Somebody please give me some advice

[CamaroAdam73]

Alright i'm at the end of my rope here, i've got two seriuos problems with my engine.

I've got an 1988 Monte carlo SS, the top end is STOCK from the original 305, the bottom end is a short block, dont ask how.

A. the new HIE distributer i ordered has the wrong wiring connection, this is my main concern right now, Ill upload some pics of what im talking about, can ANYBODY give me some advice?? is there a new wiring harness i have to buy or something?!

B. on my cylinder 5, the rocker arms are ****ed. I can turn the adjuster nut but it doesnt tighten up or down, i have no ****ing idea why but for now cylinder 5 is a dead cylinder because i cranked the engine with the valve cover off, and as far as i can tell niether of the valves are being opened.

 

[dan2286]

Are you still using the computer? Is the new distributor computer controlled or not. The connectors are different between the computer controlled and the regular HEI distributors. Painless has connectors for the regular style.

Are you saying when the engine cranks over, the push rods for cylinder 5 do not go up and down?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Umm... The bottom end is ALWAYS a short block assembly.

 

[85GPLef41]

Possibly flat cam lobes?? :shock:

 

[CamaroAdam73]

Its this distributor ,http://kmjent.com/cart/product.php?productid=2264&cat=7137406&page=2

And yes the push rods aren't moving up and down when i crank the engine, And also i think the Rocker arm studs are stripped because i cant remove the adjuster nuts, with that being said im guessing i've got two bad lifters?


As for the short block thing, yes i know but thats not what i ment, the bottom end is an all aftermarket shortblock 350, the top end was from the original 305.

 

[crappycutlass]

must be a bad cam.. if the lobes are there... then they MUST move the push rods.

assuming the valves are stuck CLOSED.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Could be a bad cam, but there is another possibility no one has touched on. The rocker studs may have pulled out of the heads. This is a known weak area on stock Chevy heads as they used press fit studs and not the screw in variety that tends not to like to come out over time.

 

[CamaroAdam73]

You're very right about that, in fact i think i know what happend. Whoever did the valve lash the last time most likley did it wrong and over tightened both rocker arms on cylinder 7, and then by doing so caused the lifters to collapse and go bad, and strip out the lug studs. Being as the camshaft only has 4000 some miles on it, i doubt its bad.

Now as for the rest of the problems, last night was pretty much an epic fail.

I dropped in the new distributor and it wouldn't fire, at all. There is something i have to do to the old wiring to make this distributor work with my engine. I ended up putting the old stock one back in for now.

Just a quick question, on an 88 chevy 305/350, the timing should be about 6 dagrees BTDC right?

And i also found out my alternator WAS bad, i thought that it was just the belt but it is indeed the alternator itself.

Two more quick questions, A. Can anybody find out what the stock idle adjustment should be on the stock Quadrajet carb for an 1988 monte carlo SS (305/350) ?

And B. As long as i dont beat on it, having that cylinder 7 being a dead cylinder won't hurt the engine any right?

The reason im asking that is because i will enevidibly have to make a 900 mile drive with it being that way and replacing the cam is kind've out of the question right now.

Btw thank you guys for all the help so far, i really appreciate it and im glad there's a place like this for G-body owners to come to when we need help 😀

 

[Phoenyx]

No way would I take that trip if I was you. I doubt the motor will make it that far. So you could be out a motor, plus then the towing fee to get your car back home. I've learned the hard way that breakdown on long trips are VERY expensive.

I honestly think you should just get a rental for your trip. I wouldn't even drive the car until you got it figured out. But that's just my opinion.

 

[pontiacgp]

Its this distributor ,http://kmjent.com/cart/product.php?productid=2264&cat=7137406&page=2

And yes the push rods aren't moving up and down when i crank the engine, And also i think the Rocker arm studs are stripped because i cant remove the adjuster nuts, with that being said im guessing i've got two bad lifters

what do mean by bad lifters?....if the oil feed is blocked or the lifter is leaking the lifter acts just as a solid one would so it would still move the push rods.....