TBI Motor wont start *started*

[chiefheaphy]

Freshly rebuilt 79' 350
machined intake for TBI
stock cam and heads.

I had some exhaust/flames coming out the intake. It must be the timing.

My question is how do I set a rough timing just to get the motor to run?

 

[British Slave]

Get #1 cyl. on TDC. Line up the timing marks on crank pulley. Loosen distributor, pull number 1 wire from dist. Turn key on. Slowly rotate dist till it fires. That's close enough to start.

 

[88-383]

Bring number one up to TDC, verify dist is installed with the rotor pointing to number one as I recall. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but i think this will work.

Get a timing light on it as soon as possible after it starts. There's a wire that has to be unplugged when setting the timing with light.

KM

 

[dyeager535]

Just for consistency, people usually get the motor to TDC#1, then point the rotor to the #1 cylinder. TBI you need to disconnect the timing bypass wire, which is located somewhere around your brake booster, single tan/blk(?) wire.

I think I understand what post 2 is describing, but not sure of how that procedure works. What I've done is to set the motor/distributor up as described above (#1TDC/rotor to cylinder 1, distributor snug, but loose enough to turn by hand) then clip a timing light to #1 plug wire. Turn key to "run", then rotate distributor back and forth until the timing light "fires". That's 0*, where TBI typically is set. Crank it down, re-connect the bypass wire, and should be good to go.

You could do the same thing by watching for spark on #1 plug wire or plug, timing light is just an easy visual indicator.

 

[chiefheaphy]

Thanks everone.

The only thing I am confused about with the timing is when you say "point the rotor at #1 cylinder", now does that actually mean stick a screwdriver in the distributor hole and turn the oil pump so when you drop the distributor in the rotor is pointing at the #1 cylinder or does it mean to point the rotor at the #1 cylinder in relation to the distributor cap?

I hope that question makes sense.

 

[JBo214]

This can be confusing if you have not done it before.

What it means is that you want the rotor pointing where the #1 cyl spark plug wire will be installed on the dist. cap.

Picture the #1 cylinder coming up on compression stroke (TDC) and you want the dist. to fire the plug at that point....

Therefore... the rotor will need to be sending spark down the wire to #1 cyl. when it is at TDC compression stroke. Then the next cyl in the firing order will be the next wire on the dist cap and so on....

You will need to unplug the bypass wire as was stated to set the timing.
0 deg is rec. but you can run it 2 deg advanced if you want a little more grunt. It may cause spark knock in higher rpms.

 

[chiefheaphy]

awesome thanks!

 

[dyeager535]

Yeah, it really doesn't matter where the rotor points, as long as when the motor is at TDC #1, the rotor is at the #1 plug terminal on the cap.

But it can get a little confusing to someone if they pop the cap off, and try to get the motor to TDC #1, only to see the distributor rotor is facing somewehre else. Might lead someone to think that something is messed up.

 

[chiefheaphy]

Did what you guys said and she fired right up. Used the timing light to set it to 2* advanced. I cant think of the right word to describe how it feels to build my first motor and hear run. Now I want to build a bigger one.

 

[NEK5]

Did what you guys said and she fired right up. Used the timing light to set it to 2* advanced. I cant think of the right word to describe how it feels to build my first motor and hear run. Now I want to build a bigger one.

You`re gonna need one

 

[JBo214]

Congrats

You can play w/ that timing in small increments and see how it helps the driveability of the rig.


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