Just finished 351w rebuild and cant start car
#1
I cant get the engine to start. When I turn on the ignition, the engine turns but does not go on. I got spark by pulling a plug and holding it next to manifold while someone else turned the engine on. I also smell fule in my edelbrock 1406 carb and see fuel when i hit the gas pedel. compression is about 150 on 1st cylinder. So i have compression, spark and fuel. Also point gap was .17 which is correct.

I did notice when i pulled the spark plugs that they were completely dry. I assumed I should have some fule on them. I'm thinking that maybe the carb is not sending fuel to the plugs. Any advise would be appreciated?
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#2
If you have spark at the spark plugs, compression, and fuel spraying out the accelerator pump nozzles when you open the throttle, about the only thing left is ignition timing.

- Set number 1 cylinder to TDC on compression (not overlap) and align the timing pointer on the timing cover to the 10 deg. BTDC mark on the harmonic balancer. You can use the TDC mark, but since the ignition timing will be set close to 10 deg BTDC I find it better to align the timing pointer to 10 deg BTDC.

- Then, verify the distributor rotor is pointing at number 1 spark plug wire terminal. That should be close enough. If anything, its safer to advance it a little than retard it. Some people go further and static time it by connecting a test light from the negative side of the coil to ground. With the key on and the dist clamp loose rotate the housing until the test light comes on. At that instant the points opened.

Make certain you are using the 351W firing order, 13726548, unless somebody installed a 289-302 camshaft with a firing order of 15426378.

Sometimes it takes a while to get fuel into the cylinders on initial start up.

If everything above is okay and still no start, I would look into the spark being strong enough. Cylinder pressure increases resistance for current to jump the gap on the spark plugs. So spark outside the cylinder most often but doesn't always mean spark inside the cylinder. There are test spark plugs with large gaps to compensate for cylinder pressure when checking for spark. There are several things that can cause weak spark, bad coil, resistor bypass wire bad or missing, bad spark plug wires, are only a few.

Let us know what happens.

Regards,
Mike
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#3
Mike has given you a great run down.

The usual issue will be timing in some form. Off 180 or wrong firing order. I recently heard of someone sealing their intake so that nothing fell into it while installing the motor and then forgetting to take the tape off before installing the carb. It happens:) Review your process, take a deep breath - it'll come to you.

Here's hoping that you are currently rejoicing and will check back in with the good news of all is well!
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#4
I'm curious if he got it running. It's usually minor things creating difficulty on initial start up.

Regards,
Mike
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#5
i'll be working on it on thursday. ran out of time and need to go to work. i'll post results
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#6
Hey guys, I got it to start easy. We incorrectly set the timing to ATDC because we forgot to check rotation. After aligning to 6* BTDC she started right up like a champ. Thanks for all the help. Next step will be to install new super comp hooker headers.
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#7
Great news! I thought it was something simple. If the stock exhaust manifolds are still on the motor, go ahead and do the initial break in with them on. I only mention that because sometimes during initial break in the engine runs hotter and will damage the ceramic coating on the headers. I've seen it happen.

Regards,
Mike
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#8
Good news.

Mike has given you a great tip above.
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