Good Sam Club Open Roads Forum: Difficulty timing a 1995 Chevy 454ci


Open Roads Forum	Already a member? Login here. If not, Register Today! \| Help

Newest | Active | Popular | RVing FAQ

Forum Rules | Forum Posting Help and Support | Contact

Open Roads Forum > Class A Motorhomes > Maintenance Issues & Tips

Reply to Topic | Subscribe | Print Page | Post New Topic |

OutofTime

Florida

New Member

Joined: 03/01/2023

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 03/01/23 06:02pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

I'm helping my brother clean up a 1995 Gulfstream Sunsport that is built on top of a 1994 Chevy P30 Chassis. It comes with a Chevy 454 big block v8. For the life of me I can't get the thing to fire off. I've verified spark, fuel and air. According to the directions on the air cleaner the timing should be set to 4 degrees BTDC on the number 1 wire. I've tried timing to that and I get nothing. I've read that if you use the timing marks at the 5 o'clock position, use cylinder number 5. Tried that too and nothing.

I made the assumption the harmonic balancer has slipped so I tried timing it the old fashioned way by pointing the dizzy at cylinder number 1 while it's on the compression stroke before reaching TDC. Nothing. I'm pretty sure my wire order on the dizzy is correct and that the spark plugs aren't fouled out.

Anyone have any advice?

opnspaces

San Diego Ca

Senior Member

Joined: 12/22/2004

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 03/01/23 06:58pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

Just looking online it looks like there are two different caps that are wired differently. Rotation is clockwise on both.
[image]

2001 Suburban 4x4. 6.0L, 4.10 3/4 ton
2005 Jayco Jay Flight 27BH
1986 Coleman Columbia Popup.

enblethen

Moses Lake, WA

Senior Member

Joined: 01/05/2005

View Profile

Posted: 03/01/23 07:12pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

did you disconnect the timing connector next to the distributor? Memory serves me it is tan or ivory wire.
Distributor should be second in previous post. First one is for Vortec engines.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow
2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

nickthehunter

Midwest

Senior Member

Joined: 07/18/2005

View Profile

Online

Posted: 03/01/23 07:27pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

Did you have the distributor out, or timing chain out, and put them back in correctly?

ArchHoagland

Clovis, CA, USA

Senior Member

Joined: 11/28/2004

View Profile

Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline

Posted: 03/01/23 10:22pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

I forgot to put the rotor back in one time when I did a tune up. Didn't help that I killed a six pack in the process.

2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD
Workhorse W22 8.1 Gas Allison 1000, 7.1 mpg

2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
US Gear Brakes

MitchF150

Puyallup, WA

Senior Member

Joined: 07/13/2002

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 03/01/23 11:21pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

To check the timing marks on the balancer, you need to check to make sure #1 cylinder is at TDC on it's compression stroke.

There are lots of youtube vids on how to do that but basically, you pull the plug on #1, put your thumb over the hole, crank the engine and you will feel when it's pushing air out on it's compression stroke.

Then you check the timing mark on the balancer to see how close it is.

As soon as you know it's on it's compression stroke, you can put a straw or something to make sure you get the piston at TDC. Usually, using a big breaker bar on the crank nut will let you do that final turn. The starter will most always over bump it and then you'll have to start over..

Good luck!

Mitch

2013 F150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab Max Tow Egoboost 3.73 gears #7700 GVWR #1920 payload. 2019 Rockwood Mini Lite 2511S.

JRscooby

Indepmo

Senior Member

Joined: 06/10/2019

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 03/02/23 04:27am

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

How long has the engine been setting?
I had issue when 427 had been parked for long time. Pulled valve covers, saw little movement in rockers.
Pulled the distributer, used drill to spin pump until had oil pressure on gauge. My best guess was the lifters had drained enough for valve timing.

OutofTime

Florida

New Member

Joined: 03/01/2023

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 03/02/23 05:11am

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

nickthehunter wrote:

Did you have the distributor out, or timing chain out, and put them back in correctly?

I did have to replace the dizzy as the the wires on the pickup coil were shot on the old one. However when I stabbed the new one I got it close enough to fire, though it was running pig rich. The really screwy part of all this is that it drove, though rich, fired up fine the next day, then nothing. We could get it to fire but not run.

I did forget to mention that I do have the computer advance connector unplugged, so we are working on base timing only.

For giggles I also jumpered the OBD1 connector and currently there are no codes.