URGENT! Need help starting truck!

[Crank]

Okay guys, here's the situation. Got a cap and rotor button and wires for my '86 GMC. Took old wires off, completely. I know, wrong move. But i figured what the hey, how hard would it be to put the plug wires back on... HARD!!! Okay, well I got the distributor cap and rotor button on and wires, go to fire her up and nothing. I've got everything hooked up to the cap I think. The little harness and the plug to the BATT terminal on the cap. It apparently is getting fire, i know this by the 1-2 foot flames leaping from the carb. I didnt remove the distributor or anything. The truck ran before I changed the parts. Now nothing. it seems REALLY out of time, but I've tried everything I know how to do and I still cannot seem to get it to start! Please fellas, I need ideas of how to fix this turd. I'm all out of thoughts. Please help before it gets dark and I'm walking again tomorrow. Thanks fellas.
Brandon

[larry may]

Recheck wires to correct position . Sure sounds like a couple of wires x somewhere.

[Crank]

I've chased the wires. 18436572. I got that like that the only thing I can figure is I dont have them in the correct position on the distributor cap. I put the balancer mark to the 0 position on the timing tab. it pointed to the #1 cylinder, so I started there. For the life of me. I dont know what the heck else to do. Please keep the ideas coming folks
Brandon

[cdowns]

you have to set the #1 cylinder to TDC on the compression stroke to find where yoour rotor is pointing to the #1 position on the cap//they clockwise around the diz18436572
odd#s on the driver side cylinder head 1 at the front 7the rear

[Crank]

okay, So how do I figure out where TDC is? I thought the mark on the balancer and the timing tab, where the met was tdc? Right now the #1 is pointing at the number one plug location. I'm completely stumped, it just seems soooo out of time! I'm freakin frustrated
Brandon

[ghetto_superman]

take the mumber one spark plug out and stick some paper towel in there sorta tight.. bump the engine till the paper shoots out (it will make a nice pop noise.. youll know) or if you have a buddy to help you out, then you can have him (or you) just stick your finger on/in the spark plug hole and when the compression tries to blow your finger off then you know youre in business. then align the balancer to the nearest 0 degree. that should get you TDC. then make sure again that your rotor is in fact pointing at the number one cylinder's 'point'...

[Crank]

My balancer only has one timing mark on it. so I dont know how I'd get it to the nearest 0*?? might just have to try the paper trick. Thanks everyone. keep 'em coming.
Brandon

[ghetto_superman]

yea.. i mean line that mark up with the zero thats on the little tab/gauge thing that sits above the balancer.. if you dont line the mark up with the tab, and you only rely on the paper trick, then the cylinder might not be all the way up to the top yet, or it might have gone past TDC and started back down. thats why after you shoot the paper out, you gotta manually turn the crank bolt clockwise OR counter clockwise and align it with zero. at least thats the way i've always done it.. im better at doing it that explaining it. (i had problems like yours whn i went to HEI)

[cdowns]

another thing i've found if you suspect crossed wires // dont try to trace them , rip them all off and start again !! i've looked for hours at plug wires seeing they were right only to find out i was seeing wrong

[PanelDeland]

The crank will make 2 rotations for the 4 cycles of a 4 stroke engine.If the timing mark is at 0 it may be on the opposite rev from the actual firing spot.

[Foul Demon]

I Have Had The Balancer Slip On Me Before So The Timing Mark On The Balancer Was Totally Off So You Should Definitly Try Actually Bringing The Cyclinder On To Tdc And Then Checking To See Where Your Rotor Is Pointing In Relation To Your #1 Plug Wire Other Than That I Am Not Sure Where Else To Go I Hopw This Helps
Clay

[ghetto_superman]

it does have two 'up' strokes, but one of them is an exhaust stroke, with the valve open, so there wont be any compression.. so it shoudnt blow papers or fingers off the hole.... and yea it pays to be gentle and not jerk the balancer around.. which could cause it to slip.. (never happened to me but im probably just lucky)

[Crank]

So in theory, I checked my timing marks, and it was fine. But that could have been on the exhaust stroke and not right? So is that what they say as 180 out? I've never had to drop a starter on anything except like Dodges, they're either on, or 180 out. Maybe I could put the wires to where the #1 plug would be facing the #8 cylinder, that'd be 180 out right? Would it fire like that or what? Thanks everyone.
Brandon

[Crank]

FIXED. It must have been stabbed 180 out. Put the number 1 Cylinder where 6 should be, started right up. Got rid of that pesky miss I was trying to rid the GMC of. Thanks to all who helped.
Brandon

[ghetto_superman]

good job. sometimes ya gotta just go mess with stuff.. thats how i learned the little bit of stuff i know.. and of course this forum!!

[junkyardjohn]

Originally Posted by ghetto_superman

just stick your finger on/in the spark plug hole and when the compression tries to blow your finger off then you know youre in business..

I'D HAVE YOUR BUDDY DO IT. IF ANYBODY IS GOING TO GET A FINGER BLOWN OFF... IT MIGHT AS WELL BE HIM. JOHN

[ghetto_superman]

HAHAHAH yea that sounds a little scary i guess... hopefully its understood at least...!

[67chevy2wd]

Originally Posted by Crank

FIXED. It must have been stabbed 180 out. Put the number 1 Cylinder where 6 should be, started right up. Got rid of that pesky miss I was trying to rid the GMC of. Thanks to all who helped.
Brandon

Is it possible to install the Dizzy 180 degrees off?

[junkyardjohn]

YES IT IS.. & A COMMON MISTAKE TOO. IT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE INSTALL THE DIST. 180 DEG. OFF WITH THE ROTOR POINTING TO CYL. #1 WHEN IT IS ON THE EXHAUST STROKE INSTEAD OF THE COMPRESSION STROKE. JOHN