Headers and Spark plugs

[77ChevySharkBite]

yeah thats what a few people have told me is its, going to be something simple that I've just overlooked already.

[jjzepplin]

OK. Do these things in order. Compression check, Pull all yours wires and Find your TDC for #1 cyl (right front) and make sure your dist rotor is pointing toward it on your cap, Look at your cap real good to see if the contact to your coil is good. Reinstall power wire.. #2 cyl is left front and so on. With a timing light on the # 1 wire and your balancer on "0" degrees wiggle your dist back and forth (with ignition on and not cranking) and make sure you get a light flash. Disregard all these steps til you confirm compression! Now when you pump the throttle does gas pump out visibly? It should. If you have compression - spark- and gas it should fire! Oh yeah did I say compression check? If you have compression you're fine and it's something small. If not- this thing just got REAL!

[77ChevySharkBite]

I can confirm that I have compression, because that's something we tested for sure. Okay when you are talking about the cap, are you saying that the thing points out make sure that's pointed towards the #1 cyl? We didnt check to make sure the gas was pumping out visibly but when we pumped it we could smell it after trying to start it. I dont know if that would be a good sign or not? Because we would start it without the Air Housing on the carb.

[jjzepplin]

If you had compression in ALL cylinders what was it? (average) Under your cap is a rotor. This rotor can be bent or damaged so make sure it is good or it will not send good spark. Springy flat thing on the center is lifted off the rotor a bit so it hits the carbon colored thing coming out of your coil in the center of the cap. It usually points toward the # 1 cyl for a reference point and turns clockwise. So the next cyl (8) will be the wire to the left of #1. then 4-3-6-5-7-2.

[jjzepplin]

When was this rebuilt? How long had it been running before the header work?

[77ChevySharkBite]

hmm...I just learned something new. I didn't know that I'll make sure to check it out. We didnt check all the cyl we just check the #1 well I didnt my friend did. but the way he did it was he took the #1 spark plug out and put his finger over it and that the way he tested it.

[77ChevySharkBite]

I'm not too sure when the motor was rebuilt I believe they only owned for the truck for about 2 years so and it was running fine before the header work I've owned the truck for 3 months now.

[jjzepplin]

OK that's a good sign. And you can check TDC of # 1 that way. Just take out all the plugs and turn it by hand. When you feel the air coming past your finger, turn til your timing mark says zero. Then make sure your cap is at the #1 wire. Then make sure #8 is next in line and set all the wires in the right order.etc.

[77ChevySharkBite]

okay, my cousin might have to do that because I'm not sure how to tell the timing mark and things like that. So I need to unplug my wires from the distributor cap or the motor? In order to test the timing?

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well great news my cousin thats a mechanic is coming over today so hopefully he'll be able to get the beast a running today!

[JRANGER]

awesome Good Luck!

[77ChevySharkBite]

believe me I'm hoping to have it all done with and running tonight and then start on another project on the truck.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well my 350 lost 45 cubic inches, distributor cap was completely wrong, wiring wrong, and most likely it jumped time, so that's my update of horrible news to all
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[JRANGER]

ahhh welcome to my world of the 305.. Hope you gt her running

[77ChevySharkBite]

Yeah my cousin is going to fix but I'm am going to be getting a Chevy 350 a real one that is
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[rcsweet21]

a 350 or a 305 have the same distributor cap and wires and if I get this right the starter will turn the engine over but it just will not run is that correct

[rcsweet21]

check the plug wires and make sure they don't have splits or burn marks in them around the headers, if the starter is not turning the engine over check the ground from battery to frame of engine as most electrical problems are a bad ground good luck

[rcsweet21]

after listening to your video's it sounds like the starter drive is bad and kicking out before the engine can start

[77ChevySharkBite]

it'll turn over and run but its not it's being assumed and most likely correct that the timing is off completely and that there's a very good chance that the truck jumped time causing it to do what its doing.

[bk2life]

Originally Posted by 77ChevySharkBite

very good chance that the truck jumped time.

ive only had a super beat up worn out import that we used to jump off the ground "jump timing"

there has got to be something else going on..

id love to have ten minutes with her..

[77ChevySharkBite]

I'm not sure if I put it here yet but to begin with the distributor cap was wrong, the wiring wrong was as well its like they couldnt get it back running but they tried something and it worked so they stuck with it. So there's no telling what "damage" it might of caused but my cousin is going to fix it all and get it running week after next.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well I have wonderful news, my cousin came over today to look at my truck and we went to buy parts because he suggested us to just in case it was something well guess what the monster is alive, my cousin got the timing perfect unplugged my tach and sure enough the truck cranked right up! So were thinking that my tach was a little bit of the issue, because the rotor in my distributor cap is crap it couldn't handle turning the truck over and running it but regardless the beast is alive and running now my next step is exhaust so I can start driving it on the streets and not get pulled over haha

[JRANGER]

hell yeah!