Messed with timing, now car won't start.

[john.thompson068]

I want to ensure my 440 motor has proper timing since I suspected the balancer may have rotated meaning the timing marks are off. So I started by ensuring the air gap was set to .008 on the pickup coil. Then I used a TDC tool to find top dead center with the heads still on. I screwed the adjuster all the way in and then backed it out in 2 turn increments until the piston was able to pass. Then I turned it back in 1 turn and the piston hit. This should be TDC on the compression stroke for the number 1 cylinder. From here I made a new mark on my balancer in line with the hole in the timing tab. Then I rotated the distributor so the reluctor wheel was even with the pickup coil. The rotor cap is also pointing to number 1 on the distributor cap. This should have set the motor to zero timing. I marked where my distributor lined up with the hold down clamp at zero degrees timing. I hooked up the plug wires in the correct firing order. I checked for spark at the distributor wire and the number 1 plug and am receiving spark. I advanced the distributor by turning it clockwise 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch. Did I do everything right because I could not get my car to fire up again.

 

[dave5237]

Well. I am not familiar with the tool your using and just put my finger in the #1 hole spark plug hole till it blows it out but if your sure your at top dead center on compression and not exhaust start tweaking that cap because you may be closer than you think and you know were your at now so as long as it is marked you can get back to were you were..

 

[john.thompson068]

The tool is Comp Cams part number 4795.

 

[PoppaSmurf]

John.thompson, is she even tryin to start, at all...are you backfiring at anytime??
or is she just spinning over,and over and over

 

[john.thompson068]

She is popping, puffing, groaning, back firing through the carb, and she even caught the carb on fire one time. It is slightly possible I may have flooded her out and at one point I had gasoline spittle coming out of the carb. I held the throttle on the 850 Holley wide open while going through the whole process of trying to start her some more but still nothing. I kept the starter going strong enough to fire her up by hooking my 05 Monte Carlo up to her battery in addition to my batter charger. Tomorrow afternoon I will hook my Monte Carlo back up to her battery and see if she will light off. This time I will use some starter fluid to eliminate possible flooding.

 

[Cranky]

Sounds to me like you got '0' TDC on the exhaust stroke. Pull #1 plug and bring it up with your finger in the plug hole to make sure it's building compression and then put your piston stop in and get it as close to possible on TDC on the compression stroke.

 

[john.thompson068]

Cranky that is exactly what I did. I bumped the motor over with the starter until it blew my finger off the hole. Then I turned the motor back a little bit, put the stop in, and turned it till the piston was hitting.

 

[Cazbah362]

I believe what Cranky is saying is your 180 degree off. I agree with him

 

[john.thompson068]

Would compression blow my finger off the hole on the exhaust stroke? A large blast of compression definately blew past my finger and that is when I new I was on the compression stroke. I would be really surprised if somehow I messed that up since I was being so careful, but it is something I can double check just in case.

 

[Ron 73]

Depending on how long and how much gas you were putting thru it, its possible to have a very bad set of fouled plugs also, the timing may be off some... But this may not be helping if they are fouled bad enough.

 

[Cranky]

Sounds like you did it right but yeah, doesn't hurt to double check it.....

 

[racedodge]

are you sure you put the plug wires in the counterclockwise configuration?

 

[hunt2elk]

I think with that compression tool you have done everything correct, except you now have to unscrew the tool and turn the motor in reverse until the piston is coming back up to the compression stroke. Screw the tool back in and continue turning until it stops again(with the excact same amount of threads in the hole). Put another mark on the balancer and the exact center between the two marks is TDC.

 

[shag766]

i cant help a bunch with the timing situation, to long away from it but i would hesitate to be spraying either, starting fluid, into it. i am an old truck driver and i have seen some bad **** happen with that stuff over the years. i own some trucks now and the only one allowed to use it at my shop is me, not the drivers. my 2 cents.

 

[MoparBill]

are you sure you put the plug wires in the counterclockwise configuration?

X2

 

[dave5237]

The tool is Comp Cams part number 4795.

I did not want to sound stupid when i said that. My heads were off and I used a indicator to find tdc but its i figured there was a tool out there. He assured me he was on the compression stroke. Thanks.

 

[dave5237]

Sounds to me like you got '0' TDC on the exhaust stroke. Pull #1 plug and bring it up with your finger in the plug hole to make sure it's building compression and then put your piston stop in and get it as close to possible on TDC on the compression stroke.

I agree.

 

[john.thompson068]

you now have to unscrew the tool and turn the motor in reverse until the piston is coming back up to the compression stroke. Screw the tool back in and continue turning until it stops again(with the excact same amount of threads in the hole). Put another mark on the balancer and the exact center between the two marks is TDC.

Can someone explain this to me. I tried to do this and when the piston went the other way and hit tdc it was not where even near the first mark I made. Then when I thought about it I decided that even if that had worked, then when the motor was spinning the proper way, I would have TDC marked before actual TDC.

 

[hunt2elk]

One mark should be btdc and the other atdc - equal distances from actual tdc. If I remember correctly my 2 marks were a little more than a inch apart. The way I understand is the tool is taking up some room in the cylinder and not allowing the piston to extend all the way up. By getting equal ditances in each direction of rotation and dividing by 2 should get you to center. Maybe someone who knows motor better can explain this to both of us.

 

[dave5237]

If your not sure about top dead center on compression stroke take off your valve cover. On the compression stroke both valves will be closed on #1. On the exhaust stroke both valves will be open on #1. The piston will be at tdc when the VALVES ARE FULLY SEATED ( THE ROCKER ARMS MAY HAVE A LITTLE WIGGLE TO THEM AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THERE UNLOADED)..