Alright, I just got the engine back together, got it all in the car. I crank it over and it just cranks over. I have spark and compression. Pretty sure I have gas. The cam and crankshaft should both be timed right (just returned them to factory marks) But its not firing up. If I crank it over a few times I end up having what looks like exhaust come out of the intake port. Some of the vaccum lines are not hooked up. Still need to figure out where some go. As far as the fumes coming out of the intake and why its no starting, any ideas? Its a 79 280zx. Anything I should check for. Thanks

 

Spray a bunch of carb cleaner or starting fluid down the intake and try to fire it.

 

Thanks hoov. Also, I was told my distributor may be 180 off. Im gonna try both tomorrow and see where it gets me XD

 

If it's back firing and popping maybe.

 

Is it possible the pil pump shaft is not in the correct place. Thus causing the firing order to be off? Im gonna check that after class. let me know what you think

 

set the number 1 cyl to tdc on its compression stroke and find out.

 

oil pump shaft being off will move your timing way off... it could add or subtract about 20 deg

Firing order is really based on how you plugged in the spark plug cables.

 

Alright, its all timed. Distributor is in check. Firing order is correct. Checking the battery now. Starter passed so going through the process of elimination at this point.

 

A motor needs 3 things to start:

1: proper air
2: proper fuel
3: proper spark

If you've checked for proper spark, the only thing left is fuel (unless a rat crawled into your throttle body and died )... have you verified that the injectors are spraying correctly? All of them?

 

dude, bird nests happen! ^^^

but yeah, pretty sure way to check is to hook up a FP gauge. you can get a rig together to t-in with a permanent gauge from autozone or anywhere that you just use temporarily for around $30. maybe less.

 

You know AFMs do go bad.

 

do afm's affect idle?

 

Good point Blue... Yes, a malfunctioning AFM will affect almost everything.

But still, the things to check are spark & fuel. Once you know the problem, you can start to work backwards to the cause.

 

Well I went back and double checked everything. I have fuel and spark, but for some reason my intake is pushing air out. My first thought was 180 out so I checked the exhaust and that is pushing air out as well. So wtf?

I took the valve cover off to check the timing and it is timed correctly. vaccum lines maybe? I'm out of ideas at this point. btw i took the afm off and still had the same problem. Originally I had suction but for some reason now I don't.

 

Hmm...

Did you adjust your valves properly?

Ok so your Getting spark at the plugs at the right time, Your AFM and TPS are set right so your getting air flow and measured properly, and your injectors have fuel and are spraying at the right time? Oh and all your ground are properly grounded. If you say yes to all of these then you have a mechanical problem...

 

Alright, I went back and double checked everything. Took the valve cover off and the cap off the distributor. And it turns out the engine is 180 out. woots. lmao.

Just to cover all my basis. firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4. So if the distributor is ready to fire 3 but the engine is ready to fire number 4, thats 180 out right? Just making sure, so I don't do anything I don't need to do.