starting engine for first time

[matthufham]

but not really starting, more like trying. i got it to backfire out of the carb and exhaust but that's where we stopped. we have good compression in all cylinders. spark plug wires i believe are right i made a picture. the engine was right after what i believed to be top dead center, might be 180 off and then i had the HEI pointed right near the 2nd spark plug since it was slightly after top dead center. um what else. we rebuilt the carb and don't know it needs tuning but should work. so any ideas?

[john]

The firing order is 18436572 on a chev engine. Your diagram looks like 123456578

[mblackburnjr]

Yea, johns right. should go clockwise around cap 1843...etc.

[Brainchild]

Like this

[matthufham]

that makes all the difference in the world. might also make my wires the right length

[matthufham]

ok well i redid the wires and i got a new problem, anywhere near TDC or 180 out, the distributer faces 90 degrees out, not towards the front or back.

[67_C-30]

You need to get the #1 all the way up, and and point the rotor towards the #1 spark plug location (or #6 if you're 180 out). You can pull out the 1# plug, and see the piston with a flashlight to get it close enough if you're balancer and timing tab are not accurate.

[glock35ipsc]

Also, #1 on the cap is wherever you make it #1. The drawing you made it the typical place for it, but you can place it anywhere. But, if you start, say back by the firewall, just be sure to follow the correct order of 18436572 going clockwise. And be sure the rotor points there when the #1 cylinder is at TDC.

You should start #1 where you have it in the drawing if you are using plug wires for that year/make/model since they will be cut to length, but if you are making your own wires, you can start wherever you want.

[wolfthing2000]

Also make sure 1 is on the compression stroke and not the exhaust stroke. It should correspond to the timing mark.

[matthufham]

ok i rearranged the wires, and at top dead center the distributor was pointed about 90 out but i went ahead and put the 1st plug wire there. i didn't seem to get spark, but hell it might be 180 out, i can't seem to tell if the piston is up or down.

[wolfthing2000]

Putfinger over number 1plug hole. when you feel it suck that is the intake stroke and next it will be pushing air out as it comes up on the compression stroke with closed valves about to come up on the ignition spark. That is where the timing is set for number 1 and it should be when your timing mark on the harmonic balsncer lines up close to the timing mark on the indicator.

[Tman]

The best way i have found to get #1 to compression stroke is to unhook power to the HEI, pull the #1 sparkplug, then have a buddy tap the starter switch to slowly turn the engine. With your finger over the sparkplug hole and him bumping the starter over when #1 comes up you will hear compression escaping, stop cranking. Then you can turn by hand back or forth to line up timing marks on the crank. As for the dist. I like to have #1 where it is supposed to be but it will work as explained above. To get it right I take a long reg. screwdriver and put it down the dist. hole in the intake to turn the oil pump so the tab lines up right to get the rotor pointed to the #1 position. This can take a few tries to get right, but with practice isn't to hard. Good luck.

[matthufham]

oh! i think that's it! i primed the engine with my drill and i can use it to turn the pump. that might make all the difference in the world.

[matthufham]

ok i got her running! i simply removed the distributor and turned the oil shaft where i wanted it so the dist. would seat facing 1st spark plug. then wired the SOB with the 1st wire in the correct location. now i need to find out why my carb wants to leak fuel onto the manifold and i got a rear main oil seal leak.............. ahhhhhhh man that's gonna suck.

edit: i want to thank Tman for that tip. it worked perfect and actually, i was 180 out