Technical Tips

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Technical Tips food for thought!

Hey ya'll, I love watching those Automotive TV shows about muscle cars, where they put a new engine in the car. Then they try to start it and “Boom” it backfires and shoots flames out the carburetor. Now I don't know about you but this really pisses me off big time. These guys are professionals and can't get a car to start properly??? So with that being said I decided to start a Tech Tip Page, so that I can show you some short cuts on how to be more professional at your job!

TECH TIP NO. 1 -

Let's say your installing a new engine and your are about to start it for the first time. Something to make sure of is that the motor has been primed for oil pressure, (I will make a new Tech Tip for this procedure also). Ok, now lets assume (be careful of that word, we all know what that means) we want to get the motor started. Follow this procedure:

1. Remove No.1 spark plug
2. Get a breaker bar and a socket to fit the crankshaft bolt.
3. Start to bar the engine over and put you finger against the spark plug hole till you feel compression pushing against your finger.
4. At this point look at the damper pointer(make sure you mark the damper with paint or white out)
5. Look at the numbers on the damper and make sure that the “0” or zero is directly in line with the pointer!
6. At this point we should be at top dead center on the compression stroke so we can advance the damper to the recommended timing specification. (0 or 2 or 10 or what ever the manufacture recommends)
7. Now remove the distributor cap and see where the rotor is in respect to the No.1 spark plug wire .
8. If all looks well then re-install the distributor cap.
9. Now, re-install No. 1 spark plug.
10. At this point we are almost ready to start the engine.
11. Using a screw driver or a spark substitute, connect the spark plug wire to either one and turn on the key.
12. Rotate the distributor in the direction of rotation till the spark plug substitute fires a spark across it,
13. Lock the distributor in place till after the engine is fired and running for a while.
14. Re-install the spark plug wire.
15. The purpose of this is too get a preliminary timing point so the engine will start on the first key turn!
16. Once the engine is running, use a timing light to set the correct spec!

I used to do this every time I built a new engine and never had to worry about backfire or destroying a power valve in the carburetor!

Good luck with this and be careful. If you mess it up, always have a fire extinguisher on hand to grab in case of an emergency!

AS ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST!!!

Hello again, if you want some really great information, head over to CDXauto.com and check out there site. They also have a new textbook out. I don't want to brag but myself and some really talented people over there had  a hand in putting this book together. You won't find anything better in Automotive Technology information out there. There site is loaded with all the new stuff we need to know about. Check it out and believe me, you be glad you did! Enjoy!