Hey Guys

I have bought a 1971 350 Olds engine from a delta 88, I have take the engine and placed it snug in my 78 Trans Am. the Engine had sat for a year or so out of the car before I bought it, I was told the engine worked fine before it was removed and I trust him.

I replaced the 2 barrel manifold and carb with a 403 intake and the Q-jet from my T/A which both work fine. I also replaced the dizzy points to HEI from a working 403, new plugs and wires although the plugs are for the 350 with a points dizzy. I also put on a Carter Electric fuel pump(still have the mechanical one). Changed the oil and all the filters.

Problem:
Its all now hooked up. I crank the engine over but it never fires, am getting a spark at Cyl #1 on the compression stroke and the timing is 10degress BTDC. Am getting fuel to the carb, I can see it in the clear fuel filter.

When I crank it i sometimes get a misty spray firing through the carb not sure if its fuel or not? And I've had smoke come through it but not sure if the timing was correct at the time.

With the dizzy can i drop it in any rotation I want as long as the rotor lines up with cyl #1 on the cap when am on the #1 compression stroke?

How long and hoe hard should it take to start an engine that has been sitting for a year?


I know theres a lot here but if anyone shed some light on any of these points that would be great.


Cheers
Stu

Hey Guys

I have bought a 1971 350 Olds engine from a delta 88, I have take the engine and placed it snug in my 78 Trans Am. the Engine had sat for a year or so out of the car before I bought it, I was told the engine worked fine before it was removed and I trust him.

I replaced the 2 barrel manifold and carb with a 403 intake and the Q-jet from my T/A which both work fine. I also replaced the dizzy points to HEI from a working 403, new plugs and wires although the plugs are for the 350 with a points dizzy. I also put on a Carter Electric fuel pump(still have the mechanical one). Changed the oil and all the filters.

Problem:
Its all now hooked up. I crank the engine over but it never fires, am getting a spark at Cyl #1 on the compression stroke and the timing is 10degress BTDC. Am getting fuel to the carb, I can see it in the clear fuel filter.

When I crank it i sometimes get a misty spray firing through the carb not sure if its fuel or not? And I've had smoke come through it but not sure if the timing was correct at the time.

With the dizzy can i drop it in any rotation I want as long as the rotor lines up with cyl #1 on the cap when am on the #1 compression stroke?

How long and hoe hard should it take to start an engine that has been sitting for a year?


I know theres a lot here but if anyone shed some light on any of these points that would be great.


Cheers
Stu

If you have air, fuel and spark, and the spark happens at nearly the right time, it should at least cough and sputter, or run somewhat.

There is the most remote chance that the timing chain was loose (nylon gear on camshaft from factory) when engine was laid up and that the chain has slipped. One or two teeth should still at least fire the engine a bit. But more than a couple teeth off, the compression would be very low in all cylinders, like below 90 psi, at which point it will not run.

Pop out the #1 plug and take a compression reading. If over 100 psi, set that cylinder at TDC, then re-check distributor position for that cylinder.

Also, make certain you are setting spark plug cables on distributor for the correct rotation for an Olds engine. If in doubt, after setting distributor at #1, crank engine with distributor cap off to verify direction of rotation. Then make certain wires are on in the correct direction.

Good luck!

id double check to make sure your dist. isnt 180 out, and that your valvetrain is adjusted correctly and working. shouldnt take more than a couple revolutions to fire if you have fuel in cyls and spark. coughing out carb with any mist or smoke would be from the motor turnin backwards when you stop cranking it or cam out of time