HELP!! Truck won't start!! Any Ideas?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

clean71 · 06-01-2008, 05:57 AM

Long story short, it's one thing after another with my truck. I bought a new crate engine from a board member and then found out that I'm going to Japan instead of San Diego. Got the motor dropped in and then had a bunch of parts stolen off it at the base hobby shop. Moved it home to work on it and my buddy who was supposed to be helping me got deployed. Soooo, I've been trying to get it done myself. I primed the engine and after about two hours got the distributor in right. (Yes, i'm an idiot)Put the plug wires on and wired up the distrubutor, 6al, and coil. It's getting fuel (I think) but now I'm thinking I'm not getting spark. It cranks, has good oil pressure when cranking. Plugs are accel gapped to .50 as recommended by edelbrock. Distributor was dropped in with crank at 12' BTDC, rotor lined up with #1. Shouldn't be 180 off as I cranked by hand until air escaped from #1 plug hole then backed crank to 12' BTDC. As I stated above, I'm an idiot. Not really, I can follow instructions but don't have much experience with this stuff so when it goes wrong, I don't know where to start making corrections.

Any advice on test, check, changes, etc. would be greatly appreciated. I have exactly two weeks before this thing needs to be running. Thanks in advance.

old Chevy guy · 06-01-2008, 06:11 AM

Determine if you have a spark,even if the distributor was in wrong you would still have a spark,, just at the wrong time.Is it points or Hei? If you have spark give it a small drink of gas in the carb,if it fires but doesnt run then its not really getting fuel.

clean71 · 06-01-2008, 06:24 AM

It's an HEI distributor. Tried adding fuel to carb about 1/4 cup at a time, it's the same either way. It just cranks but doesn't seem to be firing.

**truckdude239** · 06-01-2008, 01:40 PM

dis should be dropped in with your number one cylinder at top dead on compression strock. center mark on balance should be 0 btdc. install your dis with rotor pointing at number one. have someone in the cab turn the key as you slowly turn the dis till it starts. then use a timing light once you get it to start

Longhorn Man · 06-01-2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Shouldn't be 180 off as I cranked by hand until air escaped from #1 plug hole then backed crank to 12' BTDC.

I think you are 180 degrees out.
You felt air escape, then you backed it to 12 degrees... you shoulda kept rolling till the piston was at the top instead of backing it down.

clean71 · 06-01-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

I think you are 180 degrees out.
You felt air escape, then you backed it to 12 degrees... you shoulda kept rolling till the piston was at the top instead of backing it down.

Sorry, I mispoke here. After the air escaped, which happened slightly before the timing mark reached the tab, I continued turning by hand until timing mark was at tdc and then turned crank back to 12' BTDC

mtdave2 · 06-01-2008, 05:06 PM

i would make sure you are getting spark. pull a wire off and use an extra plug.

i am guessing you are not using a 12 volt wire to the dist. if you are not sure, just run a wire from the battery to the dist, that way you know you have 12 volts.

straitnate14 · 06-01-2008, 06:21 PM

Is your HEI distributor GM or is it an after market? I had a summit distributor and the ingniton modual that came with it was no good from time to time until I put GM modual in it

Longhorn Man · 06-02-2008, 04:52 AM

kool, disregard my last post then.
Confirm the basics... fuel, and spark.

Steelawork'n · 06-02-2008, 05:30 AM

Another thing you might check is the valves. Sometimes the valves need to be backed off for the initial start-up and then adjusted when the engine warms up. Sometimes they are so tight that the engine can't get any air nor exhaust any.

bigsnookmaster · 06-02-2008, 07:56 AM

Here,s a couple of things to try.I've had 2 motors that sat for a while and didn't start afterwards.Sometimes the cylinders wash down,especially if you put a 1/4 cup of gas in at a time.Try putting a squirt or 2 of oil in each cylinder,turn the motor over a couple of times,re-install the spark plugs,then try to start it.A shot of starting fluid might not hurt either.The oil will re-seal the rings if they have been washed down.Like I said,I've had this happen twice in my life,but when you have spark,fuel and the timing in the right locationand it still doesn't start,this was the answer.If you put gas down the carb,try about a tablespoon at a time.Good luck

06-01-2008, 06:11 AM	#2
old Chevy guy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Foster Rhode Island Posts: 1,176	Re: HELP!! Truck won't start!! Any Ideas?? Determine if you have a spark,even if the distributor was in wrong you would still have a spark,, just at the wrong time.Is it points or Hei? If you have spark give it a small drink of gas in the carb,if it fires but doesnt run then its not really getting fuel.

06-01-2008, 06:24 AM	#3
clean71 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 335	Re: HELP!! Truck won't start!! Any Ideas?? It's an HEI distributor. Tried adding fuel to carb about 1/4 cup at a time, it's the same either way. It just cranks but doesn't seem to be firing. __________________ CPO U.S. Navy(Ret) 1972 GMC Jimmy 4x4 Custom 1972 GMC Jimmy 2x4 Custom

06-01-2008, 01:40 PM	#4
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,233	Re: HELP!! Truck won't start!! Any Ideas?? dis should be dropped in with your number one cylinder at top dead on compression strock. center mark on balance should be 0 btdc. install your dis with rotor pointing at number one. have someone in the cab turn the key as you slowly turn the dis till it starts. then use a timing light once you get it to start __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

06-01-2008, 05:06 PM	#7
mtdave2 newly minted old timer Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Hudson WI Posts: 3,508	Re: HELP!! Truck won't start!! Any Ideas?? i would make sure you are getting spark. pull a wire off and use an extra plug. i am guessing you are not using a 12 volt wire to the dist. if you are not sure, just run a wire from the battery to the dist, that way you know you have 12 volts. __________________ ____________________________________________ 72 c20 longhorn 65k org miles and counting! 69 k10 Suburban

06-01-2008, 06:21 PM	#8
straitnate14 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bartonville IL Posts: 415	Re: HELP!! Truck won't start!! Any Ideas?? Is your HEI distributor GM or is it an after market? I had a summit distributor and the ingniton modual that came with it was no good from time to time until I put GM modual in it __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

06-01-2008, 05:57 AM	#1
clean71 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 335	HELP!! Truck won't start!! Any Ideas?? Long story short, it's one thing after another with my truck. I bought a new crate engine from a board member and then found out that I'm going to Japan instead of San Diego. Got the motor dropped in and then had a bunch of parts stolen off it at the base hobby shop. Moved it home to work on it and my buddy who was supposed to be helping me got deployed. Soooo, I've been trying to get it done myself. I primed the engine and after about two hours got the distributor in right. (Yes, i'm an idiot)Put the plug wires on and wired up the distrubutor, 6al, and coil. It's getting fuel (I think) but now I'm thinking I'm not getting spark. It cranks, has good oil pressure when cranking. Plugs are accel gapped to .50 as recommended by edelbrock. Distributor was dropped in with crank at 12' BTDC, rotor lined up with #1. Shouldn't be 180 off as I cranked by hand until air escaped from #1 plug hole then backed crank to 12' BTDC. As I stated above, I'm an idiot. Not really, I can follow instructions but don't have much experience with this stuff so when it goes wrong, I don't know where to start making corrections. Any advice on test, check, changes, etc. would be greatly appreciated. I have exactly two weeks before this thing needs to be running. Thanks in advance. __________________ CPO U.S. Navy(Ret) 1972 GMC Jimmy 4x4 Custom 1972 GMC Jimmy 2x4 Custom

06-02-2008, 04:52 AM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: HELP!! Truck won't start!! Any Ideas?? kool, disregard my last post then. Confirm the basics... fuel, and spark.

06-02-2008, 05:30 AM	#10
Steelawork'n Just hang'n around Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Camano Island WA Posts: 248	Re: HELP!! Truck won't start!! Any Ideas?? Another thing you might check is the valves. Sometimes the valves need to be backed off for the initial start-up and then adjusted when the engine warms up. Sometimes they are so tight that the engine can't get any air nor exhaust any. __________________ Driving a '68 Chevy C20 and a '93 Astro Van. Lots and lots of mileage that I deduct each year.

06-02-2008, 07:56 AM	#11
bigsnookmaster Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: St.Petersburg,Fl Posts: 1,267	Re: HELP!! Truck won't start!! Any Ideas?? Here,s a couple of things to try.I've had 2 motors that sat for a while and didn't start afterwards.Sometimes the cylinders wash down,especially if you put a 1/4 cup of gas in at a time.Try putting a squirt or 2 of oil in each cylinder,turn the motor over a couple of times,re-install the spark plugs,then try to start it.A shot of starting fluid might not hurt either.The oil will re-seal the rings if they have been washed down.Like I said,I've had this happen twice in my life,but when you have spark,fuel and the timing in the right locationand it still doesn't start,this was the answer.If you put gas down the carb,try about a tablespoon at a time.Good luck __________________ greg http://community.webshots.com/user/68406Stepside



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