Replaced intake gaskets now car won't start

[trents99]

I replaced the intake and valve cover gaskets and now the car won't start. First time I turned it over it started but idled terrible. No response when you press the gas. My thermo housing was leaking so I had to pop that back off and now it won't run at all. I removed the distributor and THOUGHT I had it back in correctly but I'm thinking this is the problem.

I pulled the #1 plug, turned the crank to line up the 0 with the timing pointer and #1 plug wire on the dizzy cap when on the compression stroke. When I try to start it it just backfires out of the exhaust. What now? I need this thing to drive to work tomorrow.

 

[slow93]

you still have a timing issue.pull the dizzy out agian and get #1 up,it may take you a few times but you can get it close.after you got it where it will start and run ok throw a timing light on it and set the timing.i had the same problem as you are having when i changed intakes

 

[iapexl8r]

did you drain the coolant before doing the intake gaskets? I have seen similar problems from coolant getting in the cylinders during the intake removal. Chris

 

[trents99]

Yep drained the coolant first but I got it going. Instead of just stabbing the dizzy back in at TDC I put it back in at 14 degrees and it fired right up. Thanks

 

[Fishhawk]

Sounds like the distributor is off 180 degrees.

 

[Paul Perreca]

nice, good to hear you'll make it to work!

 

[trents99]

Hopefully I won't have any coolant leaks but I'll check first thing in the morning. The previous owner had cracked the coolant crossover tube right in the bend where it threads into the lower intake. I welded it back and thought it was fixed but once it got pressure it leaked. The PO had just rigged it with some heater hose and a clamp so I put it back on until I can get a new one.

This was the nastiest intake I've ever seen. The injector holes in the lower had so much crud in them I'm surprised gas even made it to the cylinders. If I don't gain some hp/tq just from cleaning I'll be upset

 

[jrichker]

Putting the distributor back in is fairly simple. Pull #1 sparkplug, put your finger in the sparkplug hole, crank the engine until you feel compression. Then line up the TDC mark on the balancer with the pointer on the engine block. Align the distributor rotor up with the #1 position marked on the cap, slide the distributor down into the block, (you may have to wiggle the rotor slightly to get the gear to engage) and then note where the rotor is pointing. If it still lines up with #1 position on the cap, install the clamp and bolt. If not, pull it out and turn 1 tooth forwards or backwards and try again. Put the #1 spark plug back in and tighten it down, put the clamp on the distributor, but don't tighten it too much, as you will have to move the distributor to set the timing. Note that if it doesn't align perfectly with #1 position, you can turn the distributor until it does. The only problem is that if you are too far one way or the other, you can't turn the distributor enough to get the 10-14 degree optimum timing range.

At this point hook up all the wires, get out the timing light and start the engine. Set the timing where your car runs best. Don't forget to disconnect the SPOUT jumper connector when you set the timing, and plug it back in when you finish.