I have 1988 Chevy 350 TBI. Blew the head gasket and replaced with two new ones. Truck won't start.?

Question

Not sure if I've have TDC on compression stoke also not sure on proper vavle adjustment. Any help would be awesome.

checked fusses still no firing

Answer 1

put it on tdc check the number 1 spark hole make sure its tdc
see where the timing mark on the balancer at 4 degrees
now see where the disrt. point at number 1 on the cap
to adjust the vavles go here it has directions to do it without starting the engine This is how I set valves. With the valve covers off I turn it over until the #1 intake opens then closes and turn it to TDC. Set the #4,8 exhaust and #2,7 intake. Turn the motor to BDC. Set #3,6 exhaust and # 1,8 intake. Turn it forward to TDC and set # 5,7 exhaust and # 3,4 intake. Turn it again to BDC and set # 1,2 exhaust and # 5,6 intake.
I made a chart and posted it on the wall. With a total of 2 complete turnovers or 4 1/2 turn overs all valves are set.
The firing order is 1 8 4 3 6 5 7 2
To set hydraulic's loosen the rocker nut, move the push rod up and down not around and take up all play . Once all play is out of the push rod give it an extra 3/4 turn.
If you rotate the push rod you can not feel when all play it out of the lifter. Moving it up and down you can feel the play getting less and less until it is gone.

Answer 2

Checking for TDC on compression: Take the plug out of No.1 and hold the tip of your finger over the spark plug hole (or have someone else do it) to form a seal. With the ignition off, manually turn the motor over until the air pushes past the finger and makes a sound -- that's your compression stroke.

To find TDC, use a small screwdriver and insert it into the plug hole. Now, as you slowly turn the motor over some more, the screwdriver will start to lay flat (don't worry, there is plenty of room in there so you won't do any damage). When it's laying on it's side you have TDC. Check to see that the lines on the harmonic balancer line up the the timing guides.

Now, take the cap off the distributor: the rotor should be pointing toward the mark on the lip of the distributor. If it's not, you have to re-align it. If it is then its not your timing.

To set the distributor: Lift the distributor (with cap off) part way out until you feel it clear the gears on the cam shaft. See that the vaccuum advance is pointing to the front of the motor and that the rotor is pointing at the mark on the lip and then insert the distributor, fully. Now, as you re-insert it, it will turn because of the way the gears are made (but you've already seen this). Mark the position the rotor is pointing at with some chalk or anything (even a spot of grease will do). Measure the distance the rotor turned and mark out that same distance in the other direction. Lift the distributor out, again; turn the rotor so that it points at the second mark and reinsert the distributor. You may need to jiggle the rotor a little to get the gears to mesh but not too much. When the distributor is fully inserted it will be pointing at the mark on the lip (TDC).

Bolt the distributor down, replace the cap and spark plug (dont forget the lead). Recheck to see you have the correct firing order -- it's on the manifold -- and start your truck.

If it doesn't start, it's something else.

As for the valve adjustment; they should be hydraulic so you just move the rod up and down as you tighten the nut. When there is no movement in the rod, tighten another 1/4 to 1/2 turn and they are set.

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Answer 3

make sure #1 piston is TDC, and check that the distributor is pointing to #1 and that the correct wire from the spark plug is on the distributor at the #1 position, have the valve cover removed and check that both valves are closed, if al that is in line, you should be able to get it started, then adjust the valves if needed, and fine ture it...

Answer 4

First and foremost , check all cylinders if they have compression_ If not try to poor some engine oil into each cylinder in order to expand the compression rings of each piston.
- Check if you have spark coming to each cylinder.
- Check the basic engine timing.(valve timing)
- check your ignition timing.
-Check AT the TBI connector if you have a pulse signal.
_ Check the all electrical connectors if are inserted in their place properly.
IF you have compression in that engine you still Lucky because every thing else can be be minor to resolved.

Answer 5

Do you mean it cranks and will not start (run) or it will not crank over? details, details, details. I know the chevy 350 all the way.

Anyway, what you need to do is go buy the Haynes Repair manual for your vehicle.

Too many things to ask. Anyway, this is just as good. Go to this URL and you did not mention vehicle. But check out the "Feel" section. Same principle though. Check out the repair guide for your vehicle.
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?UseCase=S001&UserAction=viewSimpleDiagInfo&Parameters=info

Valve Lash adjustment at the URL
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/17/02/b5/0900823d801702b5.jsp

Answer 6

Just changing your head gasket wont hurt your valve unless you warped the heads..Pull you Distributor out and reset it with the rotor turned 180 from where it was.

Answer 7

chech all the wires that you had to pull apart. check fuses if you didn't disconnect the battery before you started the repair. and check timing. the valves are hydraulic so they are self adjusting. my best guess is that you forgot to plug something back in.......most common mistake with this repair.

Answer 8

if you got the valves adjusted too tight,then it wont turn over very fast,and if it cant turn over fast enough ,it cant fire.

Answer 9

check the fuses,is a common mistake to burn some of them upon that repair.