stabing dizzy

[legalize420]

i just want to make sure im doing it right. i had my brother bump the engine till i felt air from number one plug hole. i looked at the balancer and it was on zero. then i put the dizzy in and tried to get number one on the cap as close to the rotor as i could. then i turned the engine by hand to the 10* mark. still no fire. i have spark, hear the fuel pump and smell fuel. if i cant get this thing started im going to have to end up getting it towed in because i already went a week bumming rides to work . i do have a buddy coming over to see if we can get this going but can does anyone have other suggestions. am i stabbing the dizzy right?

 

[94CobraPace]

It appears you are stabbing the distributor correctly. Might check the firing order?

 

[legalize420]

It appears you are stabbing the distributor correctly. Might check the firing order?

firing order is right

 

[Swarzkopf]

This is why I just mark the distributor housing location and the rotor location when pulling/stabbing the distributor. I suppose this isn't an option if you've totally torn the engine down though.

Good luck.

 

[legalize420]

I suppose this isn't an option if you've totally torn the engine down though.

Good luck.

h/c swap

 

[legalize420]

if its not a timing issue than what else

 

[CManT1914]

Just keep at it. I had to restab the dizzy about 12 different times before I could get mine to fire after my heads/cam. Just a rundown to make sure you're doing it correctly:

Turn motor over by hand until #1 cylinder is at TDC on COMPRESSION stroke. You can do this by the finger in the hole trick, but I just looked on the balancer to see when the 0* (or 10* for the heck of it) was in the hole.

Set the cap on loosely, then mark on the actual bowl of the distributor (magic marker works well) where the #1 cylinder point is. It should be the very rear most of the time. Then pull the cap off to see easier.

Drop in the dizzy until the rotor is pointing towards your mark. As you know, the rotor spins while doing this, so it might take a few tries. Just get it to point pretty close to that mark, then tighten it down a bit.

Set the cap back on, clamp it down, and make sure your plugs are running to the right cylinders. Try firing it up.

Trust me, I thought I was doing it wrong, but it just takes a few tries. Good luck!!

EDIT: Oh yea, I'll also mention, when mine wouldn't fire, it would backfire a little out of the exhaust. If yours is doing this, it's most DEFINITELY a timing issue.

 

[legalize420]

i will go try it again. after i have the balancer on zero and the dizy stabbed, should i move the engine by hand off of zero or do i leave it there

 

[CManT1914]

i will go try it again. after i have the balancer on zero and the dizy stabbed, should i move the engine by hand off of zero or do i leave it there

Leave it there.

 

[v6v8swap]

If you feel that you have the rotor pretty close to #1 terminal on the dizzy, and that the firing order is correct, try turning the dizzy one way or the other (advancing or retarding the spark) and try to start it again. Sometimes you can get it close enough to get it to run long enough to put the timing light on it to get it timed correctly. Make sure when you're setting the dizzy in that it seats all the way down against the block. I had this problem on my pickup w/351 W and I fought that for about 3 hrs. Every time that I would try to start it the dizzy would then fall down where it's supposed to be, but then it's way out of time. Then one time setting the distributor in, it just fell in all the way down tight against the block. It started and ran enough to time it with the light then. They can be a pain to set in. (P.S. The rotor turns counter clockwise in the distributor. This has gotten more than one person).
Good Luck
Phil

 

[wildmandave]

Are you sure the TFI module is good?

 

[legalize420]

well i got it started but.... its making a loud banging/tapping noise from the driver side. i hope its just a loose rocker. i will have to investigate later on. im done with it for now.

 

[CManT1914]

well i got it started but.... its making a loud banging/tapping noise from the driver side. i hope its just a loose rocker. i will have to investigate later on. im done with it for now.

A knocking sound could be a rocker. If it's more of a ticking sound, it could be an exhaust leak. Check your header bolts, that's the easiest thing to do.

 

[legalize420]

A knocking sound could be a rocker. If it's more of a ticking sound, it could be an exhaust leak. Check your header bolts, that's the easiest thing to do.

i spent hours on the header bolts , thats not the problem. i had an exhaust leak in the past and i know that ticktick sound . its different. its more like a bangbang noise