Motor Backfires Thru Exhaust When Trying To Start

[Jim Coleman]

The distributor has a Jegs part number, but I believe in using what you have, so I'll continue using it no matter who made it.

I did notice that after I charged the battery the spark looked hotter.

I was just about ready to pull the water pump, drop the pan and take off the timing cover and check the timing marks --- but thought I'd give it one more shot first at trying to reset the distributor.

What I did was pull the #1 plug and put my finger in the spark plug hole, turned it over until I felt compression -- then turned the motor over until it hit TDC. After that, I got the distributor pointed at #1, and it just fell right in place. Thought for sure I had it,
and it's trying hard to start if the distributor is rotated to the right.

I was hoping someone could tell me the best way to get it to where it will start.
Thanks,

Jim

[Gaz64]

I would verify the distributor can trigger the coil, by spinning the distributor by hand to see what the spark quality is like.

Need the coil lead set up with a 1/2 inch gap to ground, with the ignition on.

Then set the engine at 10-15 BTDC, set the rotor in line with NO.1, noting the reluctor trigger etc.

We are also trying to start an engine that has not run since it was built in the 80s, so some of the valves could be stuck in the guides etc.

Gary

[blykins]

Originally Posted by Jim Coleman

I'm not even sure it's a new ProComp distributor, but I believe in using what you have, so I'll continue using it no matter who made it.

I did notice that after I charged the battery the spark looked hotter.

I was just about ready to pull the water pump, drop the pan and take off the timing cover and check the timing marks --- but thought I'd give it one more shot first at trying to reset the distributor.

What I did was pull the #1 plug and put my finger in the spark plug hole, turned it over until I felt compression -- then turned the motor over until it hit TDC. After that, I got the distributor pointed at #1, and it just fell right in place. Thought for sure I had it,
and it's trying hard to start if the distributor is rotated to the right.

I was hoping someone could tell me the best way to get it to where it will start.
Thanks,

Jim

A Chevy distributor won't generally fall into place like a Ford distributor will. The gears are made differently.

If you follow my instructions from my first post, I will guarantee that it will start. If the distributor doesn't fall into place then you get the rotor pointed in the correct direction, hold down on the distributor, and roll the engine over until the distributor falls down. The distributor gear is made differently plus the oil pump shaft isn't hex, it will only engage in basically two positions, one 180° from the other.