Re: [Chrysler300] engine basics - ignition help needed

[Ray Jones <hurst300@xxxx>]

Starting 101:
Start with the basics! Compression, fuel, timely spark...gotta run.
Check your plug wires one by one and make sure they're going to the right
cyl from the correct dist tower. I've seen many excited "it's gonna run"
guys wire the dist backwards, so check the wires by the firing order (watch
the rotor for the correct direction of the firing order).
You mentioned a dark driveway. Uncover the plug wires and crank it in the
dark and see if there's any leakage, spark going to ground through the wires
and not getting to the plugs.
If that's ok, check several plugs while cranking to see if they are actually
sparking.
Forget the timing mark for now, the chopstick is a valid tool. But remember,
that'll give you TDC twice for each cycle. Make sure TDC is after the intake
valve closes, and not after the exhaust! You may be 180 out of the firing
order.

Ain't it fun??? Ray Jones

> From: "Vath, Michael J." <mjvath@xxxx>
> Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 09:23:41 -0400
> To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Cc: "'Scredicat@xxxx'" <Scredicat@xxxx>
> Subject: [Chrysler300] engine basics - ignition help needed
> 
> Looking for help with Engine Starting 101. Your charity very much
> appreciated.. 
> 
> The rebuilt 392 hemi has been installed, plumbed and adjusted in the C. Try as
> I may, I can't get it started. It turns-over nicely. Seems like its gotta (?)
> be a timing issue, as there's spark and gas flow. If I describe the status,
> maybe someone out there can tell me what I'm missing?? Please help a dummy
> out!
> 
> Just the facts:
> TDC/timing hashmarks on damper are a good 1/4 crank turn different that TDC of
> cylinder #1 (driver-side front). This was determined by using a chopstick
> inserted into the sparkplug hole while turning crank (wife was excited about
> her bright idea).
> Distributor/oil pump gear set accordingly to point to #1 distributor cap
> terminal - which is almost straight-forward towards the front of the car.
> 
> As there's no wiring harness yet installed, the coil hot+ wire is run from the
> pos. batt. terminal, through a ceramic resistor. Distributor (removed from a
> running car) has petronix conversion installed; red wire to pos+ coil and
> black wire to neg- coil. Engine is then turned by jumping terminals at the
> starter/solenoid relay. Brand-new battery has lots of juice.
> 
> When the engine is turned, gas is flowing. (Verified gas smell on
> freshly-gapped spark plugs). New plug wires, cap, rotor and coil. I got
> several fiery pops through the exhaust manifolds but nothing close to
> starting. I tried pivoting the distributor body from one extreme to another.
> I moved the distributor/oil pump gear one tooth at a time towards the factory
> damper hasmarks and promptly got an unhealthy-looking pop of flame up through
> the secondary carburetor on the 3rd move.
> 
> Figured I'd call it quits then & there and cry for help. The neighborhood
> kids were thrilled by the flame ball in the dark driveway, but disappointed at
> the lack of success -- as was I.
> 
> What pearl of basic knowledge am I missing? Many thanks. mike v
> 
> 
> 
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