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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northern MN
Posts: 63
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freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
I have tried everything that I can possibly think of, along with several other people. Just rebuilt a 350 for a 72 Gmc, HEI distributor and an edelbrock carb that were used with great success. I have my timing on, I have firing order memorized. The Distributor is NOT 180 off. The rocker arms are not to tight, it is grounded to the frame. It has all 3 essentials but they refuse to work together. I do get a slight pop like one cylinder is firing when I play with the distributor but I can never hone it in to get it working. Also the cam in in correctly and I have brand new spark plugs and wires. I have moved the distributor around several times with no success, basically start fresh by taking everything off and starting over. Thanks
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1941 Chevy Cabover- Future carhauler build 1949 Chevy Pickup 1955 Chevy Pickup 1959 Apache fleetside 1965 Chevy Pickup- Current Ground up Build 1972 Gmc Pickup- Getting rebuilt engine and 700r4 |
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#2 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Omaha NE
Posts: 620
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Any chance the rotation of the distributor is different than the way you have the firing order going. Clockwise versus Counter Clockwise.
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#3 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Victoria, B.C
Posts: 3,794
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Have you done and confirmed the 2 basic checks:
-Fuel: looked down the carb to see it squirt, smell its presence? Maybe put/squirt a little fuel down the carb manually with a when turning it over. -Spark: Are you dead certain that the distributor is putting out? have you seen or tested for a spark at one or all plug lead points? Do you have a spark tester? Start there, keep us posted. Coley ![]()
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....for some men, there is experience, skill and effort....for the others...there is visa and UPS LOL 1966 Chevy 1/2 ton (Florida- Red/white) 1972 Chevy 1/2 ton (California- Blue/white) 2005 Chevy Silverado HD2500/Duramax 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 |
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#4 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 2,281
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
By saying it "has all 3 essentials".
I assume you are saying it has Air, Fuel and Spark? I would say that if you are getting a pop when you move the distributor. My guess is that you are 1 tooth off on the distributor. Only other thought is a bad rotor. A coil is "typically" either good or bad, so it wouldn't cause an erratic or occasional pop.
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My Trucks: 1967 Chevrolet Short Wide Box 327 TH350 9" w/3.90 gears paint will be White - Current Project 1967 Chevrolet Custom LWB 283 TH400 3.73 Posi, no-AC, no-PS, no-PB, bench-seat, small-window - mostly orig driver 1967 Chevrolet CST LWB originally a 327 TH400 3.73 Posi AC PS PB, had Buddy Buckets, Small Window - parts truck 1967 Chevrolet CST LWB, 283 MT 3.73 had Buddy Buckets, Panoramic Window - parts truck 2001 Chevrolet 3500 2WD Crew Cab Dually 8.1L Allison White Last edited by 67 cst swb; 04-22-2015 at 12:21 PM. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northern MN
Posts: 63
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Yes it has gas coming out the accell pump holes, I know which direction the distributor spins. Has backfired once, and I pulled a plug to visually check for spark.
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1941 Chevy Cabover- Future carhauler build 1949 Chevy Pickup 1955 Chevy Pickup 1959 Apache fleetside 1965 Chevy Pickup- Current Ground up Build 1972 Gmc Pickup- Getting rebuilt engine and 700r4 |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Austin
Posts: 749
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
If the engine has "all three essentials" then it has to run if there is compression. I surmise the distributor/ignition is where problem lies. Spray a shot of starting fluid down the throat of the carb while someone else tries to start. If it fires, then you have a fuel problem. If not an ignition/timing problem.
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#7 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 2,281
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
In case you missed this thought.
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My Trucks: 1967 Chevrolet Short Wide Box 327 TH350 9" w/3.90 gears paint will be White - Current Project 1967 Chevrolet Custom LWB 283 TH400 3.73 Posi, no-AC, no-PS, no-PB, bench-seat, small-window - mostly orig driver 1967 Chevrolet CST LWB originally a 327 TH400 3.73 Posi AC PS PB, had Buddy Buckets, Small Window - parts truck 1967 Chevrolet CST LWB, 283 MT 3.73 had Buddy Buckets, Panoramic Window - parts truck 2001 Chevrolet 3500 2WD Crew Cab Dually 8.1L Allison White |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bowser
Posts: 13,626
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marianna Arkansas
Posts: 7,270
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Clockwise 18436572
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#10 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Santa Rosa, Ca
Posts: 586
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Clockwise.
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My build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456220 Best 1/4 mile time 12.1 @ 111 w/traction issues 1969 GMC SWB 1964 chevy II Nova ht |
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Omaha NE
Posts: 620
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Is it possible to misaligned the timing gear marks during assembly? Just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks!
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Homedale, Idaho
Posts: 160
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Perhaps the power wire to the distributor? "On when the key is on, and "off" while cranking?
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Grandpa ![]() 1989 GMC K2500 1958 Alaskan Camper all original WORK : A necessary evil that finances what I really like to do. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Posts: 2,191
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
HEI module going out and producing erratic/weak spark? I know some people will say that coils and ignition modules are either good or not and no inbetween. But that is not the case. I've experienced in and out coils and modules.
Also, do you have the correct plugs for the engine? I once rebuilt a SBC and switched from stock iron heads to aluminum heads and installed the same plugs (new ones) that I was running in the iron heads into the aluminum heads. Long story short, the aluminum heads had a thicker wall at the plug ports and the electrodes on the plugs were not even making into the combustion chamber. Engine barely ran. Switched to plugs with longer reach (longer threaded zone) to get the electrodes into the combustion chambers and everthing worked perfectly. Just two simple things to check out. Good luck. |
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#14 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Chandler AZ
Posts: 1,149
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
It could be so many things. Since you said it has fuel, and I imagine it has air to burn, I'd check ignition timing first.
Does it have a tach? Does it move while cranking? Have you had someone crank and checked timing with a light to see if you're close? If it is close but still no start, then the suggestion Lanman asked would be my next check. best of luck
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1970 Longhorn, Front Disc, 350/4 bolt, 882 heads, HEI, Edelbrock, 700R4, HO-52/4.11. 1996 Corvette, Collector Roadster, LT4, 396, 450RWHP, 6sp, 4.11/Dana44/posi 5 point roll bar And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Gal 6:9 |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 2,151
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
This is always a possibility. That is what I was thinking.
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'83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: winnipeg
Posts: 1,107
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
One thing is for sure if you have a flat tapped cam don't crank the heck out of it until you figure out what's going on or you'll wipe the cam lube off and it could wear the cam on startup
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#17 |
member #16
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Yuba City Ca.
Posts: 3,618
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Did you set cam timing like pic for #1? If not it is timed for #6.
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Farmington MO
Posts: 75
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Does it have compression on every cylinder? I ask because you could have put too long of bolts in the intake around the 2 and 6 cylinder and it bent a push rod and isn't moving the valves. It will backfire when it does this...ask me how I know...
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 1,181
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Lets start with some basic things.
1) Do you have 12v at the terminal for the distributor with the key on? 2) You ensured 100% you were on TDC #1 compression stroke when you set the timing? 3) Have you verified TDC properly with balancer to timing tab? |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Austin
Posts: 749
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Oh man, no wonder on EVERY sbc that I have rebuilt, I always seemed to have the dizzy in 180 degrees out on first start attempt. I immediately knew what was wrong, but not WHAT was wrong. After reading up a bit, it makes since. I learned something day, thanks for that.
PS. Even the service manual says to align the dots (and, its always assumed #1 is on compression stroke). |
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#21 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Spring Hill, Florida
Posts: 465
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Quote:
Was very hard starting and only started with the canister all the way against the intake and was still 8* retarded. Surprised it even started. |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Barnesville PA
Posts: 16
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
I had a shorted dizzy rotor once, drove me nuts! Pulled the rotor off, and found a burn (short) right to ground. It was over 20 years ago, and I'll never forget it.
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Oregon
Posts: 328
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
If the distributor is new and replacing a points distributor, make sure the power wire going to the coil is not the original resistor wire.
If the distributor is a tooth off, try rotating it a little in each direction and see if it fires. It can run like that, but the timing mark on the balancer won't be right. |
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#24 |
Parts and more parts
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere
Posts: 6,821
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Have you checked the pickup coil inside the distributor? If it is weak or bad, it will not start. To change it out, you have to pull the dizzy and take the shaft out of the dizzy housing. While you are in there, go ahead and change out the module. Just my $.02 worth.
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Frank |
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#25 |
Eat, Sleep, Drive a Chevy
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: the town of the cow, Texas
Posts: 1,152
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Re: freshly rebuilt sbc will not start
Just so everyone is clear about this...A Chevy small block is a 4 stroke engine, the strokes are intake, compression, power and exhaust. There are 4 essentials. It wont run on just 3.
they also have to happen at the correct time. Valve timing and distributor timing are 2 different things. JP 67 GMC hasn't replied since before noon. maybe he got it going? If I were in his shoes I would start here. 1. pull #1 spark plug and confirm TDC by having a helper bump the starter while I held my finger over the spark plug hole and feeling the air being pushed out the hole. Then looking at timing marks. 2. pull dist cap and verify that the distributor is aligned with the #1 spark plug wire. 3. Confirm firing order, 18436572 and rotation. Spark plug wires are not crossed. 4. Re install the dist cap. before re installing the plug in the cylinder head, plug the wire on the spark plug and ground the spark plug to the frame or motor somewhere and crank the engine over to check for spark. 3. If these are all good and the engine is getting fuel, and has not fouled the spark plugs it should start. Assuming the timing is correct on the cam and crank gears.
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