Rebuilt engine not starting

[maxb45678]

We finally got my 360 back in the Duster but we can't get it to start. We had a few backfires and found out we had the distributor 180 out. We fixed that. Now we've got nothing. We pulled the plugs and they don't smell like gas. HELP!!!

[pishta]

How much of nothing do you have? Is it cranking? Pull fuel line off to see if you are pumping gas. Pull coil wire off and see if you have spark. Pull #1 plug and see if compression lines up with the TDC on the crank. You may have jumped time with those backfires. Maybe blew a vacuum plug off the carb base? Even if you blew the power valve, you would still get a few revs.

[MoparMarcIdaho]

I see slow restorer and I have to ask,how old is the gas in the tank?It doesnt take very long to go bad these days,smell it and if it smells like paint thinner you better drain it and next time put some restore in it.Splash a little fresh stuff down the carb and try again.

[maxb45678]

Gas is pumping into the carb. We have spark. We have compression. And the #1's comp stroke lines up with the crank. We didnt think about the gas though. Its gotta a half full tank of 5 or 6 month old gas. Is that okay? or too old?

[maxb45678]

oh ya, when i said "then nothing" in the first message, I meant that it was turning just fine, but not firing up, no backfires, or sputters. Not absolutley nothing. I'll try to be more clear next time.

[horatio102]

check to make sure you're getting spark.

check all of your wires - coil, resistor, distributor, etc.

also make sure the block ground strap is in place.


I let a Honda sit in my garage for 6 months without driving it once, after recharging the battery it fired right up and ran fine. I got pulled over for expired tabs since I hadn't driven it in so long and completely forgot about it, but that was the only trouble.

[maxb45678]

We are getting spark. The gas still smells like gas, not paint thinner, so i think its still good. A friend of mine said that we might have put the dist. drive gear in one tooth off. Where should the dist rotor be pointing when the #1 is at TDC. What effects would it being one tooth off have?

[horatio102]

Does it matter? You can turn your distributor to adjust the timing, right? Just make sure when #1 is at TDC of the compression stroke the rotor is pointing at the #1 plug wire. Then advance your timing to suit your needs.

[biggerhammer]

make sure you check the intake to carb surfaces, carb base might be off a little reculting in a vacuum leak, check brake booster for same.

[George G. Leverette]

On small blocks the dist should be pointed at the first bolt on left intake or almost straight ahead with# 1 at TDC on the firing stroke. The dist can be indexed by removine the dist , inserting a long screw driver and aligning the dist slot to the correct position. Use an engine starter fluid, it will not wash the oil from the cyclinder walls on initial start.

[maxb45678]

Does anybody have any other ideas???

[MoparMarcIdaho]

I know they are new but you have gas fouled them.Throw in another set,double check the timing and get ready to hear it run.

[Charger 1]

are you sure you were 180 out the first time around and not just too far advanced? pull the valve cover and watch the valves on #1 cyl set tdc on the intake stroke and start from there.

[66Dart_GT]

Cam Timing?

[mr tiggy]

I was having the same problem with my new motor. It was cranking fine, lots of spark, lots of fuel, but still not staring.
Apparently my enging man installed the oil pump gear in one or two cogs off. So the timing looked like it was right on. But upon further inspection it wasn't right on and to fix the problem i had to move the spark plug wires one or two spots over(can't remember exactly) but then she started up just fine.
Hope you get her going, i know how it feels to be waiting to get the new creation running....and it sucks the big one!
mike

[maxb45678]

I think before I pull the distributor to check the oil pump gear i'm going to check from comp, spark, and fuel one more time and try her again. One of the big confusions I still have is that there is plenty of gas going into the carb but the plugs don't smell like gas at all. Any thoughts on that?

[23T]

Where are the idle screws set? and will it try if you pour gas in the carb?

[70AARCuda]

Since you are saying that you have gas in the carb...but the plugs do not look like they are getting any gas...

Do you have adjustable rockers on the engine...are they adjusted correctly....sounds like your valve are not shutting and you have no vacum to suck the gas into the cylinder...

take a plug out...crank the engine over...see if there is compression....no compression valves not closed...


a guess...

tony

[MoparMarcIdaho]

What does it sound like when you turn it over?Does it freewheel or fluctuate a little like its working against compression?Its got to be something simple,thats why you dont see it,your looking right past the problem.

[Frank R]

Check to make sure the firing order is not only correct, but going the right way around the cap.

[Devilbrad]

Originally posted by 66Dart_GT
Cam Timing?

I agree, went through that on a big block, LOL Rebuilt motor had crank key straight up and lined it up with dot on cam gear. I'm such an idiot. After several weeks, I tore front off motor, rechecked and almost killed myself!!! Reset cam timing, and it fired right off.