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98 454 new cam now no start HELP update 9-27-14 won't start now

dheavychevy38

dheavychevy38

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Hello I recently helped a buddy put a new cam,lifters,and all the gaskets along with a timing chain on his 1998 2500 with a 454. Now She won't start. It cranks a little rough like the timing is off but the distributer is dead nuts on with tdc. The timing marks on the sprockets lined up with each other when we assembled it. It ran fine before the tear down just had a really bad lifter tick which turned out to be the cam lobes where worn really bad. Trying to get it running this weekend. What does the brother hood think ??
 
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Could be the distributor is 180 out. Did you check it before you pulled it? Sometimes mixing dampers/covers can make the timing tab in the wrong position (at least that's true for SBC), so it's good to double check with actual piston position. Have you checked compression? It's possible the lifters aren't working because they are empty or are fully pumped with oil so the valves aren't really working. A compression check would verify that the valves are working and that valve timing is at least close.

Also double-check all the basic stuff that could be missed from tearing the engine apart like connections unplugged, vacuum lines off, no gas, etc.
 
Flipped the dizzy last night just to check same results. The lifters where presoaked for a day. I think the crank may be 180 out. :doah:
 
I had a hell of a time getting one of these started after pulling the dizzy before. Same thing as you're saying was trying to fire but seemed like timing was off. I had the dizzy a tooth off a think and normally that's not a big deal because you can turn it enough to correct that, but in these engines there is no room so it's critical that is is exactly where it was. There is a parameter on a scan tool that shows if you are close. I'm betting it's a tooth off though.
 
Take off the drivers side valve cover and pull the plugs out
Rotate engine by hand "clockwise" from the front and watch the valves on no.1 cyl
When you see the exhaust rocker opening then closing then the intake opening and closing your coming up to TDC
Assuming your using the same front cover and balancer you should see the timing mark coming up to the cover TDC indicator
You can also verify by putting a plastic straw or similar device in the plug hole to watch the piston rise at that time
If those actions are not happening at the same time its possible the timing of the gears and chain are off and you will need to find true TDC by using a piston stop and a makeshift degree wheel to find true TDC
When your balancer mark lines up w the cover indicator find where no 1 plug wire is on the cap and set your rotor to fire at that position
Button the engine back up and crank it up
you may need to rotate it a few degrees to fire it off then check it with a timing light to see where your at
Post up what you find
 
76zimmer said:
Take off the drivers side valve cover and pull the plugs out
Rotate engine by hand "clockwise" from the front and watch the valves on no.1 cyl
When you see the exhaust rocker opening then closing then the intake opening and closing your coming up to TDC
Assuming your using the same front cover and balancer you should see the timing mark coming up to the cover TDC indicator
You can also verify by putting a plastic straw or similar device in the plug hole to watch the piston rise at that time
If those actions are not happening at the same time its possible the timing of the gears and chain are off and you will need to find true TDC by using a piston stop and a makeshift degree wheel to find true TDC
When your balancer mark lines up w the cover indicator find where no 1 plug wire is on the cap and set your rotor to fire at that position
Button the engine back up and crank it up
you may need to rotate it a few degrees to fire it off then check it with a timing light to see where your at
Post up what you find
Click to expand...

Dave was on timing duty when we put the 454 in my truck September long weekend...he did it just like he said. Fired right up no problem! :thumb:
 
Ok I am at home tore off the cover pulled the plugs. When I crank the engine over I see the exhaust open then close then the intake opens then closes. Then as I keep turning the piston pushes air out of the spark plug hole until tdc at that point the pointer on the cover is lined up with the mark on the balancer.
 
Ok Got her running. About every 5 starts it starts hard ?? I will bring home my scanner tomorrow to check out the check engine light and see if it will read the timing.
 
y5mgisi said:
What was the problem?
Click to expand...

I had the dizzy about half a turn off.:whistle: When I get home today gonna throw a scanner on her. Got to see what the check engine light is on for ? Also need to see why it hard starts every once on a while. But once its running its nice and smooth with no backfireing or anything.
 
Did you disconnect the EST wire before adjusting the timing with a timing light? If not the timing will be off about 20*
 
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