small block 350 queston

[tomford]

So i was driving the stepside and it backfired and now it wont start. Anyone have any ideas?

It just happened on my way home, so i havent even really looked at it. No fluild is leeking. it cranks, no start



Tom

 

[wasted wages]

timing chain,,,dizzy shaft snapped,,,dizzy electronics failed

does it sound normal when turning over ??
or does it sound funky like some of the cylinders have no compression ?

 

[tomford]

sounds normal cranking, nothin funky

What can i do to check with out getting too in depth into the motor?


Tom

 

[wasted wages]

remove dist cap,,bump the engine over and make sure the rotor is turning.

what year model ? carb or FI ?

 

[tomford]

mid 80's holley carb with electronic ign.

Tom

 

[wasted wages]

quick timing check...pull # 1 plug,,,roll over the engine until compression builds in #1 hole. continue rolling the engine untill the timing marks on the ballancer line up with TDC on the tab.

Pull the dist cap...rotor must be pointing to the #1 spark plug lead on the cap.

other than that check the basics,,,fuel at the carb,,,,spark at the plugs..

 

[dremu]

Engine wants fuel, air, and fire to go.

Air is easy, and if it won't go at all, not like your culprit.

Fuel is easy. Take off air cleaner, look in carb. (You can also try starter fluid.) This could be a dead fuel pump or maybe clogged fuel filter, but it'd hafta be REALLY clogged to go all at once like that.

Fire is also pretty easy, and to my expert mind, this is where your problem lies. Check spark, either by unplugging a wire and seeing if you can get a blue spark to the frame rail, or with one of those inline plug testers with a noid light in 'em. (Less chance to zap yourself with those.) If there's no spark on one, check a couple of the other wires. If you have no spark on more than one, think cap, coil, dizzy, or even just the power wire into the HEI.

As others have said, I'm thinking dizzy. Pop the cap off, and make sure that the rotor turns when you crank the engine. Dizzy shaft could be seized or busted.

-- A

 

[kevin400ex]

does the fuel gauge work?

a freind sent a guy to me to figure out what was wrong with his truck, same scenario, drving along truck died. guys fuel gauge didnt work but he claimed it had fuel since he hadnt hit his milage number where he has to fill up. he was thinking fuel pump, dist etc. turns out he was outa gas. somone had siphoned his tank, which is happening alot lately with high gas prices.

but if thats not the case, my vote is hei module

 

[slyguy_22]

As stated above check for spark first. then go from there.

 

[tomford]

Yes, the fuel gauge works sometimes, i just got 20 bucks worth of fuel and i was on my way home, ill check to see if the rotor is turning later today when it stops raining

thanks
Tom

 

[70jimmy]

I would check ignition module then maybe coil, I have seen the internal coil wire fry.

 

[tomford]

well i started to look into it, and found out that one of the snap on coil power wires came off, plugged it in and vola it runs

Thanks guys

Tom