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| | | | Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 307 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 307 | On going learning saga.. installed a HEI distribitor on my 235 engine. Previously installed a new starter and got it to start with a rough idle and backfire. Ran for about five minutes than shut it off and week later installed new HEI. Now that the new distribitor and coil and in place it cranks but does not start. Occassional pop and backfire. Where to start troublshooting? Would it at least start even if the timing is off ? Thanks, Scott | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | Not if your more than 1 spot off on the dist. Sounds like you may be 180 out. Bring #1 up to TDC on the compression stroke and see where the rotor is. Sort the wires from there or pull dizzy and drop back in with the rotor pointing to #1 wire.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
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| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,100 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,100 | Hy scottss60, where to begin, it sounds like your engine had some problems before you swapped in the HEI distributor. Were you running the engine on old gas by any chance? Assuming you were using fresh fuel, turn the engine over to get it into number one top dead center on the firing stoke (both number one valves closed), now remove the distributor cap and see if the rotor is pointing at the number one spark plug wire. If the rotor is pointing at number one spark plug wire it should be close enough to start or try to start. If the rotor is not pointing to number one spark plug wire move the number one spark plug wire to the terminal that the rotor is pointing at and then install the other wires clockwise around the distributor cap in the order 5,3,6,2,4. The engine should try to start now, that is assuming you are getting spark at the spark plugs and that you have fuel. I could go on but try that for now and report back, hope that helps. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 307 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 307 | Thanks you guys I will get to this tomorrow and update.
Old trucks are lot's of fun.... | | | | | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,094 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,094 | Scott,
If the timing is set right.
Did you eliminate the ballast resistor in the ignition circuit?
The HEI needs 12 volts direct from ignition switch.
Tommy
59 apache 1/2t
261 short stepside
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 307 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 307 | Yes I did. Still not working. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 914 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 914 | Verify timing chain did not jump. Jeffrey | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Verify timing chain did not jump. Jeffrey Timing chain on a 235? | | | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 914 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 914 | Then timing gear stripped and the engine is still out of time. Jeffrey | | |
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