[wagonmaster]

My son in a hurry to get his 77 Lemans running. Hooked up the battery in reverse. He tried to start it also. He tried a different battery with nothing. No lights or anything. This was all while I was at work, so I haven't been over to check anything.

What if anything could be damaged by this mistake?

Thanks

Tim

[Grand73Am]

According to my 75 Lemans wiring diagram(77 is probably the same), there are 2 fusible links connected to 3 wires coming from the back of the alternator. One is a 10 gauge wire and the other a 12 gauge wire, and a 3rd wire is 14 gauge, and all are colored black/red striped. They supply power to the rest of the car, so hopefully those 2 fusible links blew and protected the rest of your wiring and switches. So, I'd check those wires first.

[wagonmaster]

Thanks, Steve. I will check that once I get over to the car.

Tim

[beertracker]

If it's a HEI I could check the module inside the distributor as it may have been zapped. bt

[wagonmaster]

I did wound up replacing the fuseable links. The starter was a PITA. But she turns over but battery was not up to 100%. It is charging now. may give it a go maybe tomorrow. may pull the module and check it at work.

Tim

[wagonmaster]

My son purchased a new battery. It cranks but doesn't fire with out a dose of ether. Then it pops a little through the exhaust and carb. I know that GM used nylon teeth on the timing set on some motors, Does anyone know if the 77 Olds 350 used them? I wonder if that is why the car was parked in the first place. Normally people don't just park a car in a lot if it is running great.
I still haven't checked the module yet.
I appreciate all the help.

Tim

[camerjeff]

As far as I know all the BOP V8's used the Nylon timing gear, I just changed the cam on my 78 Buick 350 and it still had the original plastic coated timing gear.

But if it wont start without starting fluid are you sure you are getting fuel? The stock mechanical fuel pumps don't like modern gas.

[wagonmaster]

It wouldn't even run with the starting fluid. just pop. I am planning on checking to see if the timing chain did jump. I am also looking to pull the valve covers just to see if there is any problems there, IE bent valves. The fuel pump is brand new but may not have been put in right, my son did it on his own.

Tim

[wagonmaster]

Well Today We took a known good carb( right off my 71 Buick Sportwagon) and put it on my son's Lemans. Cranking all it does is pop though the carb. I am feeling that the motor is toast. Something is wrong in the timing system. But checking the timing TDC lines up with timing mark on the balancer. Now it is up to him, he has 3 options, 1: rebuild the original Olds motor. 2: Find a Poncho motor for it. and 3: since it already has a corporate GM motor in it. Drop an LS in it.

Tim

[Grand73Am]

Might be worth pulling the timing cover, check the gears and chain, make sure they're good and lined up correctly, and make sure #1 piston is at true top dead center, just make sure everything is synchronized like it should be. An old balancer can have a slipped outer ring, and the timing mark isn't in the right place, so sometimes can't depend on the mark. Just a possibility. So, I think I'd make sure all the timing events are right before giving up on the engine.

[Txbobcat]

My brother in law did the same on a 64 impala. It turned over kind of slow but started and ran kind of slow. He asked me to check it. When I popped the hood the exhaust manifolds were red hot. I saw the problem switched cables and everything was OK. I believe the motor was running backwards.

[wagonmaster]

To bring up the latest. Now that my son is back to normal. He had some medical issues. and the weather warmed up. He has had the Carb professionally rebuilt. Checked the control module it is good. Made sure everything is right. still not running when cranking she seems to want to run but won't kick over. I even tried turning the dist. no luck. I am thinking those timing gears are toast. with just enough tension on them to move the cam and dist but not in the right timing for her to run. Does it seem like we are barking up the right tree?

Tim

[Scott Thelander]

take the distibutor cap off

rock the crank pulley back and forth
the slop you feel is the timing chain snuggin up to the cam gear
and back n forth

actually just jack up the front a bit and put blocks or jack stands under
and chock the front and rear tires
in park with emergency brake on

put on some gloves

climb under
rock the lower pulley back n forth
if it moves more than 3/8's inch before getting hard to move
you need chain and gears
cut open the old oil filter for a debris check

hopefully you can get past the shroud

scott

why was it parked ??
what was the last issues with the car
did it get towed home?

[wagonmaster]

He was told that the owner lost interest and the fact that the parking paul was broken so no park. I was told the same way to check if the timing gears where gone. By a retired mechanic at work. So that is the next check. If so the fun begins yanking apart the front of the motor.

Tim