big block starting issues (update I am such an idiot)

[72hemi]

Ok for whatever reason I have a problem with my big block starting. I know it is getting gas, I can see it shooting out the carb, its getting air, and I have spark, and yet it won't start. I am like 99% certain that the timing is within a couple of degrees. Anyone have any ideas what my problem is?

[Chryco Psycho]

Strat checking everything over , you
missed something , it is chugging like it is trying ot start or just turning over , is the dist 180* out , is the rotor in the dist , is the firing order right

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Is it flooding?

[ntstlgl1970]

What happened before this, were you working on any part of the car? or did you just come out one morning and it wouldn't start. If it just happened for no reason I would have to wonder about flooding myself like MEK said. If you had it apart, then like what CP said. You said you had fuel and spark, how did you check the spark and was the spark blue or yellow? If spark is blue, pull a plug (or many) and see if they are wet. With the crappy gas we have in Ca. it can make cold starts tough if the choke/mixture is off.

[72hemi]

The engine is chugging. This is the first time we have this engine in this car.

[RDF]

Sounds silly, but check the Rotor under the distrib cap.  When I replaced mine, I didn't push the rotor on all the way and the motor "sounded" like it wanted to fire, but never did.  Low and behold, I backtracked and found out the rotor wasn't on correctly.  fixed it and she fired right up.

Just my 

[ntstlgl1970]

  with CP and RDF start with the basics.

crank the engine till tdc compression #1 cylinder
confirm rotor is all the way on and pointing at #1
make sure the firing order is correct and the wires are arranged on the cap going in counterclockwise rotation for a big block
if you don't have a timing light, you can use a test light on the negative of the ignition coil to set the base timing (ballpark) cranking the engine over - let me know and I can explain this further
make sure there are no vacuum leaks anywhere
does the choke work right
is the gas fresh - newer gas goes stale much faster than the older formulations

[72hemi]

Firing order is correct, and the distributor is in right, gas is also less than a week old. I will go pick up a new rotor today, since they are cheap and I am using a used one at the moment.

[ntstlgl1970]

Lettuce know what happens

[MEK-Dangerfield]

The engine is chugging. This is the first time we have this engine in this car.

While it's chugging, are you getting black smoke out of the exhaust?


  Mike

[72hemi]

I dont know if anything is coming out the pipes or not, but I think that the lifters might be collapsed, and until they get pumped back up arent letting enough in to fire properly. We tried again tonight and we got a lot closer to an actual start but still nothing. We will try again tomorrow.

[72hemi]

I can't believe it, I have never in my life put a mopar distributor in backwards. but that is what i did on this one. Car runs good now, thanks for the tips. I was positive that I had the distributor in right, first time for everything.

[ntstlgl1970]

Be happy at least that is all it was!

happens to everyone - no big deal

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Gald you got it sorted out 

[moper]

My close friends for years ragged on me and called me king 180... I did that on like 3 of my own builds in a row...I think that's where I got my liking to be alone when I fire things up now....lol.