no start - help with diagnosis

[DrRansom442]

That sucks. Just to make sure pull off a valve cover so you can verify the chain is broke.

Just to let you know, I had to re set the valve timing on mine on a gravel driveway and it wasnt that bad. Actually, all work I do on the car is on a gravel driveway since I cant move it because of no front suspension. I somehow managed to get my drivers side header in when it was 30 degrees outside 8).

well I figure if it was a cam gear I'd be able to turn the dist shaft right? besides there is no noise ... hard enough for me to imagine it's the timing set but if the dist or cam lost teeth would there not be ALOT of metal on metal ... that said I do need to do valve cover gaskets anyways .... I already bought those and have been waiting on my not to be lazy. A big part of me just wishes I knew of a running Olds 350 laying around.

 

[midwestls]

check craigslist in your area. Olds 350's ain't too hard to find for reasonable. Just look for and old 88 or 98 from the 70's. Good luck and gettin it fixed man

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I would think that the valves would hit the pistons if it was a bad timing chain, and cause it to lock up-not spin freely with the starter. If it were me, I'd pull the distributor and check it, then pull a valve cover too just to be sure. There's no sense pulling the whole front of the engine apart without exhausting all of the easy options first. Also, if it is the cam gear, it won't necessarily make a lot of noise. The engine is not really spinning that fast on the starter.

If you do go the Olds 350 route, put a new timing chain and gaskets in it before you put it in.

 

[pontiacman469]

Yup probably is your timing chain:they had a bright idea and put nylon gears for the sprokets and they always break.another one of those parts are cheap labor is a pain almost like a converter seal on a transmission.

 

[DrRansom442]

I would think that the valves would hit the pistons if it was a bad timing chain, and cause it to lock up-not spin freely with the starter. If it were me, I'd pull the distributor and check it, then pull a valve cover too just to be sure. There's no sense pulling the whole front of the engine apart without exhausting all of the easy options first. Also, if it is the cam gear, it won't necessarily make a lot of noise. The engine is not really spinning that fast on the starter.

If you do go the Olds 350 route, put a new timing chain and gaskets in it before you put it in.

well I was going to pull the driver's side valve cover anyways (they leak), to be 200% sure. It's not an import ... pretty sure there is enough clearance (especially with the dished in 260 pistons) to clear the valves ... if there wasn't engines toast.

 

[midwestls]

Yeah, I guess I've never heard of an American V8 with a valve clearance issue. (not stock anyways) That's usually a newer car thing, mostly imports had that problem.

 

[JESSE]

help

if the cam stops moving and the pistons don't, you will bend a lot of valves....thats why they call it a timing chain!!!

 

[jrm81bu]

Nah. You would have to be pushing alot of compression with a lot of lift on your cam to even come close to hitting. Our old american iron has plenty of clearance in stock form.

 

[DrRansom442]

the repair and problems

OK so what am I missing here. I got the car stipped down. All that needs to be take off is the balancer and the front cover ... but I can not for the life of me get that bolt loose on the balancer. It laughs at my impact wrench. Suggestions?

 

[Blake442]

Try heating it up with a torch?

Your valves are fine, there is a lot of room inbetween the top of those stock dished pistons and the top of the combustion chamber. I let two pistons go on my 307 and didn't bend any valves.

I have a brand new Cloyes double roller timing chain set that will fit your motor if you're interested. The original nylon gears were mean to run quiet, but they didn't last as long.