60 DEG TIMING TO GET ENGINE TO START

[dannobee]

Was the balancer or front cover changed, by chance? Some small blocks have the timing tag under the water pump, at high noon, 12 o'clock, and on the correct balancer, the keyway is way off from the mark. On a "regular" small block, the keyway is pretty much lined up with the TDC timing mark and the timing mark is closer to the 2 o'clock position when looking from the front.

[Steve.k]

Sometimes the roll pin in distributor gear will shear off and spin on shaft. However the ends still in gear and looks normal. Try a different distributor or check that pin.

Had the distributor out to check the gear and the pin appeared ok as did the gear but have to admit I didn't look closely at the pin but it was through and through from what I remember

Steve I’ve done the exact same. But the pin appears fine as it shears of both ends and the stay in gear. Just take it out and check with punch if other side move your good. Have you got timing retard on there also?

[superpursuit]

350 sbc. RV type cam, dont know specs. It wont start till I give it almost 60 deg timing. It will start but kicks back and runs like crap. Confirmed TDC on #1, set valves, no vacuum leaks, has Petronix ign, confirmed its hooked up correctly, mechanical advance works, cam is installed dot to dot. Once started, if I try to back off the timing it will stall. Engine has low power, never really ran right, was rebuilt years ago, maybe has 8000 mikes on it. Any ideas? I'm baffled on this one. Has dual plane instake, 4 bbl Holley, nothing special.
Thanks
Steve

With these symptoms it sounds like your cam timing is off. I would pull no.1 plug & visually check for TDC. You can use a screw driver on top of the piston to get a little more accuracy. Check your balancer timing when you do this to be sure. Then make sure the no. 1 rockers are rocking when you move the crank back & forward around TDC.
If that's ok then check your spark strength. If it is weak then you may have a bad earth to the engine.

I hope this helps.
Allan.

[Geoff2]

Yup, cam timing. Assuming ign timing marks are correct.

[Steve K]

Thanks guys for all the responses. I'm sending this mill to my engine builder to sort out as I haven't got the time to mess with it. I'll let everyone know once it's sorted out. It's a weird one.

[cjperformance]

Fresh fuel??
Wiped exhaust lobe/s.?
EGR stuck open?

[Steve.k]

Ever get this sorted out?

[Steve K]

They swapped the cam out and apparently it runs good, I haven't driven it so can't verify. Is it possible the cam was ground incorrectly?

[Geoff2]

Yes.

[1972ho]

Did he say how swapping the cam out changed the ignition timing buy 30 degrees.

[Steve.k]

They swapped the cam out and apparently it runs good, I haven't driven it so can't verify. Is it possible the cam was ground incorrectly?

Well if im understanding you correctly you had 8000 miles where it ran fine? So must’ve wiped lobe or timing chain jumped?

[Steve K]

I don't think this engine ever ran the way a 350 should have. I spent some time tuning the carb a couple summers ago, eventually got it to squak the tires off a dead stop but it always felt flat. But it did run and was driveable. All of a sudden it quit and wouldn't restart. The only way I could get it to start and run was to advance the timing to somewhere near 60 degs. I haven't had a chance to talk the the owner or the engine shop other than to here it runs better with a new cam. I'll update once I get more info.