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Engine not running right after having the transmission rebuilt

Tiny
RDMATCH
  • MEMBER
  • 1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 110,000 MILES
On long story short had the car rebuilt frame off engine transmission rebuilt. Car did not run worth a shot when I picked it up they did not want to do anything. Drive it home. Found spark plug wire were not on in the correct order fixed that tried getting up up distributor to TDC found number 6 is at TDC. Timed it there but still runs poorly not as bad as before at least it is drivable. It has a manual rpm so distributor can only go in one way I assume something else was assembled incorrectly. Would the timing setting be the same using the #6 plug wire
Dave
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Tuesday, April 27th, 2021 AT 6:21 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,874 POSTS
Hi,

Based on your description, it sounds like they have the distributor 180° out. If you look at the pic below, it shows the firing order and distributor cap. Note that 1 and 6 are opposite.

Also, is this a 350ci or a 454ci? Does it still have the original points in the distributor? Have you inspected them?

Here is what I suggest. Pull the distributor and reinstall it correctly. If you watch the following video, it shows how it's done. It is being done on a 454, but the same procedure applies.

https://youtu.be/El1H0_6IYxQ

Let me know if that helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,

Joe

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Wednesday, April 28th, 2021 AT 7:01 PM
Tiny
RDMATCH
  • MEMBER
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Yes, I realize it is off 180. I don't know if it is the timing housing that is off or not. When I have set the distributor correctly it will not start. I have gas coming out of the carb so number one exhaust valve is open. I pulled the plugs and one is at the top but on the downward stroke. 6 is up on the firing stroke at TDC. I don't know how to turn the distributor 180 as the vacuum advance would be on the wrong side as would the rpm cable that goes to the distributor. I have an electronic ignition. Timing it on 6 I can get it to run but it is very rich. Can the plate inside the distributor be removed and turned 180 to number one would be then pointing to number one at tdc? I am not sure that would work. It is a 350 engine. Right now to get it to run I have the firing setting for number 6 on the cap. I have watched similar videos in setting up the Distributor and had tried setting it to one which did not work. I have no confidence in the work they did to say everything in the engine is set up correctly. I almost think the bell housing is on incorrectly and is 180 off for timing purposes.
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Thursday, April 29th, 2021 AT 5:15 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,874 POSTS
Hi,

It isn't the physical distributor that is 180° out, it is the position of the rotor. It is pointing at number 6 rather than number 1. The vacuum advance will not change position. Once the distributor is lifted out from the gear, you can turn the rotor by hand. That is when you place it pointing the number 1 cylinder spark plug wire on the distributor cap. Just make sure the mark on the harmonic balancer is at TDC when you do it.

As far as the bell housing, I honestly don't know if it is possible to install it incorrectly or how it could affect timing. Not on a 1972.

Let me know if what I explained makes sense.

Take care,

Joe
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Thursday, April 29th, 2021 AT 8:32 PM
Tiny
RDMATCH
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yes I know that about the distributor pointing to number one. When I do that it it is on the exhaust portion of the downward stroke. The number 6 is firing at that point. Which is why I have to time it using number 6. When I set it up the correct way it will not start and it pops out of the carb and floods out. When I turn the distributor to point to 6 it starts right up and runs. That is why I feel somehow they put it together incorrectly. So to time it I have to put the timing light on number 6 plug wire. The problem is it runs to rich now so I don't know if I should time it by ear and see where it lands on the timing marks which are present on it being hooked up to number six. It makes no sense to me as to what they did honestly. But being the wires were not on the cap in the correct order I suppose anything is possible. Bair's Corvette in Pa did the work but out sourced the engine and transmission. Their part was done well but the engine lacks.
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Friday, April 30th, 2021 AT 5:12 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,874 POSTS
Hi,

Where in PA? I'm near Pittsburgh. If you turn the crank one full revolution from where it is, to TDC (360°), it should put cylinder one on a compression stroke. If it doesn't, then I suspect the timing chain was not put on correctly.

Let me know if you tried that.
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Friday, April 30th, 2021 AT 7:12 PM
Tiny
RDMATCH
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I would guess the timing chain then is on incorrectly. As you turn the engine the pressure is on 6 coming up to TDC and slight suction in cylinder number 1. Bairs is in Linesville Pa and the Complete Automotive Repair and Sales is also in Linesville Pa. I live just south of Cleveland so it is a bit of a haul to return it there and then why would I want to.
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Monday, May 3rd, 2021 AT 4:39 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,874 POSTS
Hi,

Something doesn't sound right. Both cylinders 1 and 6 should be at TDC which is normal, but they are at different phases of combustion. What I think happened is when the timing chain sprockets were aligned, they placed the cam sprocket at 12 o'clock rather than 6.

The best thing to do is remove the timing chain cover and inspect the timing marks. I attached a pic below and highlighted where the marks should be if they are correct. What I think has happened is they placed the cam sprocket at 12 o'clock. Thus, it's 180° out of time. Cylinder 6 is on its compression/firing stroke rather than cylinder 1. The cam lobes are 180° off.

The red line pointing up indicates where I think they had the timing marks.

I hope that makes sense.
Let me know if you check it and what you find.

Joe

See pic below.
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Monday, May 3rd, 2021 AT 5:49 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
If all the compression is good, this guide will help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

The problem will be the ignition system. Let's check the spark output to start.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

Please run down these guides and report back. Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can see what's going on? that would be great. You can upload it here with your response.
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Monday, May 3rd, 2021 AT 6:41 PM

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