New build cant start it. Please help.

[81GrandPrix383]

if your getting alot of backfires while starting it is possible that you are 180 degrees off on the distributor easy mistake

Hi Cutlassjesse,

Would the car not continue to backfire once it was running if it were 180* out?
I have not pulled the distributor since I broke in the cam and ran it other times as well.

Here is another tidbit of information that i just remembered and haven't mentioned yet.
About 3 weeks ago (maybe 4) we had the car running and we could hear a bad ticking sound from under the Passenger valve cover. Shut the car down and pulled the cover to find that a rocker had come off and the pushrod had come out of the lifter.
there didn't appear to be any damage so I put it back together the following weekend and this is when I set the valve lash to 3/4 turns past zero instead of the 1/4 turn past zero that I had done originally.
This could be important information but I'm not sure. I didn't mention it partially because the car was running fine but ticking when we found it and partially because I obviously screwed up and didn't lock that nut like I did the rest of them.
😳
We were setting the timing when we noticed it. That's when the timing first got way out of whack and the car has not run right since.
There is no ticking now. The rockers are all tight. We did not pull the distributor.

 

[84sbcregal23deg]

what is the base timing set at? do you have a light you can put on it? if you can get one on there as long as you're between 4 and 18-20 degrees, it should at least start and idle. but this definitely seems like an ignition issue. what kind of distributor is it? if its an hei with a built in coil into the cap, make sure that the coil retainer is screwed down tight, if its not the button won't make a good contact with the center of the rotor. also, when the distributor was set in, were you able to get the #1 distributor conatct lined up exactly with the rotor? also not too familiar with the ignition box you are using, are there any retard features that may be wired incorrectly? when the engine was assembled, was the timing tab set to the tdc mark on the balancer? just trying to think of things you haven't checked yet...

 

[81GrandPrix383]

At this point I don't know what the base timing is set at.
I lined up the rotor with the #1 post on the distributor cap and the marking on the balancer was at 0.
I do have a light.
Can you check the timing with the car turning over but not starting?
The distributor is a MSD Streetfire HEI but the module is the Pertronix flame thrower.
Everything in this build is new except the block and the reconditioned carb.

I'll check the coil in the cap. I think I have an extra spring button thing or two that go in there as well.

No ignition box. The module is under the rotor in the distributor. Straight forward plug and play.......now you have me thinking. I need to look to see if the wiring harness can go on the module any other way. If it only goes on one way I'm good but if it is possible to have it upside down.....You have me thinking. This I need to look into but we were having starting issues before this swap and it has been running since the swap. Still going to look at it.

Yes timing tab lined up. Balancer has a key I believe so it only goes on lined up.

Thanks for the help, you gave me some things to look into.

 

[81GrandPrix383]

I had a few minutes to look at the distributor. The coil is tight, the spring on the center button was twisted off to one side and two of the wires on the module didn't seem tight. Had to get inside to help bath the kids so I didn't get a chance to turn the key. Want to swap the plugs first anyway.

 

[gbondo57]

1 is the carb new, and filtered? If not, did it run prior to install? Setting the tab at 16 deg, lining up the #1 ussually you get 8 deg at startup.

 

[81GrandPrix383]

1 is the carb new, and filtered? If not, did it run prior to install? Setting the tab at 16 deg, lining up the #1 ussually you get 8 deg at startup.

Carb is new reconditioned.
Yes it is filtered but has been left uncovered a few times.

 

[CHRIS.O]

You need to verify spark. This isn't hard to do. You have the tester so please verify you have spark. Have you checked the float levels in the carb? Improperly adjust floats can cause flooding, gas in oil, wet plugs, etc.

 

[81GrandPrix383]

You need to verify spark. This isn't hard to do. You have the tester so please verify you have spark. Have you checked the float levels in the carb? Improperly adjust floats can cause flooding, gas in oil, wet plugs, etc.

Spark is the next thing I plan to do. It is hard to find time during the week but possibly after dinner tonight.
I adjusted the floats they are good now.

Thanks.

 

[81GrandPrix383]

It lives guys.
Having trouble setting the timing but I ran the car for 5 min's at least.
New plugs and a new bushing in the center of the distributor.
Lots of spark.
Was getting backfiring through the carb so I retarded the timing a little and pinched the fuel line. Once she was running I let the fuel line loose and it was a beautiful thing.
Thanks for the help still need to set the timing.
I must be doing something wrong because I was setting base at 10* and total was coming in at 20*. Got total to about 34 and it doesnt seem right.
I think with my light springs I have some advance at idle.

Edited because my phone likes to change words.

 

[axisg]

sounds good !!! Thats a great feeling when it springs to life. I recall you seaid you were running MSD / Pertronix setup. That will take some skilled adjusting to get dialed in. I prefer a GM distributor with an adjustable vacuum advance myself just for the simplicity and reliability.