Trying to get her started

[xray]

xray, sorry if I violated some rule by not giving you complete enough info.

It's tough to give good advice without complete enough information!

I did ask you for pics of your distributor and TDC orientation, and never saw those. In the beginning of this thread, the OP was convinced he was at TDC #1 and his #1 spark plug wire was way off. As it turns out, my request was valid as it would have revealed a similar disorientation of the cap/wires and would've led to a quicker resolution instead of all your frustration with the carbs. I was trying to steer you back to ignition and timing, since I had just completed this exact exercise in fixing my car...

Where did you get the idea that the drive gear was off in the first place? Did you mess with the oil pump/distributor, replace the timing chain etc?

Responding to requests for photos, clarifications etc. is not "some rule" that was "violated" but instead is a reasonable request designed to gather additional info to solve your issues with the car. It is forum decorum :stupid: to respond to those requests as completely as possible. If not, then folks who search the forums will deal with a bunch of dead-end posts and threads that never successfully identify, describe and resolve common or unique problems related to our beloved Z.

I'm glad you're on the path to fixing it, and hope it sees the road soon.

[Weasel73240Z]

Thanks xray. Sorry if I was a little pissy yesterday, I think it was a long afternoon of frustration that got to me. And yes, I did replace the oil pump with a higher volume pump, so the dizzy was out.

Heres exactly where I'm at timing wise as of last night, when I finally quit and hit the Stolichnaya & tonic.

First is crank indicator, dizzy tab location, cam lobes fully opened, and indicator notch on the timing chain gear (if its tough to see, it very close to 12 o'clock on the cam tower), which I believe is right. I can't really see the engraved line thats supposed to be on the cam tower though. The timing chain has never been removed, I wood blocked it when the head came off, and it never moved. I didn't even let anyone touch the motor when it was apart.

I run a local mens softball league, and we have a tourney this weekend. Have to go get things started but I'll be back home this afternoon, and I'll get back at it.

Thanks.

[sblake01]

Judging from the first picture, the pointer seems to be just silghtly below the notch on the pulley. You need to move it to where it is perfectly lined up and then check the position of the tang which looks to be too far left in your second pic.

[Weasel73240Z]

I'm running!!!!!!

I was off on the dizzy by a tooth, and maybe I still am. With the timing light, it runs best with the indicator pointing about 1 -1/2" beyond the last mark (about 40 - 50 BTDC??). But I'm running. Some backfiring, and a loud pop when I start it about 3 out of 4 times, but then it runs pretty good.

Two things, the 8MM bolt on the underside of the dizzy, is that just for additional adjustment of timing, or does it do something else?

And, is there a way to get closer to the timing marks without removing the oil pump again? I figure no, but I'm just hoping.

Off to watch my ZTherapy DVD and get the carbs tuned.

[sblake01]

I keep that 8mm bolt centered. I suppose you could move it but it won't make up being off by as much as yours is. The oil pump has to come out. If you do what you suggested in the other thread you started I think that would take your timimg to somewhere prior to the timimg mark about as much as you're beyond it now. I won't really run right until you get that distributor drive in the right spot.

[Weasel73240Z]

I thought so, thanks.

[Weasel73240Z]

Finally!!! She's running like a Z!!!!!

Once I finally got everything straight with the timing, the car fired right up. After a few tweaks to the new SU's, it idles very well at around 1,000 RPM's and revs right up through the powerband. I can't believe the throttle response on this motor, it sounds almost like my old GPZ750 did.

The ZTherapy carbs work great, they were never my problem. All I did was richen the mix about a half turn once it was running, and now it fires up without even giving it any gas once its warm. Just flick the key and it fires right up.

Speaking of ZTherapy, they were great to deal with. Bruce called me at home when he saw on here that I was having a problem, and put me in touch directly with Steve.

[xray]

Great work! Glad to see some success--now go enjoy it on the road!

[Weasel73240Z]

I will, as soon as I get my new brake cylinders in, and the brakes working. A car that won't start is a small problem, but one that won't stop, is a bigger one.

Hoping to drive next weekend!

[RayG1988]

Man, congrats! Can't wait to get mine running, just need to get rid of all these electrical problems.

I have n00bitis.

[Matches]

I am so happy to see that someone else got their car going! I hope to figure mine out soon.

Here are the updates:

Bought a compression tester today. #1 150psi #2 150psi #3 150psi #4 130psi #5 130psi #6 150psi. Bad head gasket.

But the car should still fire up right? Even if it runs poorly 20psi down in two cyls. shouldn't be enough to keep the car from running right?

I checked again for TDC today because it has been so long since I had worked on the car last.

With the crank pulley mark @ 0 degrees the cyl. #1 cam lobes pointing up, the ignition rotor is here:

I have spark. I checked and can see it jump the spark plug. Plus I got zapped.

I have fuel. Spark plugs smell of gas and are a little wet. The carbs are freshly remanufactured from Z Therapy that where running perfect on the last motor. Checked for fuel mix with the adjustment knobs, to spec.

I am out of ideas. Could I not have enough spark? Could my coil be bad? I have a pertronix setup, wired straight to the coil. Was running great on my last engine.

Thanks for any help guys. I really hope I don't have to tow this car to a professional.

[m4xwellmurd3r]

well your dizzy is spot on. and you are getting spark. so maybe the coil is going out? do you have a spare you could swap out to test?