Ugh, today was stressful

"Bandit" (2bandit) 10/27/2013 at 21:12 • Filed to: emma

1

19

I got a lot of sputtering and backfires but it hasn't started yet. I'm not sure, but I feel as though my fuel pump (mechanical) is not getting as much fuel as it should to the carb. I fear I have been cranking too much. I had to stop working for the night, there are little girls sleeping next door and I assume their parents would not be too happy about a half hour of muffler-less engine break in. Also, all my garage help for today decided they had better stuff to do and my brother decided he wanted to shoot me with his airsoft gun while I was working under the car.

Dunnik > Bandit 10/27/2013 at 21:14

0

:/

Keep at it. Probably the fuel mixture as you suspect. A little more trial and error and you may get it.

Bandit > Dunnik 10/27/2013 at 21:16

0

Yeah, it is like the pump isn't getting much fuel to the filter at all.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Bandit 10/27/2013 at 21:23

3

Just hang in there, and pray to Saint Bertrille. Works for me every time

Somethingwittyer likes noisy > Bandit 10/27/2013 at 21:23

0

Sucks. Is the sputtering knocking or is it too vague sounding too know?

Bandit > Somethingwittyer likes noisy 10/27/2013 at 21:26

0

The sputtering sound I am getting is the sound an engine makes when it is trying to fire up but the timing is off or it isn't getting enough fuel. Probably both in my case.

Somethingwittyer likes noisy > Bandit 10/27/2013 at 21:26

0

Oops. Case of TL;DR.

BJohnson11 > Bandit 10/27/2013 at 21:34

0

Make sure timing is on? You ought to read my post on setting initial timing.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Once you have that set, make sure that when you first start the engine, you have to vacuum port that runs from the carb to the distributor (assuming you have a vacuum advance dizzzy) blocked. You set base timing with no vacuum advance, because once there is a load on the engine, timing changes.

Other than that, if the mech pump wasn't an issue before, it shouldn't be an issue now. Step back, and go through the steps. Fuel, spark, air. Spark can be checked by pulling a plug, timing confirmed by the write up, and fuel can be next.

Deep breath. It'll allll be fine.

Bandit > BJohnson11 10/27/2013 at 21:40

0

Ok, so block the vac port. That's one thing I did wrong. I read your write up, sadly I don't have any "put distributor in this direction" marks on my manifold or distributor (new cam, distributor, and new manifold). It is quite hard to get base timing, my distributor can't spin 360 degrees when in the proper location, the firewall, intake, and heads get in the way. I have no clue on the pump, it came with the engine. I checked and I do have spark.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Bandit 10/27/2013 at 21:51

0

Have you checked your fuel lines? You could just have a kink somewhere.

Bandit > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/27/2013 at 22:01

0

Yep, all lines are clear.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Bandit 10/27/2013 at 22:04

0

Clear fuel filter? Is the gas in the tank any good? That car looks like it's been sitting for a while.

Bandit > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/27/2013 at 22:07

0

Brand new filter, the gas is only 4 months old. I'll double check all that again tomorrow though, can't hurt anything.

AutoSavant > Bandit 10/27/2013 at 22:08

0

Make sure you're at TDC on the compression stroke. You'll know you're on the compression stroke by the puff of air that will come out of the spark plug hole as the engine comes around. Verify the rotor is pointing close to #1 cylinder terminal on the cap. Check for spark by using a plug tester or old school by pulling a plug, re-attaching it to the plug wire and grounding the body of the plug to the engine somewhere. Spark should be blueish. Don't do this near gas. Fire's not good on the outside of an engine. Once you have that stuff checked off the list, put a pressure gauge on the fuel line to make sure gas is pumping. A cheap vacuum gauge will work, as long as it will read 5-7 psi of positive pressure too. If the engine doesn't fire, verify you're not 180 degrees out on your distributor. You can usually tell if you're way off if the car backfires through the carb and makes a "huffing" sound. If' you're confident in spark, timing, and fuel, You can pour an ounce or so of gas directly in the intake and see if the engine fires. I hope you primed the oil pump. . . I've rebuilt a few Pontiac engines. There's a great forum here: http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/

Bandit > AutoSavant 10/27/2013 at 22:12

0

Thanks for the write up! TDC compression: check. Close to #1: chec. Got spark: check. Gas pumping: ehhh, I think so, gas is in the lines. 180* out: I think I am okay, If I can't get it started I'll try and flip it.

Any other Pontiac specific tips?

Bandit > AutoSavant 10/27/2013 at 22:13

0

Also, your comments will now show up not in the gray area of oppo.

BJohnson11 > Bandit 10/27/2013 at 23:47

0

Yea blocking the vac port will set timing about 10 degrees retarded.

To get the base timing, spin your engine over to TDC. If there are marks on your harmonic balancer, this is easy. If not, read an article online, and you should be able to get it to within a few degrees from TDC either way. Then, check a Haynes manual or something, but when you put the distributor in, the rotor for the distributor (I remember you saying you had an HEI unit right?) needs to be pointing at the contact point on the distributor cap for the number 1 spark plug wire. That will make it so the number one spark plug will fire when the number one piston is at TDC on the comp stroke. After that, timing will just come from rotating the distributor for timing advance or retardation.

Double check and make sure the plug wires are going to the right plugs. With fuel, a mechanical pump should put out about 6 to 8 psi. Not sure how to check that without a fuel regulator or pressure gauge. But like I said, if the pump was working before, it should still be working.

Bandit > BJohnson11 10/27/2013 at 23:50

0

Okay, do I have to plug the port or is unhooking it good enough?

BJohnson11 > Bandit 10/27/2013 at 23:54

0

Gotta plug the port on the carb, other wise you'll just have a vacuum leak. The port on the distributor just needs to be unhooked.

AutoSavant > Bandit 10/28/2013 at 09:57

0

What kind of carb are you using? It looks like an Edelbrock, but I can't tell from here. When you look in the carb, do the jets squirt gas into the intake when you work the throttle? If not, take the top off of it and make sure there's fuel in the bowl and the float is floating. Did you set the idle mixture screws?