87 p/u won't start

[Irish_Alley]

so that would eliminate timing. i would unplug the injectors and see if you can run it briefly of starting fluid.

[Tjerica1201]

I have tried that as well.  cranking occasionally stalls when I do that.

[Irish_Alley]

does it keep running as long as you keep spraying the starting fluid?

[78BIG-TEN]

As far as water in the fuel I was speaking of fuel filter.If water is there then go to the tank.Cheap ignition rotors would burn through the center and spark would go to distributor shaft,least path of resistance.Tracking in the cap is possible,look for small squiggly black lines from the wire posts.Also any moisture in there will \can cause a no start with occasional backfire either through exhaust or intake.All basic stuff to check before you get to deep in it.always check the basics first,can save a lot of time

[Tjerica1201]

It doesn't start on the starting fluid.  The starting fluid causes the cranking to "choke" and stall the cranking.

As far as water in the fuel, I still havnt ruled that out. That's pretty much the only thing simple thing left. One of my fuel pumps is bad so I've got another coming from summit and will put that in and a fuel filter. Will completely drain the tank at the same time. If that fixes the issue, I'll drain the good pump tank as well.

I do not recal seeing any black wiggle lines, but I've replaced the cap and rotor so the old ones are easy access. I'll take a closer look at them when I get home.

Any other things I can check while I'm waiting on this pump to come in?

[78BIG-TEN]

You mean when you use the fluid the engine stops turning or tries to kick back?

[Captkaos]

Pour some gas "SAFELY" down the intake move the the source well away and try to crank it.  Sounds like bad gas...

You can pull a hose off the back of the throttle body and turn the power on/off a number of times and fill a jar and let it settle overnight then check the separation,

[Tjerica1201]

Yes big ten, that's exactly what's it's doing. I guess that when referring to engines choke is the wrong word for this situation. Kick back is a much better description.

I am currently swapping the pump. Prior to dropping the tank, I have siphoned the gas into a clear jar and it doesn't show any water.

I have tried dropping good gas down the tbi.  Nothing changes.

[78BIG-TEN]

Starting problem probably coming from being out of time or moisture inside distributor cap or possibly crossed plug wires.Pull cap and look for small beads of moisture,if there spray it out with wd40,reinstall and try to start

[Tjerica1201]

Ok I will give that a go tomorrow after I finish with the pump

[Dr_Snooz]

Someone has to help me understand how bad gas would cause backfiring out the intake. As far as I know, that's a timing problem but maybe there's something I don't understand.

[Irish_Alley]

i dont understand how when he parked it years ago it ran fine .and somehow the timing gets screwed up with no one messing with it. the weights could get siezed but that wouldnt cause it to not start. but maybe it has spark just a weak spark

[78BIG-TEN]

I'm still leaning on condensation in the cap.Only takes 5 minutes to check,what 2 screws and your there

[Tjerica1201]

Again, the truck hasn't been sitting for years.  I don't know why this keeps coming up. I never at any point said that it did.

As far as moisture in the cap, I've already replaced it with a new one and rotor as well.

I've now replaced the pump and drained the fuel and put fresh gas it. No change.

I've tested the ohms of a few of the plug wires. I'm getting 6-8 kilohms. I've testd a couple msd wires off my suburban and they read 0. The wires on the truck are nothing special.  you think that could be the problem?

I'm gunna drop the dizzy out of my 88 k5 in it next weekend and see if that does te trick. Unless someone here can walk me through troubleshooting it befor I pull it out.

 Any other ideas befor I dive into that headache??

[Irish_Alley]

Its been sitting 5 years and with the old fuel still in it.

but then you said

It's not been sitting for 5 years. Motor was rebuilt 5 yrs ago. I drive it all the time. It sat for a month when these problems started. Water in the gas is a distinct possibility. I will drain and refuel and see if that works.
As far as knowing the timing is correct, I'm putting the timing light on it while im cranking it. Is this not a correct method of checking it for the current situation?  At #1 TDC, rotor points forwardish.  Leans a little tward drivers side, so #1 plug.  So 180 out isn't not the culprit, right?

Thanks for the help guys, keep the advice coming.

but to clear things up you said it sat for a month since the problems started. are you saying, last month it wouldnt start and now its been a month or ar you saying it started screwing up for a month and its been sitting since?

when the problems started did it just stop running or did it act up to bad to drive and now it wont start?