Timing help

[David Vandercook]

Well, I replaced my timing chain over the weekend and got it all back together this evening. I started it up, it ran, but it ran a bit rough and made scratchy noises. I pulled the distributor to check the timing, it looked pretty good though. I forgot how to put the spark plug wires back on though, so I looked for a diagram and used that. I followed it exactly, I double checked several times. But it won't start now. Was the diagram wrong, or should I check something else?

 

[David Vandercook]

Update
I checked the firing order charts again and I am certain that I'm right, unless I'm wrong about which position on the distributor is 1. I started with one on the socket closest to the front of the engine, I think that's how I had it before. I tested each cylinder individually, they all fire. However, it still won't start. It fires, I dumped some gas straight into the intake, and it fired, but didn't start. What is wrong?
Thanks

 

[Yardbird]

Make sure your rotor is pointing to #1 on the dist cap when the timing mark is on TDC on #1 compression stroke. It's easy to jump a tooth or 10 when the dist is removed.

 

[David Vandercook]

Dang, that's my problem. I checked it, and it's 180 degrees off

 

[David Vandercook]

Never mind, I checked it again, and this time the rotor is pointing right at number one. Still won't start, and I am confused about why it was 180 degrees off last time.

 

[Yardbird]

One revolution will be on compression stroke, the other revolution will not. The rotor has to point to #1 when the cylinder is on compression stroke.

Pull #1 plug. As you turn the engine, over air will rush out of #1 as it's coming up on TDC compression stroke, but won't if it isn't.

 

[David Vandercook]

Alright, so when I have it at TDC on the compression stroke the harmonic balancer mark lines up, the distributor points right, when I hooked up a timing light and spun the distributor cap it fired on cylinder one like it should have, but it still won't start.

 

[Yardbird]

Try advancing the timing a bit with the distributor. Go about 1/4", then keep trying 1/4" at a time until you get about 3/4" from where you started. To advance, you move the distributor the opposite way the rotor is turning. That should eliminate ignition timing as the problem.

If you are getting backfire into the intake, move the timing the opposite way.

 

[Yardbird]

Also, make sure the plug wires are in correct order, moving around the distributor the same way the rotor is turning when cranking over. It's easy to get confused and put them in the opposite direction.

Where does it sound like the scratchy noises you heard are coming from? Hopefully not the timing cover area.

 

[David Vandercook]

Try advancing the timing a bit with the distributor. Go about 1/4", then keep trying 1/4" at a time until you get about 3/4" from where you started. To advance, you move the distributor the opposite way the rotor is turning. That should eliminate ignition timing as the problem.

If you are getting backfire into the intake, move the timing the opposite way.

I am getting backfire. When I pump the gas pedal flames shoot out.

 

[David Vandercook]

Also, make sure the plug wires are in correct order, moving around the distributor the same way the rotor is turning when cranking over. It's easy to get confused and put them in the opposite direction.

Where does it sound like the scratchy noises you heard are coming from? Hopefully not the timing cover area.

I don't think it was the timing cover area. I felt around and couldn't quite locate it, but I later found out that my choke cable wasn't working, so it might have just been that it was cold without choke.

 

[armyvet25]

backfire = timing off, intake valves open when they should be closed

 

[Hagar1]

A couple of things ........ first of all, the firing order on a 318 is 1,8,4,3,6,5,7,2. Second thing is ..... the distributor can be put in 1 of 2 ways. Like others have said. make sure of where the rotor tip is pointing TDC on compression stroke. If for some reason the oil pump was changed, that brings a whole new level of complexity into this discussion.

 

[David Vandercook]

Got it running! The distributor was 180 off.

 

[Yardbird]

That's good to hear. Getting 180 off is easy to do.

 

[Hagar1]

That's good to hear. Getting 180 off is easy to do.

Yup! The nice thing about Mopar small blocks is that there are only 2 ways to install a distributor, the right way and 180 degree wrong way. Now, if someone was doing a full tear down and rebuild, brings up a whole new discussion.