looking for help with engine timing

[rallylife69]

im working on a 73 240z, with a 79-80 280z engine....code l28e(that is the code on the cpu and block), it is also turbocharged....

the engine was just rebuilt and the car fully restored...im in the final process of completion, but cant get the engine to run.....has fuel and spark to the cylinders, but wont run.....has to be a timing issue.......an help would be greatly appreciated....thanks James

[MikeW]

Have you tried a timing light?

[rallylife69]

no not yet.....havin trouble getting at my tools,.....but i have set it at #1 tdc and find that the timing mark on the crank is possibly 30' out....i haven't even found what to set the timing at yet........im a chevy guy, so i have those resources...i'm just helping a friend out, to get his car finished

[Frankensteinz2]

Hey man,

I had the same problem, and had a mechanic come over and make me look like a dumb arse.

All he did was take out spark plug one and find tdc, (first piston at the very top of its stroke). Once u have the engine in this spot. Take the cap off the dist, and where ever the dist is point, put ur plug wire one there. Then starting in that spot, counterclockwise the wires are: 1-5-3-6-2-4. If it doesn't fire, the dist was actually pointing the exact opposite way at tdc, (I did this, it points 2 ways only one side give spark). Rewire with one starting on the exact opposite side, and go in the same ordeer from there.

Frankie

[Weasel73240Z]

Or you could bring the engine up to #1 TDC on the compression stroke, and remove/re-install the distributor so that the rotor lines up properly at the #1. Why not fix it correctly rather than fudge it by moving plug wires around?

[rallylife69]

you are correct.....i am alwways looking to do things correcly...not into jimmy rigging things.........what would be the correct #1 position be, at the distributor

[zguitar71]

The rotor number 1 position is @ about 9:30. Check to make sure the oil pump shaft is in the right position. The shaft feeds into the bottom of the dist and rotates it. if it is off the timing will be wrong. The shaft should be in the 11:30 position. Remove the dist., line up the 2 mounting holes that the retaining screws for the dist. reside, the shaft will be about 5 deg. clockwise from that line. The larger 1/2 moon side of the shaft should be toward the rear of the motor. If the shaft position is off the oil pump can be pulled out and the shaft turned and the pump put back in place.

[Frankensteinz2]

He's got a point.

Frankie