' must be the square top since it matched the stock shape.

Wrong!

It ended up being the round top. I spotted the instructions and things went much more smoothly after that!

I knew when it didn't just slide back on that something was wrong. I am glad I didn't start trying to 'make things work'. smile.gif

jeepsr4ever
09-16-2003, 04:11 PM
yup.........ive tried to make things work and really ruined a nice 360 :( hey good luck e!