360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START - Moparts Forums

Register Log In Moparts Forums Sandy's Truck Shop 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START

Print Thread

360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START #1717278 12/29/14 12:11 PM 12/29/14 12:11 PM
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 38 SO ILL K KISSFANN1 OP member
KISSFANN1 OP member K Joined: May 2013 Posts: 38 SO ILL	Let me start by stating that I�m a good mechanic, but this is my first V-8 engine build. Following the instructions from my Chilton�s manual, I have rebuilt a 360 engine in my 78 Power Wagon. It will not start. It spits, sputters, and backfires. I�m 99% sure I assemble the timing chain to the cam and crank with the #1 piston @ TDC. The coil and ignition resistor checks out as OK. I stuffed some tissue in the #1 spark plug hole. Once it popped out, the distributor rotor is pointing to the #1 spark plug wire on the cap. I�m picking up today a compression gauge to check each cylinder. What am I missing? I would appreciate any suggestions that will help me through this struggle. Thanks, SLD 8377086-78PW.jpg (90 downloads)

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: KISSFANN1] #1717279 12/29/14 12:16 PM 12/29/14 12:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11,543 chicagoland,usa B buildanother I Live Here
buildanother I Live Here B Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11,543 chicagoland,usa	If the distrib is 180 degrees out of time, it could be as it has stumped many, simply loosen/remove hold down clamp, lift distrib and turn rotor 1/2 turn then drop it back in and try it.

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: buildanother] #1717280 12/29/14 12:32 PM 12/29/14 12:32 PM
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 38 SO ILL K KISSFANN1 OP member
KISSFANN1 OP member K Joined: May 2013 Posts: 38 SO ILL	I did try that. It did not help. Thanks, SLD

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: KISSFANN1] #1717281 12/29/14 01:34 PM 12/29/14 01:34 PM
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 1,845 Tampa D DusterDave top fuel
DusterDave top fuel D Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 1,845 Tampa	Quote: Let me start by stating that I�m a good mechanic, but this is my first V-8 engine build. Following the instructions from my Chilton�s manual, I have rebuilt a 360 engine in my 78 Power Wagon. It will not start. It spits, sputters, and backfires. I�m 99% sure I assemble the timing chain to the cam and crank with the #1 piston @ TDC. The coil and ignition resistor checks out as OK. I stuffed some tissue in the #1 spark plug hole. Once it popped out, the distributor rotor is pointing to the #1 spark plug wire on the cap. I�m picking up today a compression gauge to check each cylinder. What am I missing? I would appreciate any suggestions that will help me through this struggle. Thanks, SLD On the no. 1 cylinder, did you pull the valve cover to make sure both valves for that cylinder were fully closed? Gone to the dark side with an LS3 powered '57 Chevy 210

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: DusterDave] #1717282 12/29/14 01:43 PM 12/29/14 01:43 PM
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 38 SO ILL K KISSFANN1 OP member
KISSFANN1 OP member K Joined: May 2013 Posts: 38 SO ILL	Yes I did. The timing allignment has been based off that finding. After reading other forums, I cannot remember where I alligned the dots on the gears. Cam could have been at 6 or 12 o'clock. I will have to remove cover and verify. Some others refer that the distributor shaft could be alligned with the #6 cylinder.

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: KISSFANN1] #1717283 12/29/14 02:53 PM 12/29/14 02:53 PM
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,093 It's beer:30 somewhere adventurer super stock
adventurer super stock Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,093 It's beer:30 somewhere	With the cam at 6 o'clock and crank at 12 it is at #6 TDC not 1 #1 that has confused many an engine builder. 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 clock wise rotation 77 Dodge Adventurer SE 440 2wd SWB 78 Dodge Adventurer SE 440 2wd Utiline 90 Dodge D150 SWB 2wd 318fi 4speed 60 Desoto Adventurer 2dr 67 Dodge Dart Gt Conv. 273 4bbl 04 PT Cruiser GT Turbo 14 Ram R/T "Life's to short to drink cheap beer."

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: adventurer] #1717284 12/29/14 02:59 PM 12/29/14 02:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O 70Cuda383 Too Many Posts
70Cuda383 Too Many Posts Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O	Sounds timing related. Did you confirm tdcin relation to the balancer at all? If the rotor isn't 180 out, then maybe your timing is off by a bunch due to a slipped balancer? Photobucket sucks

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: 70Cuda383] #1717285 12/29/14 06:15 PM 12/29/14 06:15 PM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 1,751 Graham, WA P Polarapete top fuel
Polarapete top fuel P Joined: May 2003 Posts: 1,751 Graham, WA	The firing order for Mopar Big Blocks and Small Blocks (Chevys, too) is the same, BUT the rotation of the distributor is different between the two. Did you wire it like a Big Block??????????? 1986 Dodge Ramcharger 440 2wd, Bracket Racer Under Construction 1998 Ram 2500 QuadCab, new daily driver. 2008 Honda Element 2014 Carry-On 7x14 Cargo Trailer

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: adventurer] #1717286 12/29/14 07:43 PM 12/29/14 07:43 PM
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,093 It's beer:30 somewhere adventurer super stock
adventurer super stock Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,093 It's beer:30 somewhere	One other thought that I have seen happen from time to time on people building engines. Soaking and pumping up the lifters to where they will hold the valves open. I have seen this many times on brand x stuff but not so much Mopar. The lifters need to have oil on them but not be pumped up solid. When you tighten down the rockers if the lifters are pumped up it will hold the valves open. A compression test will show this. Hope that helps 77 Dodge Adventurer SE 440 2wd SWB 78 Dodge Adventurer SE 440 2wd Utiline 90 Dodge D150 SWB 2wd 318fi 4speed 60 Desoto Adventurer 2dr 67 Dodge Dart Gt Conv. 273 4bbl 04 PT Cruiser GT Turbo 14 Ram R/T "Life's to short to drink cheap beer."

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: 70Cuda383] #1717287 12/29/14 08:30 PM 12/29/14 08:30 PM
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 1,520 West Palm Beach, Florida Copper Dart pro stock
Copper Dart pro stock Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 1,520 West Palm Beach, Florida	Quote: Sounds timing related. Did you confirm tdcin relation to the balancer at all? If the rotor isn't 180 out, then maybe your timing is off by a bunch due to a slipped balancer? I like this answer. Or maybe... Possibly early/late timing cover/balancer? Just to say I pitched in. Common sense, the least common of all the senses. Mom. For fear of ridicule, society stifles creativity. Ricky Valdes

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: Polarapete] #1717288 12/30/14 01:33 AM 12/30/14 01:33 AM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,100 Byron, NY W.I.N. Racing top fuel
W.I.N. Racing top fuel Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,100 Byron, NY	Quote: The firing order for Mopar Big Blocks and Small Blocks (Chevys, too) is the same, BUT the rotation of the distributor is different between the two. Did you wire it like a Big Block??????????? Thats what I was going to suggest '01 P1500, Blown/Inj BAE,/Veney ,Bruno/CS2,Dana 60 '01 Dodge 3500 S Cummins Auto, Fresh air kit, 4" Exhaust, '05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Too Much to list '60 Willys CJ5 '01 International LPX - Project,DT466, Allison '64 Plymouth Valiant, Inj 528 Hemi, 2spd

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: W.I.N. Racing] #1717289 12/30/14 11:10 AM 12/30/14 11:10 AM
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 38 SO ILL K KISSFANN1 OP member
KISSFANN1 OP member K Joined: May 2013 Posts: 38 SO ILL	Thanks you everyone for your responses. This is all good quality input. I will be able to try some of these suggestions tomorrow. I will update everyone on my findings. Thanks, SLD

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: KISSFANN1] #1717290 12/30/14 12:37 PM 12/30/14 12:37 PM
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 9,366 Lehigh Acres, Florida rickstershemi master
rickstershemi master Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 9,366 Lehigh Acres, Florida	If this is a new rebuild with fresh cam and lifters....I highly suggest you find someone with the knowledge to set it up correctly before you attempt to start it again so you don't end up wiping out a cam lobe....it should fire instantly and then run at 2k rpm for about 20 minutes Rickster

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: KISSFANN1] #1717291 12/30/14 06:30 PM 12/30/14 06:30 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,238 Nevada D dezduster pro stock
dezduster pro stock D Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,238 Nevada	Ill go out on a limb and ask, what timing set did you use? The edelbrock timing chain if that's what you used is confusing. I had installed it incorrectly until I dialed the cam in and nothing came up correctly. Couple other people in our small town did the same thing but they just dot to dotted it. It would run but needed excessive spark lead made no power once it was broken in. Next thought is no power at coil while cranking but when you let off crank cycle it hits and dies. I believe this is ignition switch problem but may also be wiring related.

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: dezduster] #1717292 12/31/14 09:42 PM 12/31/14 09:42 PM
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 38 SO ILL K KISSFANN1 OP member
KISSFANN1 OP member K Joined: May 2013 Posts: 38 SO ILL	Let me start by saying, thanks to everyone's help. I decided to get back into the gear set to verify the dot lineup. Guess what, I did not have the rotation set correctly. There were so many marks on the crank gear, I used the wrong one. I set everything to the way it was supposed to be. Cranked it and had plenty of backfire. Rotated the distributor 180 and it fired off immediately. It sounded great!!! Tomorrow it will button up the fluids and break in the cam. I will keep you all updated on the build. SLD

Re: 360 ENGINE NEW BUILD WILL NOT START [Re: KISSFANN1] #1717293 01/01/15 02:09 AM 01/01/15 02:09 AM
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 1,845 Tampa D DusterDave top fuel
DusterDave top fuel D Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 1,845 Tampa	Quote: Let me start by saying, thanks to everyone's help. I decided to get back into the gear set to verify the dot lineup. Guess what, I did not have the rotation set correctly. There were so many marks on the crank gear, I used the wrong one. I set everything to the way it was supposed to be. Cranked it and had plenty of backfire. Rotated the distributor 180 and it fired off immediately. It sounded great!!! Tomorrow it will button up the fluids and break in the cam. I will keep you all updated on the build. SLD That's great that you corrected the issues, but, I'm concerned that all of the cranking has wiped off the break-in lube on your cam lobes. I'm assuming you have a flat tappet cam. Gone to the dark side with an LS3 powered '57 Chevy 210

Moderated by Al_Alguire, Hotwheelsjr, moparts, not_a_charger, RangerDan440, tboomer

Hop To

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1