starting my engine for the first time

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dodge74x4
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starting my engine for the first time

Post by dodge74x4 »

as far as i know you want the #1 piston at TDC with the dist rotor pointing at it prior to initial start up. is this right? my question is that when i have the # 1 piston @tdc with the rotor pointing towards it and have the carb primed and the dist loose to adjust timing but relatively correct(the vaccum line is cut to length where the old 318 was timed correctly) and i get no start(most likely timing way off) i have to turn the motor over again to get everything lined up. there has to be a better way. what am i doing wrong?

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ozzie
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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by ozzie »

I would first check if there is spark to the distributer. if the rotor lines up to the no. one plug it should fire right up. are you sure the piston is on the compression stroke and not the exhaust ?. it could be 180 degrees out of time. if that is the case pull the dist. and turn it 180 degrees, and realign the rotor to the no. one plug. ozzie
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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by dodge74x4 »

how would i check if there is spark to the dist? ive been told that you can tell the compression stroke by putting you thumb over the # 1 spark plug hole then crank the engine and when your thumb is blown out that is the compression stroke is that right? ill try flippin the dist if all else is well. thanks

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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by ozzie »

it sounds like you have it on a compression stroke if it blows your thumb out. the way I checked if there was spark to the dis. was to take a screwdriver with a plastic grip and stick in the coil wire and arc it to ground, like the fire wall. I know this is not a safe way to do it, but it is old school, that's the way I learned. just be careful not to touch any metal part of the screwdriver with your hand, or you will get a hell of a shock. Ozzie.
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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by HellBelly »

After your thumb is blown out the #1 plug hole, you need to align the timing mark on the crank/balancer to TDC. You probably already knows this, just mentioning it. Then stab the distributor with the rotor facing #1

I check spark the same way ozzy does. Pull a plug stick a screwdriver in the end and put it up against some metal.

Next make sure your plug wires on your distributor are starting in the right spot and going in the right direction and in the right firing order.
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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by dodge74x4 »

does all this need to be doe prior to dropping engine in the truck? thanks

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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by Hobcobble »

dodge74x4 wrote:does all this need to be doe prior to dropping engine in the truck? thanks
All of this can be done after your engine is installed.
John

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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by dodge74x4 »

i am having a hard time understanding this!ok so i have someone crank the motor until my thumb is blown out of # 1 cylinder spark plug hole. That is compression stroke. then i turn the crank to line up the notch on the balancer with 0 degrees (tdc) on the timing cover. wouldnt rotating the engine mess up having the engine on the compression stroke? then i put the distributor in with the rotor pointing towards #1 cylinder. the dist will only go in 1 way or the other once the distributor drive gear is installed. or should i remove the gear until i have the first two things correct? sorry if i am overthinking this but i am completely confused. thanks


eric

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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by Hobcobble »

dodge74x4 wrote:i am having a hard time understanding this!ok so i have someone crank the motor until my thumb is blown out of # 1 cylinder spark plug hole. That is compression stroke. then i turn the crank to line up the notch on the balancer with 0 degrees (tdc) on the timing cover. wouldnt rotating the engine mess up having the engine on the compression stroke? then i put the distributor in with the rotor pointing towards #1 cylinder. the dist will only go in 1 way or the other once the distributor drive gear is installed. or should i remove the gear until i have the first two things correct? sorry if i am overthinking this but i am completely confused. thanks


eric
When you find the compression stroke on cylinder #1, your distributor rotor will [should] be pointing to
the plug wire #1. Proceed clock wise in placing your plug wires on the distributor cap for the firing
order of 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. This should enable you to now fire up your engine. Get it warmed up and
then throw a timing light on it. Turn the distributor until you achieve your timing specification as
outlined in a Factory Service Manual or something comparable.
John

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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by MountainMoparRobin »

dodge74x4 wrote:as far as i know you want the #1 piston at TDC with the dist rotor pointing at it prior to initial start up. is this right? my question is that when i have the # 1 piston @tdc with the rotor pointing towards it and have the carb primed and the dist loose to adjust timing but relatively correct(the vaccum line is cut to length where the old 318 was timed correctly) and i get no start(most likely timing way off) i have to turn the motor over again to get everything lined up. there has to be a better way. what am i doing wrong?
if your engine was timed correctly, and nothing has been changed, then all this is not needed, you just need to keep crankin while turning the distributor, it the engine cranks slow, then timing is too far advanced, you'll just have to turn it over until it tries to fire, then you know your close. :Thumbsup

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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by tinbasher »

if you still have trouble determining tdc on #1 you can take the valve cover off, spin the motor until the #1intake valve closes, then go another 180* to bring the piston back up to the top.

the rotor should be pointing roughly toward the #1 plug wire, it really has no relationship to the physical direction of the rotor in relation to the engine itself... it just happens that the vacum advance mechanism stays in an area where timing adjustment is still workable with the rotor and #1 plug wire close to the #1 cylinder.

if you want to check spark once you have the distributor in place, remove the #1 plug, hook the plug wire to it and lay it on the engine or something in such a way as to ground the body of the plug... then turn the ignition on and rotate the distributor back and forth, when you get spark, snug the distributor just a bit, put the plug back in and start it up. if you want you can even determine the rotation of the distributor and give it a little advance based on when the plug lights up.
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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by MountainMoparRobin »

once you've timed the engine and stabbed the distributor and you know your right, then reseting the engine to the same setting again is not needed and won't help the engine start any faster, now if you didn't get if fired and you're trying to find out why and checking for fire, their are the "old school" suggestions of putting a screw driver in the number 1 plug and putting close to metal, your supposed to be able to see fire, but its very hard to see, so to be able to do this test and not have to guess whether or not you see spark, use a $4.95 test light, put the ground connect on some part of the engine, then put the test light in the plug wire end, if the test light doesn't light up when cranking, then do the same in the top of the coil, look to see if the test light bulb lights up, I purposely skiped the distributor, only because the coil supplies the current to the distributor. If your runnin a electronic system, I'm willing to bet its the ECU, just one of the things that goes out easy, in my experiance, just mine.

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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by dodge74x4 »

is it ok to use the coolant/water mixture for break in or should i use just water? thought i read somewhere to use just water? anyone have any thoughts?

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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by chilort »

dodge74x4 wrote:is it ok to use the coolant/water mixture for break in or should i use just water? thought i read somewhere to use just water? anyone have any thoughts?
This is probably a little too much information (if there is such a thing) but I found it helpful:
http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/motor/22.html

I used a 50/50 mix with no problem. We started her up on a cold day so that may have helped. Also, I never use a t-stat unless it has a bleed hole for air. Some recommend starting the engine without the t-stat installed but I think it helps warm up and with the bleed hole it will bleed off any air in the system.

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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by MoParaised »

If this engine is new, you better make sure that EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING is correct before you start it up. After she fires, you need to keep it running @ 2500RPM for 20 minutes to break in the cam. Have a buddy there to help adjust things at initial startup because you can NOT shut it off. Buy Delo 400 and Lucas break in additive because you want as much zinc in there as you can get. I would also suggest a large volume fan in front of the radiator to help push the air. If you do have an issue after it starts, fix ASAP and start again ASAP! I have some great literature that I will post when I get a chance or these fellas can help alot.
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Re: starting my engine for the first time

Post by dodge74x4 »

i had it all lined up but ended up delaying the break in process to fix other issues. so i had to pull the dist and gear to re prime the engine. now the engine wont fire again just cranks continually with an occasional backfire through the carb. just want to verify setting timing again:

-remove #1 spark plug and cover hole with my thumb.
-crank engine until thumb is blown out(compression stroke)
-notch on balancer should be lined up or close to the 0 degree mark on the timing cover
-line up rotor and the #1 wire on the dist cap
-should fire right up or need a 180 flip then fire


correct?

a few questions:
does the physical position of the oil pump drive shaft or rotor position(other than with #1 plug wire) matter?
should the vac advance hose be connected when setting timing?

i know that im making it alot more difficult than it is, just very frusterated with this truck.

thanks again i really appreciate it. would be lost without you guys

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