[chucksrt]

I just got the engine together to the point where I was able to connect the radiator and fill it with water so I could start it... well....... I found that the 3/8" hole below the water pump on the pass side is shooting water out of it. WTF?? I got the block from Summit and now I need to install a freeze plug or tap it for a pipe plug. Soooo back to the story, I also have a dead battery and so I tried jumping it but it had a slow crank but while it cranked it did backfire a couple of times. I removed the EGR and blocked it off but the hole in the manifold still needs to be plugged and I need to install a cap on the EGR port on the header. Will not having that plugged yet cause a backfire> I have a buddy who has the fittings so he can weld them so I can reinstall them. I rotated the Engine to the top of the compression stroke to TDC and installed the distributor to #1. Could I have set TDC 180deg out? I used my thumb to feel compression from the spark plug hole. How do you set timing?
Thanks,
Chuck

ps this is a 96 Chevy Express van (vortec)

[mud.man.rj]

Even if you use your thumb and it blows it off at least you know it is on the right stroke(compression) so when you get that far set your timing to wher the car reguires as probably 8-10 degrees on balancer(where it actually is set to run) then line up distrib with #1 wire on cap and basic timing is set to start and run car. That wat it won't backfire as it would being 180 out or being at 0 Degrees.

[chucksrt]

I had it 180deg out! I know I checked for compression but I guess it makes pressure on either stroke. Well I got it running and it sounds great!!!

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by chucksrt

I just got the engine together to the point where I was able to connect the radiator and fill it with water so I could start it... well....... I found that the 3/8" hole below the water pump on the pass side is shooting water out of it. WTF??

That's the bypass coolant hole, it connects to a similar hole in the water pump.

[chucksrt]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

That's the bypass coolant hole, it connects to a similar hole in the water pump.

My water pump does not have a provision for that! and on my other blocks it is not drilled through completely. Now I need to find a 3/8" freeze plug.

[FmrStrtracer]

Originally Posted by chucksrt

My water pump does not have a provision for that! and on my other blocks it is not drilled through completely. Now I need to find a 3/8" freeze plug.

Or you can buy a water pump with the bypass in it.

[chucksrt]

The distributor was 180deg out! I swapped it and it fired right up! The water pump doesn't cover the hole. I just picked up a 3\8" freeze plug to install in there.

[SSedan64]

That is odd, most Vortecs blocks don't have that hole open.

[cobalt327]

You sure? I thought they all did. In any event, this is the front of my 880 Vortec block, ca. '97:

[chucksrt]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

You sure? I thought they all did. In any event, this is the front of my 880 Vortec block, ca. '97:

In that pic. you can see that the block is drilled but it is not suposed to be drilled all the way through! Mine was drilled just far enough that it went through just a hair and leaked. I just picked up a 3/8" freeze plug and installed it.

[cobalt327]

Strange it didn't leak previously. So you're using a serpentine set up?