Why won't my 350 start?

[TX Mudder]

Why won\'t my 350 start?

I was driving my k20 to a friend's house and it acted like it ran out of gas, so I pulled over. After the obligatory walk to the gas station, it still wouldn't start. After much fiddling, still nothing so I towed it home with my other truck.
Here goes:
Battery is brand new. Starter turns the engine over fine. I have verified gas is getting to the carb. I checked the ignition wire going to the distributor - it was like 12.5 or 12 volts with the igntion turned on. I grounded a spark plug wire to the fender it and it sparked at even intervals.
But when I crank it over, it acts like there is either NO gas in the cyclinder or NO spark. I mean it acts completely dead, like nothing is happening in there. I've tried spraying starter fluid down my carb's throat - absolutely no effect. So it MUSt be igntion right?
What do I check? I can check the ohm's of the coil, right? But it was sparking on the fender so it should be alright, correct? What about the modules and stuff inside the HEI? ANything easily checkable or should I jjust try a junkyard HEI?
A guy stopped by and suggested the timing chain might have jumped a tooth. The engine is high mileage and no one will confuse it for a highly tuned machine, but it always runs damn it!
What can i realistically check to find out about an out-of-time chain?
Any ideas?
-- Mike

<font color=blue> The mud's on it to hide that it's more than one color.&lt;img src="http://coloradok5.com/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif"&gt;

 

[tRustyK5]

Re: Why won\'t my 350 start?

You can remove the distributor cap and compare where the rotor points and where the timing marks line up. Anything around 8 degrees or so before TDC should allow the motor to fire and run OK.

Having spark and having a strong enough spark are two different things. The least expensive thing if your timing looks OK would be a junkyard HEI...drop it in and give her a try. Most yards here will let a used distributor go for about $20 or so. Compared to a replacement module which is $25 or more...

Better yet find a buddy with an HEI you can borrow for testing...

A friend with a CJ5 running a 3.8 liter Chev V-6 had his die completely...we found one of the little wires inside the cap was burnt. Took us about 2 hours though. He was lucky enough to have broken down less than a block from the parts store in nice weather.

Good luck

Rene

<font color=green>Dyslexics of the world...UNTIE!</font color=green>
<a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/project_T2> tRusty pics...</a>

 

[Grim-Reaper]

Re: Why won\'t my 350 start?

Sounds ig. Either timming chain jumped or possibly the pin that holds the gear onto the shaft on the distributor sheared.

Women dig dents and flat paint!
<a target="_blank" href=http://communities.msn.com/OffroadK5s>communities.msn.com/OffroadK5s</a>
75 Jimmy, Dollar
Grim-Reaper

 

[riz]

Re: Why won\'t my 350 start?

<font color=purple> Check the leads going to your distributor .......... One of mine fell off and did the exact same thing as you're describing to us ........... I put the clip back on and it fired right up .........Total cost = 0 .......... I left it where it was for a day and a half before I noticed the lead was off ........ I was looking at my carb linkage and accidentally popped one off .......popped it back on and presto !

L8r,
. Riz . <a target="_blank" href=http://www.geocities.com/rizmonkey>www.geocities.com/rizmonkey</a>

<font color=purple> BOW CHICKA BOW WOW !

 

[thatK30guy]

Re: Why won\'t my 350 start?

Try putting the key back in the switch!

Nah, just being a smart-ass!!

I'm not picking my nose...I'm just pointing at my brain!!

<a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/thatK30guy>The K30 Collection</a>

 

[jimmyjack]

Re: Why won\'t my 350 start?

I agree with Rene, just because it sparked doesn't mean it has the heat to produce an explosion. I had some problems a while ago and the ground wire under the coil was burnt. No ground wire can throw a serious drop in the current going thru the coil.

That jeep thing? Yah I understand it....... Like my Blazer? <a target="_blank" href=http://community.webshots.com/user/blazerk5>http://community.webshots.com/user/blazerk5</a>
Jim

 

[k5king]

Re: Why won\'t my 350 start?

<font color=purple> one thing noone mentioned is the cam. if you were driving it,,it might have trashed a few lobes at once if something got into them,,i know it's a long shot but it might be something to consider if everything else seem's ok,,but i would start at the dist. first and go from there checking the wires,,put in different dist. with another cap just to be sure,,then swap yur cap to see what's up if it does start,,might just have a bad coil or the module inside the dist. good luck<font color=purple>

<font color=purple>ANYBODY LOSE THEIR JEEP????????

I JUST FOUND ONE UNDER MY BLAZER!!!!

</font color=green>