280z78

Hello. I rebuilt my 78 280z engine down to the cylinder heads. Replaced all gaskets and seals in head and block. I finished everything today and went to start it up. The car turns over and I can hear that it has compresson but it never starts just back fires through the exhaust. My guess is that I put timing chain on TDC but on the exhaust turn? What is the symptoms if timing chain is put on TDC but in exhaust? And lastly how do I fix this. Thank you

Skully

Open up the oil cap, or take off the valve cover. Rotate the engine until you are on the compression stroke on #1 (closest to the rad) piston. Find TDC, If the cam lobes above it are pointing up you are ok so far. Open dizzy cap, make sure it is pointing to the corresponding plug. Check this first and go from there. Could be as simple as wrong firing order as well.

280z78

Thank you. I will check tomorrow. I know for a fact the firing Oder is Correct because I checked that twice today. But I guess that would all be off if the cam is not positioned right. What other caused would there be for this if the timing is correct? The car does not start all if does is backfire through exhaust? Any thoughts?

borini63

Maybe your spark plug wires are not in the right order!!

153624

280z78

Distrib is backward the metal piece that turns is pointing complete opposite way then the way it's suppose to be pointed. Instead of being pointed at 1 it's compete opposite number. How do I fix this

Skully

Lol lazy way would be to keep it at TDC, and use wherever the rotor lines up as post #1, and route from there. That is if it truly is 180 out.

Another way would be removing the oil pump and aligning it up properly.