Hei install question - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Imacarguytoo · 12-12-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

ok, please forgive me if this sounds like i am treating you like an idiot... but I have seen this happen more than once.
You say when the piston is at TDC on cylinder #1 (dvr front plug) that the rotor is pointing to #1....
here's where I hope you don't get insulted...
is it pointing to the #1 cylinder...as in on the engine... or the terminal that holds the plug wire that runs to the #1 cylinder.

I've seen it happen more than once.

no you not going to make me feel stupid at all. I want to get this truck running so i can get back to work. I have the motor sitting at TDC. Where do i put the rotor. To the #1 on the cap or to the # 1 cylinder?
Thanks for everyones help so far.

BrentRS1985 · 12-12-2006, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imacarguytoo

no you not going to make me feel stupid at all. I want to get this truck running so i can get back to work. I have the motor sitting at TDC. Where do i put the rotor. To the #1 on the cap or to the # 1 cylinder?
Thanks for everyones help so far.

#1 on the cap
also just because both valves are closed on the #1 cylinder doesn't mean its at top dead center, take out the spark plug, bump the motor over until you hear compression, try and get the piston all the way up, but not too far. If you let it crank over too far and it stopped blowing air out the spark plug hole go around again and try and get as close as possible. Moving the distributer once its running should get you dead on.

manimal · 12-12-2006, 07:44 PM

If you are unsure if you're on the compression stroke then remove the l.valve cover and rotate the engine over by hand.the intake valve will open(intake stroke)when the intake valve closes keep rotating the engine until the #1 piston is TDC(compression stroke),line up the balancer with 0 degrees.Install cap onto distributor make a mark on the dist. housing where the plug terminal for #1 is,remove cap and install dist. with rotor pointing to this mark. Install cap,wires,and electrical connections.Leave the vac. advance line disconnected(plug the source) and it should start,then you can adjust your timing from there.Also make sure you have the ground strap in the cap under the coil.

corn · 12-12-2006, 09:00 PM

Another small thing to check is make sure you have voltage in the "cranking" position as well as in "ignition on".

action · 12-12-2006, 09:30 PM

I have seen them crank and crank and crank and then you let off the key and boom they start.Like cornfed63 said make sure you have power when you crank. Good luck.
Jack

*rage'nrat638* · 12-12-2006, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imacarguytoo

i put the motor at TDC took the driver valve cover off. Both #1 valves are closed. I set the dist in to where the rotor is pointing to the number 1 plug. I had my wife turn the motor over this morning to make sure i had spark and i do. I am getting gas. I checked with a volt meter at the dist to make sure i was getting 12 volts and i am. I dont know what to do..... I can take pics of every stage if need be...

where are you at.... i live in aurora if your not to far.. i will cruse by

*rage'nrat638* · 12-12-2006, 10:07 PM

put engine on #1 tdc .finger on first cyl on drivers side pressure felt your there when timing marks line up.
drop in hei dizzy so it lines up with #1 on cap..should point in direction of #1 cyl..if set up correctly..
it's that easy...

firing order 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 clockwise rotation

Imacarguytoo · 12-12-2006, 10:26 PM

Ok heres what i did. I hooked the hei directly to the battery to make sure i had enough juice. The truck started to hit to run but it didnt comepletly fire. Moved the dist a lil more and it backfired out the exhaust. I think i flooded it so i will work on it tomorrow.

I dont think im getting enough juice from the fusebox in the crank position so i wired it to the battery. Can i run a relay at the fusebox to give me the volts i need without running it off the battery????

I live in Cooksville its down south by Bloomington. I think it might be a drive for you. The pics you show. I have the number 1 plug wire to the left of the you are showing. (which would be on the other side of the hold down tab) Does that matter???

action · 12-12-2006, 10:30 PM

I'm pretty sure #1 is front Drivers side.#1 on the cap can pretty much be anywhere, Just make sure the rotor is pointing to #1 on the cap and the wires are in order starting from #1 and #1 piston is up on compression.
Jack

manimal · 12-12-2006, 11:02 PM

the #1 cylinder is on the drivers side,thats why it wont start.firing order:1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 clockwize

Jim_PA · 12-13-2006, 12:03 AM

I set mine up so the rotor is pointing straight forward at the front of the engine, which makes #1 on mine the 1st terminal after the screw, but either way, it doesn't really matter.

Make sure when you put the distributor in that it is falling ALL the way down into the hole -- if it's not, that means the oil pump drive is not lining up with the slot in the distributor shaft. If this is the case, you need to pull the distributor back out, and look down into the hole, and see which way the blade is pointing so the slot of the dist. shaft lines up. It can take several attempts to get the distributor to fall in the whole way, but if you don't get this part right, you could be way out of whack.

After you're sure the engine is at 0 degrees TDC, and you have the distributor completely down in position, I would eye-ball and put a mark on the distributor body to about where the rotor is pointing, then put the cap on. Now you'll see which terminal on the cap just about lines up to the mark you made on the distributor body. Make sure you don't move the distributor body when doing this.

By looking at your #1 terminal, and the mark you put on the distributor body for the rotor position, you will see if the rotor has already passed the #1 terminal on the clockwise path, hasn't passed it yet, or is almost perfectly lined up with it. If the rotor is slightly ahead of the #1 terminal in a clockwise path at 0 deg. TDC, it should run and not backfire.

It's easiest to use the marks on the timing cover and the balancer to confirm this, but if you aren't sure if your marks are correct, you are just guessing.

Jim_PA · 12-13-2006, 12:09 AM

Oh yeah...check, and re-check the firing order. It goes clockwise on the distributor 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

FIREWALL
8 >> 7
6 >> 5
4 >> 3
2 >> 1
RADIATOR

Imacarguytoo · 12-13-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim_PA

I set mine up so the rotor is pointing straight forward at the front of the engine, which makes #1 on mine the 1st terminal after the screw, but either way, it doesn't really matter.

Make sure when you put the distributor in that it is falling ALL the way down into the hole -- if it's not, that means the oil pump drive is not lining up with the slot in the distributor shaft. If this is the case, you need to pull the distributor back out, and look down into the hole, and see which way the blade is pointing so the slot of the dist. shaft lines up. It can take several attempts to get the distributor to fall in the whole way, but if you don't get this part right, you could be way out of whack.

After you're sure the engine is at 0 degrees TDC, and you have the distributor completely down in position, I would eye-ball and put a mark on the distributor body to about where the rotor is pointing, then put the cap on. Now you'll see which terminal on the cap just about lines up to the mark you made on the distributor body. Make sure you don't move the distributor body when doing this.

By looking at your #1 terminal, and the mark you put on the distributor body for the rotor position, you will see if the rotor has already passed the #1 terminal on the clockwise path, hasn't passed it yet, or is almost perfectly lined up with it. If the rotor is slightly ahead of the #1 terminal in a clockwise path at 0 deg. TDC, it should run and not backfire.

It's easiest to use the marks on the timing cover and the balancer to confirm this, but if you aren't sure if your marks are correct, you are just guessing.

OK im back from the hospital (wife is pregnant) Everythings cool
anyway........i got the firing order right checked over an over again. I have the dizzy in at tdc with the rotor button just before #1 and its wanting to fire but doesnt take off... (question) should the rotor be JUST before the #1 on the cap. easiest way i can explain it is its more on the right side of #1 than on the left side. If i can call someone that would be great. This truck is a pain in my rear. I have never had this much trouble with getting a vehicle to run before. My email is imacarguytoo@yahoo.com if you dont want your number posted on a public forum.

Jim_PA · 12-13-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imacarguytoo

OK im back from the hospital (wife is pregnant) Everythings cool
anyway........i got the firing order right checked over an over again. I have the dizzy in at tdc with the rotor button just before #1 and its wanting to fire but doesnt take off... (question) should the rotor be JUST before the #1 on the cap. easiest way i can explain it is its more on the right side of #1 than on the left side. If i can call someone that would be great. This truck is a pain in my rear. I have never had this much trouble with getting a vehicle to run before. My email is imacarguytoo@yahoo.com if you dont want your number posted on a public forum.

BrentRS1985 · 12-13-2006, 04:18 PM

check and recheck your connections, it might have power to the distributor while cranking, but not while the key is on, but I know you mentioned having it directly wired to the battery, so I don't know
maybe its not the distributor, might be a carb problem thats not letting it run

Imacarguytoo · 12-13-2006, 06:13 PM

WOOOOHOOOOOO. Thank-You all so much for the help. I am now able to wire the hei directly to the fusebox and the truck runs. I had to run it directly off the battery because i guess i couldnt get enough power thru the system to run the hei with a fresh battery. Or what i thought was a fresh battery. (charged it over nite) I've let it run and i restarted it a few times with the hei hooked to the battery and the correct way to the fusebox. All it well now.
Now my other problem

I have to swap intakes and carb so i can use the vac advance. Its got the factory orginal intake and carb on it. The carb has 1 port and the intake has 2. While the engine was ideling i felt the hose for the carb vac port and it was suckin at idle. I will get around to swapping intakes later (im not driving the truck that way, it will sit till i get it the right way)

Thanks Again

corn · 12-13-2006, 07:30 PM

Carb vacuum will be at the carb. Manifold vacuum (full vac) will be at the man. How can you have full vac now & have to change the intake? Im easily confused. Congrats on getting it running...

Imacarguytoo · 12-13-2006, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornfed63

Carb vacuum will be at the carb. Manifold vacuum (full vac) will be at the man. How can you have full vac now & have to change the intake? Im easily confused. Congrats on getting it running...

The carb only has 1 port and at idle it has vacuum. So i would assume the manifold ports would have full vacuum also. Im just going to put my edelbrock performer rpm and a quadrajet on it.

12-12-2006, 07:44 PM	#28
manimal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern Kalifornia Posts: 3,066	Re: Hei install question If you are unsure if you're on the compression stroke then remove the l.valve cover and rotate the engine over by hand.the intake valve will open(intake stroke)when the intake valve closes keep rotating the engine until the #1 piston is TDC(compression stroke),line up the balancer with 0 degrees.Install cap onto distributor make a mark on the dist. housing where the plug terminal for #1 is,remove cap and install dist. with rotor pointing to this mark. Install cap,wires,and electrical connections.Leave the vac. advance line disconnected(plug the source) and it should start,then you can adjust your timing from there.Also make sure you have the ground strap in the cap under the coil.

12-12-2006, 09:00 PM	#29
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	Re: Hei install question Another small thing to check is make sure you have voltage in the "cranking" position as well as in "ignition on".

12-12-2006, 09:30 PM	#30
action Active Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Valley Springs, Ca. Posts: 266	Re: Hei install question I have seen them crank and crank and crank and then you let off the key and boom they start.Like cornfed63 said make sure you have power when you crank. Good luck. Jack

12-12-2006, 10:07 PM	#32
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	Re: Hei install question put engine on #1 tdc .finger on first cyl on drivers side pressure felt your there when timing marks line up. drop in hei dizzy so it lines up with #1 on cap..should point in direction of #1 cyl..if set up correctly.. it's that easy... firing order 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 clockwise rotation Last edited by rage'nrat638; 07-12-2007 at 07:00 AM.

12-12-2006, 10:26 PM	#33
Imacarguytoo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 306	Re: Hei install question Ok heres what i did. I hooked the hei directly to the battery to make sure i had enough juice. The truck started to hit to run but it didnt comepletly fire. Moved the dist a lil more and it backfired out the exhaust. I think i flooded it so i will work on it tomorrow. I dont think im getting enough juice from the fusebox in the crank position so i wired it to the battery. Can i run a relay at the fusebox to give me the volts i need without running it off the battery???? I live in Cooksville its down south by Bloomington. I think it might be a drive for you. The pics you show. I have the number 1 plug wire to the left of the you are showing. (which would be on the other side of the hold down tab) Does that matter???

12-12-2006, 10:30 PM	#34
action Active Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Valley Springs, Ca. Posts: 266	Re: Hei install question I'm pretty sure #1 is front Drivers side.#1 on the cap can pretty much be anywhere, Just make sure the rotor is pointing to #1 on the cap and the wires are in order starting from #1 and #1 piston is up on compression. Jack Last edited by action; 12-12-2006 at 10:38 PM. Reason: add

12-12-2006, 11:02 PM	#35
manimal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern Kalifornia Posts: 3,066	Re: Hei install question the #1 cylinder is on the drivers side,thats why it wont start.firing order:1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 clockwize

12-13-2006, 12:03 AM	#36
Jim_PA Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 2,696	Re: Hei install question I set mine up so the rotor is pointing straight forward at the front of the engine, which makes #1 on mine the 1st terminal after the screw, but either way, it doesn't really matter. Make sure when you put the distributor in that it is falling ALL the way down into the hole -- if it's not, that means the oil pump drive is not lining up with the slot in the distributor shaft. If this is the case, you need to pull the distributor back out, and look down into the hole, and see which way the blade is pointing so the slot of the dist. shaft lines up. It can take several attempts to get the distributor to fall in the whole way, but if you don't get this part right, you could be way out of whack. After you're sure the engine is at 0 degrees TDC, and you have the distributor completely down in position, I would eye-ball and put a mark on the distributor body to about where the rotor is pointing, then put the cap on. Now you'll see which terminal on the cap just about lines up to the mark you made on the distributor body. Make sure you don't move the distributor body when doing this. By looking at your #1 terminal, and the mark you put on the distributor body for the rotor position, you will see if the rotor has already passed the #1 terminal on the clockwise path, hasn't passed it yet, or is almost perfectly lined up with it. If the rotor is slightly ahead of the #1 terminal in a clockwise path at 0 deg. TDC, it should run and not backfire. It's easiest to use the marks on the timing cover and the balancer to confirm this, but if you aren't sure if your marks are correct, you are just guessing.

12-13-2006, 12:09 AM	#37
Jim_PA Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 2,696	Re: Hei install question Oh yeah...check, and re-check the firing order. It goes clockwise on the distributor 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 FIREWALL 8 >> 7 6 >> 5 4 >> 3 2 >> 1 RADIATOR

12-13-2006, 04:18 PM	#40
BrentRS1985 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: St.Louis MO Posts: 123	Re: Hei install question check and recheck your connections, it might have power to the distributor while cranking, but not while the key is on, but I know you mentioned having it directly wired to the battery, so I don't know maybe its not the distributor, might be a carb problem thats not letting it run __________________ 1969 C-10 Short Bed Last edited by BrentRS1985; 12-13-2006 at 04:19 PM.

12-13-2006, 06:13 PM	#41
Imacarguytoo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 306	Re: Hei install question WOOOOHOOOOOO. Thank-You all so much for the help. I am now able to wire the hei directly to the fusebox and the truck runs. I had to run it directly off the battery because i guess i couldnt get enough power thru the system to run the hei with a fresh battery. Or what i thought was a fresh battery. (charged it over nite) I've let it run and i restarted it a few times with the hei hooked to the battery and the correct way to the fusebox. All it well now. Now my other problem I have to swap intakes and carb so i can use the vac advance. Its got the factory orginal intake and carb on it. The carb has 1 port and the intake has 2. While the engine was ideling i felt the hose for the carb vac port and it was suckin at idle. I will get around to swapping intakes later (im not driving the truck that way, it will sit till i get it the right way) Thanks Again Last edited by Imacarguytoo; 12-13-2006 at 07:53 PM. Reason: mistake

12-13-2006, 07:30 PM	#42
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	Re: Hei install question Carb vacuum will be at the carb. Manifold vacuum (full vac) will be at the man. How can you have full vac now & have to change the intake? Im easily confused. Congrats on getting it running...



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