Starting issues after taking off intake manifolds

[deftsound]

hey guys,
I have a new problem, after spending two days taking the upper and lower intake manifolds off along with everything with it (distributor, maf, throttle body etc etc..) I tryed to start it up after i had hooked everything back up and it wont start. Did i forget to do something? I know the timing must be off but would it cause the car not to start? It sounds like it almost wants to start but just wont... Im kinda a newb so i probably just forgot to reset a switch or maybe i just need to adjust something. Any help would be greatly appreciated..

 

[Daggar]

Did you mark the Dizzy and and rotor before you removed it? Is the thing 180* out?

 

[deftsound]

lol no i didnt mark it im an idiot i know, it makes sorta a popping noise like a backfire sorta sometimes when im crankin it

 

[Michael Yount]

Pull the number 1 plug, rotate the engine by hand until the piston in that cyl. starts to come up forcing air out the spark plug hole. As it comes to the top, look at the balancer/pointer - stop rotating the engine when the pointer is pointing at 10 degrees BTDC. At that point stab the dizzy so that the rotor is pointing as close to the #1 plug wire (it's marked on the cap - or follow the wire). Once you've done that put the plug back in and hook the wire up. It should be close enough to fire - after it warms up get a timing light on it.

 

[deftsound]

ok hold on, i know im newb but some of this terminology is throwing me off, first of all, how do i turn the engine by hand, two, is the dizzy the thing the distributor cap sits on?, three what do you mean by stab the dizzy, and fourwhat does the balancer/pointer look like? i dont have to take my upper manifold off or anything do i? What is the btdc? I know im newb but hey theres only one way to learn so please everyone dont flame

 

[Michael Yount]

Turn the engine by hand by putting a socket/ratchet wrench on the balancer crank bolt; dizzy is short for distributor; stab the dizzy means insert it into the hole; the balancer is the big, black round thing on the end of the crankshaft with the timing marks on it; the pointer is a piece of sheet metal that is attached by two front cover bolts; you don't have to take the manifold off; btdc is 'before top dead center' -- it will be marked on the balancer timing marks. Given the basic nature of your questions, I'd round up a friend/family member that knows how to time one of these cars and have them help you. You're in over your head for doing it the first time. Oh -- you have to pull the spout out when you go to set the initial timing with the light. Once again - someone familiar with the 5.0L's can show you all this in 2 minutes - and then the comments will make perfect sense. But if it's your first time, it could take a while to explain every little bit this way.

 

[deftsound]

yea i think your right, i had no problem taking the upper and inner intake manifold off, pretty straightforward and simple, replaced gaskets and everything, i think this timing thing is deftinately a little over my head, would the timing definately be my problem?

 

[Daggar]

YYyyyyyyyyyyyyyep

And just for future reference:

Before you remove a distributor you need to mark that distributor so that you put it back in the same way it came out. You also need to mark the exact point inside of the distributor bowl that the rotor points to so that when you put it back in, you're not off a tooth one way or the other. Keeps you from having to rotate the engine to find top dead center.

 

[RacEoHolic330]

your problem really does sound a lot like timing. I had the same problem the first time I every pulled the dizzy. The car would pop and backfire and wouldn't start. Your timing could be set 180 degrees in the wrong direction; on the wrong stroke. Follow Michael Yount's instructions and your problem should be fixed

 

[deftsound]

yea ill give that a try tomorrow, assuming i can follow those directions alright, my few friends that are pretty car smart dont have a timing light and have never timed a car before so im kinda on my own...

btw 50mustang001 your stang is freakin awesome, probably one of the best looking ive ever seen...

also, where is the balancer that you are talking about on the crankshaft?

 

[Michael Yount]

"my few friends that are pretty car smart dont have a timing light and have never timed a car before "

Don't know how to put it any other way - with no light and never having timed a car, they're not as 'car smart' as you think! Good luck - keep messing with it, you'll figure it out. You can't hurt it much - and when you finally get it close, it will start.

 

[Michael Yount]

"my few friends that are pretty car smart dont have a timing light and have never timed a car before "

Don't know how to put it any other way - with no light and never having timed a car, they're not as 'car smart' as you think! Good luck - keep messing with it, you'll figure it out. You can't hurt it much - and when you finally get it close, it will start. I'm afraid to ask - did you mark all the vacuum hose connections and return them to their correct locations?

 

[deftsound]

yea vacuum lines are good, ive messed around with them enough to know where they go, but ill just play around with it tomorrow and see what i can do, also a few of my friends really are pretty smart but like i said earlier you can only learn stuff one way...plus im the only one with a stang