[mrv777]

Hey,

I'm having a problem with my distributor and was hoping you guys could help me troubleshoot it. I took the distributor apart and took it out of the engine to clean it and fix the mechanical advance, well I fixed it and put everything back to how I thought it was, but apparently I forgot something or somethings not right. Every time I start the car now, it sounds like it wants to start, but the engine won't. The starter is working fine. And when I let go of the ignition fuel sprays out of the carb.

Any idea what I have wrong?

Thanks

 

[Schurkey]

What is the initial timing when you crank the engine?

 

[mrv777]

How can you tell that without a timing light?

 

[Mike]

How can you tell that without a timing light?

I think you've found your problem :thumbsup:

Just how did you reinstall the distributor and set it ?

 

[mrv777]

I just pushed it back down, just how it was before when I took it out

 

[Xtreme70SS396]

I just pushed it back down, just how it was before when I took it out

I'll bet not.

I'd invest in (or borrow) a timing light and see where it's at. Should be 16-18° BTDC initial.

 

[mrv777]

I'm guessing its wrong too. And sorry for the confusion, but I have a timing light. The engine won't start though.

I thought I read somewhere that its possible to install the distributor 180 degrees from how it should be, but won't work that way. Is that possible?
Also, the distributor went down all the way and is flush with the manifold

Thanks

 

[Schurkey]

I'm guessing its wrong too. And sorry for the confusion, but I have a timing light. The engine won't start though.

That's why I asked for your initial timing WHILE CRANKING.

I thought I read somewhere that its possible to install the distributor 180 degrees from how it should be, but won't work that way. Is that possible?

Yup.

Also, the distributor went down all the way and is flush with the manifold

Fine. What is your initial timing while cranking?

 

[mrv777]

Sorry, I didn't know the timing light could work while its just cranking...I tried that and the timing light flashes too slow. Would that mean the initial is way too low, or that something is messed up?

 

[Xtreme70SS396]

Sorry on my part, wasn't thinking straight. Yes, the light will work, but it only lights every time #1 fires, which will be quite slow while cranking. You only need the timing close enough to fire the engine, it doesn't need to be exact yet.

I just can't type enough right now to tell you exactly how, but a search will do wonders. Find Top Dead Center, and set your ignition so it fires at #1 10-18° before TDC. Then you'll be close enough to set it with the light.

Yes, you could be 180° off, but it's more likely you're just off enough that it won't start.

 

[mrv777]

Well, just an update. I tried moving it 180 degrees and now it just keeps cranking, while before it would crank and than stop like it was going to start, but when I let go of the ignition, it just sprayed fuel from the carburetor. Doesn't do any of that anymore...Not sure if I'm doing worse or better.

Charging the battery for a little while now, since I've used a lot of it trying to get this started.

And just the clarify, right now the timing light flashes way too slow to get any reading, like maybe a flash a little bit less than a second

 

[jeff swisher]

like mark said ..turn the engine untill the ballancer mark is at 18 before top dead center..on the timing tab....both rocker arms should be up on the #1 cylinder.
Then make the rotorbug point at the #1 spark plug wire terminal....
you may have to turn the oil pump with a long screwdriver

Or move the wires around the cap 1 terminal at a time till it starts...if you do not want to pull nuthin'

 

[Xtreme70SS396]

You were likely just outside the sweet spot before, either retarded or advanced too far to start.

Find TDC, it will solve this problem.

 

[mrv777]

So I could just move the spark plugs around the alternator, one terminal at a time until it starts?

That sounds decently easy

 

[Xtreme70SS396]

Not a good idea, the alternator doesn't have spots for your plug wires.

No need to move the plugs around, if you're into experimenting you could just keep the distributor loose enough to move, and move it a little in one direction, see how it sounds, then try the other direction.

However, that has a chance to do some damage and could take longer than just finding TDC and starting from there.

 

[mrv777]

Alright, I'll try to find the TDC tomorrow, because I don't want to risk damaging anything. I have just never done that, so I'm a little unsure about it, but it seems to be the best way.
Also, for an update, the engine doesn't even seem to want to start right now, the starter just keeps cranking.

 

[mrhooplah]

Lets make this easy, pull number one plug out, remove the dist. cap, have someone crank the motor over a little at a time with your finger in the plug hole, when the piston comes up you will feel the compression from the piston watch for timing mark to line up on the tab. Now with the cap still off look where thr rotor is pointing, should be at about 5:00, if its not you dist. is in wrong. When you remove one you usually have to use a long screw drive down the dist hole to turn the oil pump shaft a little to get it lined up with the dist. its not hard it just takes practic. Good luck and it all else fails see a mechanic.

 

[mrv777]

I forgot to ask one question:
When I find TDC, how do I find 10-18 degrees from that?

I have a mark that looks just like this:

 

[Xtreme70SS396]

You can get a $2 timing tape to stick on that balancer, or use an adjustable timing lite that you can set to the timing you want, and the balancer mark will line up to zero as it flashes.

You can also measure if off the balancer, 360° is a full circle.

 

[mrv777]

Looks like the distributor was off. Here is where the distributor points at what I believe to be TDC:

I kept cranking the engine by hand until pressure was felt at the number one spark plug, than got the timing marks to line up at 0 and thats what I figure TDC to be. So now I believe I just need to get it to point at the number one cylinder, and than set it to 10-18 degrees, right?

Thanks for all your guys help