freshly rebuilt sbc will not start

[toddtheodd]

Originally Posted by Longhorn 70

Wouldn't it be funky if the distributor cap was one of the Accel "corrected" caps? Like this one Corrected Distributor Cap

Never seen that before...
Why do the numbers go weird on the wired do you think? 1,3,7,5 on one side and 8,4,2,6 on the other.
Figured it would at least be 1,3,5,7 and 2,4,6,8...

[Rustoholic55]

Start over. Pull all of the spark plugs, and valve cover over #1 cylinder. Turn engine over by hand, watching the valves open and close on #1 cyl. Put your finger over the #1 spark plug hole. You should feel compression pushing your finger out on compression stroke. When the intake valve closes, you will be very close to TDC. Pull the dizzy cap, and see if the rotor is pointed at #1. If not, pull the dizzy and reset.

[Davidf]

I think the "spark" essential element is missing. I would start considering BOOB parts. Happened to me when I rebuilt a Corvair. I replaced every ignition component with new parts and could not get the engine to start. Turned out to be a bad coil (or was it condenser...can't remember). Point is, just because it is new does not mean it is good.

BOOB = Bad Out Of Box.

[Longhorn 70]

I have also had a bad tach kill an ignition on a points distributor. This one is HEI that owner says it does have spark. Whether the spark happens at the right time and in the right sequence is another question.

[davepl]

Start over and don't guess. Find TDC properly. Align the rotor tab with the cap. Set initial timing. Check fuel pressure during cranking to ensure it's not blowing past the needle and seat and flooding it. Put an inline spark check tool (five bucks) inline to verify you're actually getting spark.

It's kinda hard to help when someone says they KNOW everything is right but it doesn't run, after all...

My entire frameoff fired on the first revolution not because I'm so smart, but because I'm so afraid of mistakes.

[toddtheodd]

Stupid question, but how do you know the timing is set correctly if the engine hasn't been fired up?
Kinda hard to set the timing perfectly with the engine not running...

[Rustoholic55]

Any luck JP?

[chopnchaneled]

Inquiring minds need to know? Hope your out riding around?

[motorcritter]

Make certain you're at #1 TDC, and set up the wires accordingly. Also, inspect the balancer carefully- it can be the source of much misery. Just went through this on the '72 Cheyenne BB. The HEI was easy, the nasty damper was annoying- I could get it to start and run by messing with the distributor, but the timing wouldn't stay consistent. The balance fell apart when I dropped it on the pavement.
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[jimmye]

Had same problem, mine was no. 2 chevytruckluver, I was almost sure I had it correct , but when putting the cap on and button pointing right , when I was sluding it in place it turn a little and I did not notice it , upon rechecking I saw it wasn't pointing to No.1 , Make sure it points after it down . My guess here is the problem.
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[Longhorn 70]

You get that thing running yet JP?

[chopnchaneled]

Still wondering and hoping he out riding around?

[chevy2inreno]

I fought a similar problem last summer with a new engine. Checked everything mentioned above at least twice. My problem was the valves needed to be adjusted a little bit looser on start up. Once running, readjusted valves and ran great. Drove me crazy for over a month.

[WarMonger]

I'm hoping you will come back and tell us she's up and running. I hate problems like this.

[colgad]

Do you have a full 12V going to the HEI? Some times the old resistor used in the old points distributor gets left in the circuit. The HEI needs full 12V to operate.
Hope you find whatever the issue is