The New Project: Part Deux!

[njsteve]

I hooked up both a cannister coolant heater and the magnetic oil pan heater. The engine was at 180 degrees. Still no start.

I had my old time mechanic buddy come over and troubleshoot tonight. We backed off on the rocker arm adjustment, just in case they were too tight. No luck.

Things we learned:
1) Only getting 130 PSI on a compression test.
2) Engine cranks slow with the spark plugs in. It cranks really fast with the plugs removed.
3) No vacuum into the engine. You put your hands over the carb and there is no suction when you crank the engine over. In fact gas pops out of the top of the carb.
4) We pulled the carb and cranked the engine and there is still no suction into the engine.
5) The balancer timing mark matches TDC on cylinder #1.
6) The distributor is set correctly to TDC on cylinder # 1.
7) Intake manifold is sealed up tight with no gaps.
8) Cylinders 1,3,5 and 7 have carbon fouled plugs. 2,4,6 and 8 look much cleaner.
9) Full 12 volts to the HEI unit with the key in the run position. Around 9 volts when cranking due to starter load.
10) Pulled starter today and had it tested - OK.


Possibilities:
1) Timing chain installed incorrectly (even though I rechecked the marks on the crank and timing gear several times before sealing the timing cover.)
2) The Edelbrock (Cloyes) timing set had the indicator marks mis-stamped.
3) The Melling SP-7 Camshaft ground wrong.

Any other suggestions?

[VintageMusclecar]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.....
Things we learned:
1) Only getting 130 PSI on a compression test.....

Possibilities:
1) Timing chain installed incorrectly (even though I rechecked the marks on the crank and timing gear several times before sealing the timing cover.)
2) The Edelbrock (Cloyes) timing set had the indicator marks mis-stamped.
3) The Melling SP-7 Camshaft ground wrong.

Any other suggestions? </div></div>

Did you install the timing set &quot;dot to dot&quot; or did you degree the cam in?

Is it hitting 130 PSI on all 8 holes?

[Jim69Z]

Are the timing marks dot to dot or from 12 to 12 on a Pontiac?

[njsteve]

Dot to dot (12 and 6) and 12 to 12 are the same, only 180 of rotation from each other. We tried swapping distributor 180 degrees with no improvement. I did not degree the cam in.

[VintageMusclecar]

Dot to dot (crank at 12:00 cam at 6:00) puts #6 @ TDC ready to fire. Rotate the crank 1 turn puts the cam at 12:00 and puts #1 @ TDC ready to fire (cam rotates at 1/2 crank speed)

*edit* Steve posted while I was making the above post

[VintageMusclecar]

I would get the degree wheel out at this point to verify the cam timing.

[njsteve]

Ive never degreed a cam. I imagine doing one in the car with the heads on would also be twice as hard.

Any degree-ologists nearby, here in Jersey who can lend a hand? Ill happily pay for the beer...after the degreeing is done.

[VintageMusclecar]

It's really not that hard. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

All you'll need to do is mount the degree wheel to the balancer, verify TDC, remove the rockers on #1 and make a set-up to mount a dial indicator on #1 intake pushrod.

Do you have a degree wheel and a dial indicator?

[VintageMusclecar]

Follow-up to the above post:

HERE are the easiest, clearest instructions I know of on how to degree a camshaft.

[njsteve]

I ordered up a degree wheel kit. Should be here tomorrow.