Search results for query: *

Thanks Dan. At this point I am content to never find out :)

Thanks. After all of the checking I have done in trying to diagnose this problem, I am certain that the cover and damper are correct. I was hoping for the quick start-up as well. There is just something strange going on here. It just does not want to run. I am going to look for a second timing...

I did not know there were two marks on the stock crank pulley. I don't have a double row like in your pictures, but if there is a second little mark on a gear tooth, then I have missed it. That would be the problem then, but all of the pictures I have seen used the bigger mark on the crank pulley.

No, but I did change to a different carb with new gasket. That didn't change anything.

Yeah Toolman, I feel like I covered all the bases twice, lol. I was thinking maybe they put a hydraulic cam in it or something. I don't feel like it has been a total waste of time because I have learned a lot while doing this. But it has gotten to the point that any addition time would be like...

Good choice on the drink. I love fountain Dr Pepper with a couple of squirts of vanilla in it. Not all parts of the country have that available :) I can pretty much guarantee it's not the ballast. My 340 started very easily. I pulled the 340 and replaced it with the 273 in about a day...

Yeah, I'm sure about the wiring. The car had a running 340 in it. It is the one in the link in my signature. I kept everything including the distributor on the 273 engine because I didn't want any issues like that. I just finished pulling the cover and checked the timing marks. They line up...

LOL, thought about that, but unfortunately it's an automatic. Yeah, I have 2 sets of plugs. I started with a brand new set. After a while I pulled the set from the running engine I removed from the car. I thought about buying yet another set but I think there is something else wrong here, given...

I did recheck #1 and found no change. I didn't bother to check the rest. I then put on a good Edelbrock carb. I got it to almost start a couple of times again, but basically the same results as before. There are a lot of "unknowns" with this engine. I have spent a lot of time on it and I'm...

Pulling the timing cover somehow seems more desirable :) That will be the last resort though. If I get to that point and I do find that the marks are lined up, I guess I will just have to throw up my hands.

Thanks! I did go over the valve adjustment procedure twice today. I actually didn't rely solely on the 90 degree angle. I had a helper hold a piece of wire in the cylinder that was supposed to be topped out. The second time around, the gaps were pretty close, so I'm pretty confident I've got...

Luckily I have 2 sets of plugs I'm switching between. The problem now kinda seems more fuel/mixture related to me. I'm hoping that trying my other carb will help get it going.

I did read up about that in my FSM. I wish there were some pictures because I'm not quite sure I understand the concept. I do have a dial indicator on hand. I have solid lifters so is the procedure different? Is the spacer used just to pre-load hydraulic lifters?

Final Saturday update: Got it to start - sort of. After a lot of cranking and tweaking, it caught briefly a couple of times but wouldn't keep running. After it did try to run, it then wouldn't fire off again without a lot of cranking. When it did "run", it was pretty rough - probably because...

Good thought. Thanks.

Update Saturday Afternoon: I want to sincerely thank everyone for the helpful suggestions - especially the one about working on it after midnight shifts :) Actually, this is just a hobby so it's something I (usually) enjoy doing between work shifts if I keep the frustration in check. OK...

Thanks, I understand what you are saying. I am not really at TDC like I thought I was. I thought this was going to be an easy project, lol. I may even have the wrong timing cover and damper as someone else suggested. I'd better stop assuming my timing mark is even relevant.

It'll loosen up when it gets warm. That makes sense, thanks.

Thanks for taking the time to explain this! I have never messed with adjustable rockers but I remember back in the day my dad doing valve adjusting with the engine running. I remember the mess :)

Thanks, this is good to know! I have a 68 FSM. I'll see if it is in there. I am NOT looking forward to removing the timing cover should my valve adjustment not be the problem.

You certainly did :) Hopefully that is the final problem I have. I was positive I adjusted the valves correctly by the method I chose, which I did. But I finally had to come to the realization that the METHOD was incorrect. I wasn't expecting that. Same with the distributor being 180 out...

Thanks very much toolmanmike! I'll try it that way tomorrow. I just looked through my 68 FSM and found no procedure for adjustable valves. I guess they were all hydraulic lifters by then.

Update Friday afternoon. Well, I have to quit and go to bed for the midnight shift, but I think I discovered something wrong with my valve adjustment - as some have already suggested. At TDC for #1 cylinder, there is some preload on the exhaust valve. As I understand it, that should NOT be...

Thanks Toolman. Yeah, I guess if I don't have success soon, the next place to look for a problem is behind the timing chain cover :( I tried to assemble everything very carefully... maybe I am one link off on the timing chain. The sparked looked good. Snapped with a nice blue color.

Yeah it's clockwise. 18436572 is burned into my brain :) Actually the distributor, plug wires, all ignition got transferred straight over from the running engine I took out. I have now started to question why I pulled a perfectly good running engine to do this :)

UPDATE Friday Morning: I pulled the left valve cover and found TDC for #1 by watching the intake valve just start to open. Then I backed up the crank a bit to get the timing mark right at zero. Popped the distributor cap - yes, 180 out. I had left the plugs out overnight to dry everything out...

Thanks 63dartman. Yeah, I kinda thought the compression would be higher. I was thinking maybe it was low because the rings haven't seated yet. Definitely no preload on the valves. I have adjusted them twice to be sure of that. I am hoping we've nailed the problem with being 180 out. I guess...

Thanks pettybludart. I checked the firing order by following the wires two different times. The carb is squirting good - I have lots of fuel. After reading the above input, I'm also now beginning to think my distributor is 180 out. I definitely installed the cam and crank sprocket marks...

Holy crap, THIS I did not know! I've never done anything on a Chevy but I thought the dots on the crank and cam pulleys lined up at TDC for #1 so that's how I set it. We did check for the compression stroke in #1 and the rotor was pointing at the #1 terminal on the dist cap.

LOL, no doubt it's frustrating! I'm with you, thinking out loud helps. I thought I'd post the problem here so maybe that one idea from someone will spark something - uh, no pun intended. Yeah, there is lots of fuel. Definitely has spark because it tried to run, and does kick over a lot. I...