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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: 327power on August 02, 2010, 10:47:18 pm

Title: 350 Timing Question
Post by: 327power on August 02, 2010, 10:47:18 pm

Hi!, It's been a while but I got my new Goodwrench 350 running finally, but when I hook up the timing light to the #1 piston, no marks show up! If I hook it up to #8 piston, then I see the timing mark on the balancer. Now we know that #8 is the second to fire after #1. What is going on?
Also, the engine is shaky at idle even though I've tuned the Holley 600 the best I can. Any assistance would be awesome. Thanks!

Title: Re: 350 Timing Question
Post by: frotosride on August 02, 2010, 11:11:21 pm

I know it sucks to hear this but it sounds like #1 isn't firing. The shaking is prob #1 not pulling it's weight. Check the wires plug and pull the plug out to see if it's firing.

Title: Re: 350 Timing Question
Post by: cruisinc10 on August 03, 2010, 09:48:30 am

sounds like a problem w/ the distibutor

Title: Re: 350 Timing Question
Post by: Grim 82 on August 03, 2010, 10:23:51 am

You can use your timing light to check for spark in the wires up to the plugs. Clip it on each wire and make sure it strobes. Remove and check all of the plugs. If the plugs are all good and the timing light strobes on all 8 wires, go and re-check TDC. Verify that the dist is in right. Find TDC #1 cylinder and make sure the rotor is pointed at it, and confirm it with the mark on the balancer. Then check and triple check your firing order with the wires.

Title: Re: 350 Timing Question
Post by: 327power on August 03, 2010, 02:23:04 pm

The distributor seems to be in right. How could you put it in wrong and have it running? It is a jegs distributor.

Title: Re: 350 Timing Question
Post by: Grim 82 on August 03, 2010, 02:46:30 pm

Check and recheck the wire location (firing order). Make sure you don't have any wires switched. I don't know if it would run if it was 180 off, but you can pull #1 plug and make sure its TDC on the compression stroke, not the exhaust stroke. It could be a tooth off. There's 8 cylinders but 12 teeth on the gear.

Title: Re: 350 Timing Question
Post by: bake74 on August 04, 2010, 06:20:55 pm

  Let's just hope the camshaft and crank got lined up right when the motor was put together.

Title: Re: 350 Timing Question
Post by: Lt.Del on August 04, 2010, 06:29:50 pm

Quote

Let's just hope the camshaft and crank got lined up right when the motor was put together.

I was thinking that myself, Bake, but, i figured, seeing that it is a Goodwrench engine, i'd think the techs putting it together could line up the two dots, but, as with anything touched by humans, mistakes can happen.