65 i6 230 help needed

[blackbird65]

Ok guys so I replaced the timing gear because it went out on me. I have lined up the marks on the new camshaft gear with the crank shaft gear as best as I could. I put the engine on TDC and set the distributor to run on one. This all worked and it fired up. When I went to set the ignition timing and turned the distributor it dies out on me. Now it won't hardly start even if I put it back where it was. I can get it to run for a second and then it dies out.

Any ideas or suggestions on how to get it running?

[63burban]

Might be 180 degrees off, double check TDC

[blackbird65]

180 degrees off on the static timing?

[63burban]

Yup, very common mistake

[68gmsee]

You mentioned it fired right up when you first cranked it. Did it run for longer than a few seconds? If it did, then it's not the timing unless something broke.

I'd check the TDC again in case that happened. Make sure #1 plug is on the compression stroke by removing the plug and feeling for compression before rechecking.

If all that looks good again, check the fuel pump output into a plastic container -app 1 pint in 30 seconds or less or 1/2 pint of gas in 15 seconds.

Try pouring a little trickle of gas in the carb throat while cranking to see if it will run. Use care cause it may backfire through the carb on you.

[blackbird65]

It ran for ten or fifteen minutes. Thanks will try what you suggested.

[68gmsee]

Forgot to mention.... Once you start feeling compression with your finger, insert a thin wooden, plastic dowel or something similar and slowly continue moving the engine by hand until you feel the piston is at exact top of cylinder. You should be able to see it on your six also.

Couple of other tricks I use. On a manual transmission, once the piston is close to the top and you have trouble turning the engine, you can place the transmission in second or third gear and slowly push on the vehicle. It will move the engine.

Once you get to TDC and the rotor pointing to #1 plug cable, leave the spark plug out or insert a spare in the cable. Turn the key to "on" then hold the spark plug to engine ground and rotate the distributor by hand back and forth. You should see a spark at the spark plug. If you don't, recheck the distributor points if you have them to make sure they're adjusted properly and all connections inside are tight. Also, check for burn marks on the rotor.