Door is now bent and engine won't start

[DTerry]

You've already got some pretty good advise, and with both gas and spark - you will get fire - as long as the timing is close. I would leave the distributor connections alone for now.

One thing noone has mentioned, so I'll do it just in case... You're going the right way around the distributor, right? I'm mean, starting at #1 then clockwise with your firing order.

I'm glad the girl is OK.

Oops, I just reread your post - you are going clockwise. Good. Sorry.

My next advise would be to try (someone already kind of said this) and advance it some more, maybe up to a tooth or so. Advance is when the rotor not quite pointing to the #1 tower. You might get it by just turning the dist, but I presume you've already done that.

[tom hand]

Where are you connected to the fuse box for power? Some of the circuits in the box are "hot" with the key on, but "dead" in the start position to give more power to the starter.

[jeffnstef]

Could a person hook up a timing light and use it when the engine is just cranking and not running ? This would tell you if there is a spark trigering the timing light and where on the rotation the plug was fireing (regardless of the stroke). Just a thought.

[greasemonkey]

You can use a light while cranking, but if it is 180 out the timing can still be correct, but on the wrong stroke. He already checked it for spark while cranking though.
Does the engine backfire through the carb?

[EighthD]

If your door is too far forward. Put a socket between the hinge and close the door putting pressure on the hinge. you will have to swicth top to bottom. this will bend the hinge back. but do a little at a time. this is a old body trick I was taught many years ago. good luck.

[shifty]

Originally Posted by greasemonkey

Does the engine backfire through the carb?

I think that might be the single "spit" sound I hear every few cranks.

[Rdrdave]

should get GF checked quickly. KNowing an ex gf had the same thing happen with me. Blood clot not good!

[67shortie]

Sounds like you are 180* out. Make sure you are on the COMPRESSION stroke on the #1 cylinder (air pushing against your finger, not pulling) and get that #1 wire on the cap right where the rotor is pointing after you pull the distributor back out and rotate it 180*. It should start.

[Gary Lee]

Originally Posted by shifty

it sparked, then it knocked the living crap out of me when I moved it away. If it's not sparking, then I have a very active imagination

Gets your attention, don't IT!!! Its one of those self correcting problems; you do it once, you learn, the second time you do it, you are p.o. at yourself.... not sure if anyone has done something like that three times though... the real gitcha is the coil wire when you are in there working and someone wants to turn on the radio... ZAP!!!!

The HEI, it sounds like its not in the right position... it doesn't take much as @ 800 rpm thats 13 up and down motions a second... it is a pain but in the end it'll be worth the effort as long as you don't hurt or break anything else...

[Littleblue72]

Sorry to here about your girlfriend, I hope that she is alright.

Did your install new plug wires, or are using old used ones that came with your HEI? If they are a used set check them with a ohm meter, to make sure that they are good.

While trying to start your truck try rotating the dizzy (advancing and retartding) and see if the truck fires.

I hope that this helps.

[70 shorty]

The way I have found TDC is wadding up a paper towel in the #1 spark plug hole, when it hits TDC compression, you will hear noticable pop and the paper towel will be shot out. I'd also be willing to bet you're 180 out. Keep us posted, also sorry, I wish I had a digital camera, I'd take a pic of my setup for reference.

[shifty]

I don't believe it myself, but it was 180º out. I took off the dizzy cap and rotated the HB until the rotor was pointing at cylinder #1. I rotated the HB one more full turn so it was pointing opposite cylinder #1. Pulled the dizzy and re-pointed at cyl#1 and it fired up first try. I don't get it, I swear I did this last night .... My only thought is that must have removed the power wire from the dizzy after I flipped it 180º. :S

Either way - WOW - what a difference. Tap the key and it's fired up. I'm amazed at how smooth the truck runs and how fast it starts now. I'm floored. Very happy with the end result. I'm going to start working on compiling a FAQ now.

The door is still not closing. The striker doesn't catch smoothly unless you pull the door towards the ground when closing it. I'll figure that out eventually.

Thanks for the input. Free beer for everyone guessing it was 180º out

[krue]

Not a hard call, happens to all of us at least once.

[screamin_c102]

You can keep the beer but congrats on getting it going. It feels good when they finally fire off.

How's your lady friend?

[70 shorty]

I take mine and Screamin's beer! Can you have it shipped to 23111?

[screamin_c102]

LOL

[shifty]

Is it legal to ship beer!?

The lady friend appreciates the concern. She's a little bruised, but no broken bones, all is well. Only permanent scar is with the door on my "other" baby

[71meangreenc10]

Thought,
On the new conversion HEI wiring harnesses they have the pink and yellow wire connected at the HEI terminal, and it still goes to the starter, maybe you need to join the pink and yellow wires? I havent reinstalled mine yet, let me know. As far as I know the dizzy rotation is the same on the HEI's and points.

Smitty