Why does it seem like everyone has problems with ignition timing? Make sure it's at tdc of the COMPRESSION stroke, not the exhaust stroke. You need to find out what way the rotor turns, sorry, i'm not familiar with olds motors. Make sure the plugs are sparking. Let me know what you find.

 

I thought the distributer on this engine was counterclockwise, If you are sure about the wires then i would go back and re-check myself. Pull #1 plug and bring it back up on that cylinder the check the distributer and see where it's at there. You do know which plug is # one right?



Cole

 

ive done TDC 4 times clockwise and counter clockwise on the wires gas has a good blue arc from the plugs nothing still wont start

 

ive done TDC 4 times clockwise and counter clockwise on the wires gas has a good blue arc from the plugs nothing still wont start

tdc on the compression or exhaust stroke? it has to be compression stroke or it wont work.

 

i pot it on tdc on what i think is compression didnt work poped it out went 180 still didnt work poped it out went 90 nope the 180 nope i can not get it to fire

 

its a hex drive distributor you can put it in their 6 ways

 

The 403 Olds is the same as a SBC in regard to cylinder numbering (#1 is driver's side front), rotor rotation (clockwise) and firing order (1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2).
http://boxwrench.net/specs/Olds_Gen_2.htm

With the #1 spark plug removed and your buddy holding his thumb over the hole, turn the crank clockwise until he begins to feel air pressure. Eyeball the damper as you continue to turn the crank and watch for the TDC line to coincide with the timing mark at TDC. Drop the distributor in and point the rotor to 5:30 PM, just like on a clock face. Put the cap on and plug #1 wire into the cap at the 5:30 position. Going clockwise, plug #8 wire into the cap and run the wire to the #8 plug. Then plug #4 wire into the cap and run the wire to the #4 plug. Carry on with this routine until you have all 8 plugs wired. Fire the motor.

 

i did that first nothing still wont start motor turns fast has gas and spark still nothing i dont know

 

If your still getting confused just pull the valve cover and simply watch the valves! take the cap off so you can see the rotor cap rotating and tap the motor over until you see the INTAKE valve go down (now on the intake stroke) then watch it come back up (now on compression) and when it closes just rotate it how ever little you need to get the piston at perfect TDC. THEN place the cap on and put your #1 plug wire where the point on the rotor meets the cap. then go about the rest of the firing order.

you can place the distributor where ever you want, you just have to have it on compression and your #1 placed right.

 

im not confused i know where TDC is and it still wont fire piston up harmonic balancer TDC mark distributor facing #1 plug wires 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 clockwise thin counter clockwise nothing wont start are you confused

 

im not confused *snip* are you confused

Whose engine won't start? :mwink:

Three things needed: Gas, grass or as... no, wait- that's something different.

Fuel, timed spark and compression. One or more is missing. If the engine ran before the distributor was removed, it's 95% timed spark and 5% chance fuel.

It could be flooded. It may want to be choked. But most likely it isn't timed correctly.

I'd suggest starting over by placing the wires into the cap CW, starting at #1 @ TDC compression stroke, then 8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

Yeah- I know. You did that already.

 

ya ive done it 4 time my dad did it 3 times im going to try again

 

im not confused i know where TDC is and it still wont fire piston up harmonic balancer TDC mark distributor facing #1 plug wires 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 clockwise thin counter clockwise nothing wont start are you confused

like i sugested before WATCH THE VALVES. you can be at TDC twice in a stroke if your just watching the balancer then most likely your getting it on the wrong stroke everytime.

 

i am working on a 69 lemans someone put a 403 olds motor in witha q-jet i painted the motor pulled the wires cap and distributor and not i put it back in tried 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 clockwise and counter clockwise i have spark and gas but it still wont start i put it on TDC at number 1 still no fire any one know what now

Back to basics. First, this engine ran before, right?

Second, Olds cylinder numbering is 1-3-5-7 on the driver's side and 2-4-6-8 on the passenger side. Distributor rotates COUNTER clockwise when viewed from the top. It is opposite of a Chevy. Firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

Third, is this a points, HEI, or non-stock electronic distributor?

Fourth, when you say you have spark, checked how? At each plug wire? At the coil?

Fifth, are you sure the timing chain hasn't slipped?

Sixth, once you are SURE that the distributor is installed correctly and not 180 degrees out, use a timing light to check the timing while cranking. Verify that it's in the 10-14 deg range.

And in response to a prior post in this thread - the hex drive is for the OIL PUMP. The distributor itself is driven by a gear, just like any other distributor. You can easily be one tooth off. If you have trouble getting the distributor to seat all the way, you may need to push down on it while you bump the starter to get the oil pump hex engaged.

 

C C W Distributor Rotation

I'm surprise how many places have this wrong. Thanks for setting the record straight...

 

I'm surprise how many places have this wrong.

Sadly, I'm not surprised anymore. It's a Chevy-centric world out there.

 

nothings worked i took the plugs out last night just incase it was flooded still wont start

 

If I were to come look at the car here's what I would do:

1- do compression test ( you say its cranking fast)
2- crank it with the cap off and see which way the rotor is spinning
3- check that rotor is fully seated, not loose and looks like its fitting in the cap properly.
4- look up a diagram of the cylinder numbering, its not like a ford. The cylinders might be numbered on the intake manifold also.
5- put finger in #1 plug hole and rotate engine to tdc compression, afterward try and look down the plug hole (balancer could be spun)
5- make a mark with a sharpie at the base of the distributor where the number one wire is take off the cap and turn the distributor housing until the rotor is lined up with the mark. Here is picture I doctored in paint to show roughly what I mean.

6- put the wires on the cap in the direction you saw the rotor spinning.
7- Put on the timing light and start the engine.

If it wont start turn the distributor a bit while cranking, look at the timing light too. To check spark pull off a wire at the plug and hold the wire slightly away from the plug. While cranking you want a blue spark at least 1" long. Also check the rotor and cap terminals inside for corrosion.

 

ive done all that and still no start the motor spins free new gas new cap button gas oil wires plugs timing is dead on TDC still nothing

 

How much compression does it have? Is the carb putting out any gas, are the plugs getting wet? While cranking the engine and turning the distributor do you get any pops or nothing at all?

 

compression 10.1 gas in carb 2 4 6 8 wet but 1 3 5 7 dry dont know why pops or nothing at all

 

compression 10.1 gas in carb 2 4 6 8 wet but 1 3 5 7 dry dont know why pops or nothing at all

i think what he ment by compression is, do a compression test. mabye you have a cylinder that lost compression.

 

Yes im having the same issue timing my 403. I got it to fire once but now she just turns over but make sure you put your distributor wires on right. Olds running rotation is counter clockwise not clockwise

 

i did a compresson test its good in all cylinders how can i test and see if the coil isnt putting out the right arc i know it blue but maybe not blue enough

 

Just a question for you. How are your timing marks lined up? Like on my 403 they are at 6 and 12 and when i put my distributor in i pointed rotor at cylinder #1 which is apparently wrong. It should be pointed at #6 at TDC. Rotor points at #1 if your timing marks are 12 and 12. Just found that out recently. Might want to check that and as far as spark goes just take a plug out with spark plug wire attached and ground plug to block or frame and turn engine over a couple times. Should see spark.