rebuilt 305 wont run

[Layne]

just put my 305 in and got it to turn over.  We moved the distrubutor left and right and found a spot that it would start to run and then hiccup a fireball out of the carb. anywhere else and it would shoot fireballs out of the headers.  I then took out the distributer and rotated it 180 degrees and... nothing.  It's got a lunati bracket master 2 cam, gear drive, non computer dis, edelbrock rpm air gap nascar intake and a holley 750 i got for 100 dollars. (I couldn't talk my girlfriend into letting me get a eddi 500 for 350 dollars.) Any ideas? I think it might be the cam timing, but i checked it 9 times before i put the motor in my truck.

[Layne]

77 c-10 82 305 86 700r4

[VileZambonie]

Sounds like you were off a tooth. Put it on TDC compression and reinstall the distributor.

[Lt.Del]

or....double check spark plug wires to ensure installed in proper order...18436572

[Layne]

can't you compensate for the ign timing by twisting the dis? I'm kinda confused with the tooth thing. Sorry. lol

[Layne]

checked and quadruple checked

[VileZambonie]

No, So start over and line up tdc compression.

[Layne]

set the distributer in and timed it at 8 degrees and it still won't run.  Is it supposed to be at 0 or 8 when you first start out?

[Captkaos]

Drop it in with #1 on TDC and leave some room for advance,
Set timing at 10 degrees and work you way around from there.  It will probably hit around 12 degrees for a stock motor.

[exilous]

I had that same problem in my 85 blazer 305 it was 1 tooth off but if i cranked the distributor way out it would just barely run...then uhm well it just stopped and wouldnt run anymore...I was still learning about it the day i got it home i figured out the whole tooth off thing after the engine died.

[Layne]

rockers were too tight! lol loosened them up and I got compression. should have checked the compression earlier! Thanks for the help though.

[1976Scottsdale]

rockers were too tight! lol loosened them up and I got compression. should have checked the compression earlier! Thanks for the help though.

Gotta watch those.  Otherwise that bracket master will be coming right back out.  Its not even fun til the lobes flatten so bad that the valves start opening on the back side of the lobe... still get nightmares... Mommy!?!

[Layne]

today i went to break the cam in and i started out at 80 oil psi and 4min later i had 20... I killed the truck and looked underneath and I've got all five quarts on the ground!!! So i looked around and found the front of the intake is leaking a litte oil and so is my rocker cover.  I looked behind the motor and oil is everywhere.  Which would be more likely- the back of the intake or the rear main?  If it is the rear main do I have to pull the motor or can i get the pan out without pulling my engine?

[eventhorizon66]

Did you use the cork end seals on the intake or RTV?  I use TheRightStuff RTV (about a 3/8" bead) and have no issues with leakage.  Grab a new set of intake gaskets and try that first.  If you do have to drop the pan, you can do it with the engine in the truck no problem, I did this not too long ago.

[Layne]

i used a cam change kit from mr gasket i think. edelbrock said not to use the rubber end seals on the intake and just glob a bead through there. I used rtv red.