The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Lucky to have eyebrows.

I just got the 283 back in that I rebuilt. I had someone who knew what they were doing help me put the bottom end, cam, timing chain in.

I brought it home and put on the rebuilt heads, quadrajet, hei dist. & new plug wires. Adjusted the valves and put it all in the truck to make a long story short.

Cranked it over last by myself and it acted like it wanted to go but didn't. Had the Mrs. come out and crank it and when I leaned over to throttle the carb flames shot out of the carb. Almost a foot high!

Bumped it to tdc and the dist looked to be 180 out. Switched the plug wires to fire with where it was pointing to as #1. Now it shoots gas out the carb. I also backed all of the valves out a 1/2 turn.

Now what?

Signed,

Lucky to have eyebrows Tim.

OK, in order to run, the engine needs air, fuel, compression, and spark, and all of this at the right time. The #1 piston comes to TDC twice, once on the compression stroke, and once on the exhaust stroke. The plug needs to fire at the end of the compression stroke, with both valves closed. Here's how to tell for sure:

Turn the engine by hand, clockwise from the front of the engine, with the passenger's side valve cover off. Watch the #6 cylinder valves, the third pair from the front. When the exhaust valve closes, and the intake valve starts to open, the #6 cylinder will be on top of its exhaust stroke. The "companion" cylinder, #1, will be at the top of its compression stroke. Time the distributor to fire the #1 plug.

To be sure all the valves are closing, write the firing order down like this:

1843
6572

Get the valves "rocking" on #6, like you did while timing the distributor, and adjust the #1 valves to have a very slight amount of slack at the rocker arm. Turn the engine 90 degrees. #5 will be "rocking". Adjust #8. Turn 90 deg. again. #7 rocks, adjust #4. Do this until all cylinders have been adjusted. After the engine starts and the camshaft has been broken in, if necessary, go back, and readjust the valves to 3/4 turn tighter, using ther same procedure. Most of the time, it's necessary to start up with new lifters slightly loose, to allow them to fill with oil properly. After they fill, then you go back and do a final adjustment.
Jerry

Hotrod L,

That sounds pretty easy. I've been working on this project off and on for about 8 months as time and money allowed. I'm real anxious to get her going and out of the garage. Thanks for your help. I printed it out.

Tim

An alternate method from Motors Auto Repair Manual .

"With engine in position to fire No 1 cylinder the following valves may be adjusted: Exhaust 1-3-4-8, intake 1-2-5-7. Then crank the engine one more complete revolution which will bring no. 6 cylinder into firing position at which time the following valves may be adjusted: Exhaust 2-5-6-7, intake 3-4-6-8."

I've found this also works with the stovebolt six. With no.1 at TDC adjust: Exhaust 1-3-5, intake 1-2-4. With no.6 up adjust: Exhaust 2-4-6, intake 3-5-6.

Confucious say......double check everything.

It runs great.

Thanks!