'29 timing

ok , another question please . i have a '31 4 banger . just back from a rear main fix .
timed it 40 times (or so) , checked all marks , etc . wont start & if & when it does it only runs poorly for a few seconds & die's . if , when it is trying to run , if i touch the throttle it die's . i am at a loss as to what im doing wrong . any help appreciated ... steve
 
Spark and fuel, all you need. Marco's site has excellent timing procedure, ck for fuel at carb, also unscrew the gas cap. Others will chime in I'm sure.
Paul in CT
 
im putting new points/condenser in this morning . i was told to do a compression test to see if the cam is in time . thanks for your ideas . anymore are appreciated . thank you .. steve
 
steve norcal: Let's back up. Before the rear main fix, was this engine running? What else was done when apart? Also ck for vac leak at manifolds if they were off. Give us a little more to work with, please.
Paul in CT
 
ok , it is my only car & my DAILY driver . always runs good as i do weekly maintainance . love the lil 4 banger . the rear main seal was all that was done . had to loosen the crank to change the top half . this is a chevy rear main seal . cant get it to run , so cant check alot .
this morning i did a compression test , all was fine . but maybe found my battery is getting weak . going to get it tested . will let you all know . i can still use ideas if the battery is not the problem .
it is kinda funny that it would sorta run , but not really . more fun with the awesome "A" !! ............. thanks all . need more info , please ask .......... steve
 
going to get my battery back this morning . hope that fixes my lil problem ..... steve
 
steve norcal said:
ok , another question please . i have a '31 4 banger . just back from a rear main fix .
timed it 40 times (or so) , checked all marks , etc . wont start & if & when it does it only runs poorly for a few seconds & die's . if , when it is trying to run , if i touch the throttle it die's . i am at a loss as to what im doing wrong . any help appreciated ... steve
Click to expand...

It sure sounds like a fuel problem. After you attempt to start it using the choke and it doesn't fire, does it dump a bunch of gas out the mouth of the carb? If there is no spillage then it's s fuel problem. If there is gas on the floor then it's NOT a fuel problem.
 
thank you marco . i had that thought also , but the float bowl is always full when i check it . i do have a fuel pump on board . this i will check today as i have help ..... thank you .... steve
 
bagpiper , im sorry if i hijacked your thread . it was not intentional . did you get your 29 fixed ?? ........................ steve
 
marco , i am running a 97 downdraft . no fuel on the floor . also my battery was not the problem , so taking the fuel system apart today . thank you .. steve
 
fuel system good . timing dead on , no start again . will run crappy for a few seconds then dies ......... need a few more ideas on what im doing wrong please ........ steve

***** or a good mechanic unlike me !
 
ok , big question : IF , when he changed the mains , had the crank loose , if he missed timing by 1 tooth would this be a possibility ?? can it be made up in the distributor cam ? ........ thanks again ........... steve
 
steve norcal said:
ok , big question : IF , when he changed the mains , had the crank loose , if he missed timing by 1 tooth would this be a possibility ?? can it be made up in the distributor cam ? ........ thanks again ........... steve
Click to expand...

Spark timing could be made up, but not the cam timing, so it still wouldn't work right.

With a dial indicator you can find piston TDC, then see if the cam dimple is in the correct spot by the timing pin dropping in at piston TDC.
 
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