Timing help! What am I doing wrong?

[oxygen454]

I really need some help here.* The truck is a 91 3.0 standard.

The distributor was taken out by my friend who was trying to change the alternator and now we can get the timing set correctly. (Not sure why he took the distributor off)

We turned the crank so number one cylinder was at top dead center and checked to make sure the crank was at 0. Then slid the distributor into the engine block with the rotor facing where plug one is on the cap. With all this lined up, the truck won't start. We also had the jumper wires in (verified they were connected by the flashing check engine light).

The first time we did all this, the rotor was off 180 degrees which made the engine run fairly nice. But when we tried to drive it, it had no power. It popped, backfired a bit and stalled. It also smelled of rotten eggs. The timing with the jumper wire in, was set at 10 BTDC as what the decal under the hood states. (Used a timing light)

The engine was up to normal operating temperature and the idle was set at 800 rmp.



Any ideas much appreciated!

 

[Hyde802]

Welcome.

Sounds like you covered your bases. Just to verify because you said it ran ok 180 off, #1 cyl is passenger front.

Plug wires in the correct spot?

 

[oxygen454]

Thanks for your reply. The cap has the numbers on it but I ment to double check the wires to the plugs.

The number one wire on the cap is close to the plug harness. Does that sound about right?

 

[wshiverick]

Just to make sure, the timing belt was on when you turned the crank right?

 

[oxygen454]

Yep timing belt was never touched.
He pulled the distributor shaft out but that's it.
The wires are correct on the cap and engine block.

Yes it ran when it was 180 deg out. Rotor was facing down with the No. 1 cylinder at TDC. When we tried to drive it, there was no power and stalled.

Now when we try to start it, the engine rotates a few times, then pauses, then rotates again.

I took some pics and video...

 

[oxygen454]

With cylinder 1 at TDC

The plug wires was off to put the bolt back into the cap.

Its hard to see but that is a the timing mark at 0 TDC

 

[oxygen454]

Video..

http://vid360.photobucket.com/albums/oo44/oxygen454/VID_20150114_192529.mp4

 

[541joseph]

I believe that it needs to be more at 1 o'clock and not 12. Don't quote me tho. Take a pic of the inside of the cap

 

[oxygen454]

Just a thought... The PO had some other type of cap on it that kina fit but we replaced it with the propper one. (Only 2 of the mounting holes lined up) Could the rotor be wrong too and not work with the new cap? Weird thing is, it ran before with the new cap but 180 degrees out.

I will see if I can get a pic of the inside of the cap.

 

[oxygen454]

One more thought, is it possible that I could have set the engine to TDC on the exhaust stroke when we slid the cap in? Therefore, there would be nothing to fire?


.

 

[oxygen454]

Success! We pulled out the distributor, turned the crank 360 degrees to put the cap on #1 compression instead of exhaust. Then adjusted the idle and timing. She runs great again. I don't think my friend will be pulling the distributor shaft out again lol.