have a 73 351w "H" code motor close to stock edelbrock performer cam and intake. just did headgasket and intake gasket drained all the fluids and refilled then saw some water leaking and i forgot to torque down the headbolts on the driverside. luckily i was just doing the startup with water. now im just getting backfiring. i think the plugs are crapped out now. im getting very little spark. maybe coil but i am not sure. i never removed the distributor so the distributor should be in the right place. is the rotor button supposed to point to #1 plug wire or #1 cyl..? it is pointing at the #1 cylinder at tdc right now but it is just popping out the exhaust. thats all the motor is doing. i need help!!!
the rotor is sopposed to point at the plug wire that goes to #1 cyl, at tdc, that is if you have the #1 cyl on known TDC compression stroke, not exhaust stroke. do the rocker nuts screw all the way down and lock, or are they adjustable, does it sound like its got compression when cranked? if you didn't mess with the distributor, how did it run before you messed with the engine?
thats my dilemma! why is it not running now. yeah at tdc it points towards the #1 cyl not wire. i have adjustable rocker arms. without the motor running it makes it kinda difficult to adjust but what i did was lossened them up took the pushrods out and then when i put them back in i tightened the rockers up til they had no play and gave them another half a turn. and it definatly has compression..
I have a 351w that I installed in my 70 maverick. I replaced the dist with a HEI unit now when I try to start the engine all I get is backfires through the exhaust. I have the right firing order and #1 on TDC comp st.
