Thread: I tried to start my 454 tonight.

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The starter fired right up, good cranking power. Then we (my daughters & I) caught our first leak. A bad AN fitting feeding to the carb line. It was sprouting like a water fountain. Tightened it up, still leaking. Looked around and made a new line from the pump to the carb double feed line. Start her up? Still got a small leak from the new fittings. Tightened them up and got a couple water leaks from the temp sensors. Also had a small oil leak from the fittings. No problem just needed tightened.

End Result? I have the evil back-fire thru the carb syndrome. That's what I feared most. I really think one of my mechanical weak spots is anything related to the distributor and timing. So help me out here guys.

I guess it's a timing issue, but I was very sure I had everything dead on. When I started it, it ran for about 10-15sec and then BOOM! Scared the crap outa my kids. I repeated the start about 3 more times with the same result. One of those times I had it running for about 30 seconds before the boom, but I slowly took the idle speed up. I couldn't believe the tach, I was slowly giving it gas but the tach was moving very slowly, then Boom. I wanted to get the RPM's up because I knew a new engine shouldn't run at idle at the first start up.

Prior to this I instructed my daughter that if she saw a roaring flame thru the carb to hit it with some water. Well it was no roaring flame but she doused the carb with the hose anyway.

I'll tell you though, it was a great relief, after 2 and 1/2 years, to hear that monster speak. It sounded loud and angry. Like I woke it up from a long rest.

I guess it's good news that I got cranking going, I have spark and combustion. The worst could have happened, but didn't, that being when I turn the key I get just a click.

So steer me in the right direction here .....what do I checkout first?

Len

Sounds like timing to me too. I usually loosen the dist. hold down just a little. Enough so you can turn the dist. by hand but not so loose that it will turn on it's own. Then, move the dist. a little. Try to start it agian. If it gets worse go the other way. Then when you get it running smooth put a timing light on it to dial it in. Or, you can fine tune the timing with a vacuum gage like Streets does. Turn the distributor back N' forth til' you get Max vac.

If your off too far, you might have to move the distributor a tooth or so.

Hooray...you got fuel & fire, so that's good...

When we first fired up the motor in the Stude, we had flames shooting out of the sides, cause we had a fuel leak we were not aware of!

That made for an interesting day...

I tried setting my timing with a vacuum gauge once, but no matter how far I turned the distributor in either direction, the vacuum remained fairly constant. I took it off of the power brake booster line. I don't remember if I did it after the check valve, though. That would have caused the symptoms I saw. Anyways, every motor has different timing requirements and the vacuum guage is the best way to figure out what your motor needs.

It sounds to me that your distributor is off by 180 degrees take the cap off and make sure the rotor is pointing at no. 1 cylinder when no. 1 piston is at top dead center . line up your oil pump drive slot accordingly. Take your time to get it right you can be off by only one tooth . You want it perfect. good luck ,you will know when you get it right . that 454 will make the hair on back of your neck stand up when it fires in sequence.

Hey Jughead, what a great looking C3. I'm sure this is a timing issue. Make sure your no. 1 piston is tdc after the intake valve has closed. Pull the dist. cap. Make sure your rotor is lined up with the #1 plug wire. Don't be afraid to pull the dist. if you need to adjust it. Remember that it will rotate a little when you drop it back in place.

Thanks Bud. That's an old post though. Here's a more recent one....

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...&threadid=9463