86 se 2.8
Did the gaskets on the intake and valve covers. Now I can't get it to run. Got it running once but had a bad valve knock so i had to redo the now I cant get the thing to run. Tried to find find TDC but I cant get it to fire. I did get it to run by giving it gas but it was rough and would die. I'm thinking i need to start over maybe I did something wrong. Starting fluid makes no difference. I'm at a loss I've being doing this for three days and no luck staring to want to give up on it.

Firing order

6 4 2

5 3 1

Trying to find TDC Then can set up cap. but having a hell of a time finding it

quote Originally posted by jdborne: Trying to find TDC Then can set up cap. but having a hell of a time finding it

If your harmonic balancer hasn't spun, then the wide groove on the balancer is TDC for #1 and #4. Make sure you're on the compression stroke for #1. If your balancer has spun, then you'll need to use a plastic straw or something similar in the #1 spark plug hole to determine TDC.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: If your harmonic balancer hasn't spun, then the wide groove on the balancer is TDC for #1 and #4. Make sure you're on the compression stroke for #1. If your balancer has spun, then you'll need to use a plastic straw or something similar in the #1 spark plug hole to determine TDC.

SOme good points but just to clarify the straw method will determine if the piston is up on the compression or up for the exhaust stroke. TDC is only taken on the compression stroke. When spark plug holes were reachable we use to remove the plug put our thumb over the hole and crank the engine over with a remote starter switch. When we felt pressure building and pushing the thumb off we continued to turn the engine over until the timing mark lined up with the mark on the timing tab. Point is the only true way to find TDC with the engine fully assembled is with a compression gauge and then take Patrick's advice on the balancer. .

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quote Originally posted by jdborne: 86 se 2.8 Did the gaskets on the intake and valve covers.

Correct me if I'm wrong but just replacing the valve cover gaskets and intake manifold gaskets would not disturb the timing. There's no need to remove the distributer or anything else that would change ignition or valve timing. With the exception of putting the ignition wires on the wrong spark plugs it should start right up.

Check your reassembly process. On the other hand if you did remove the distributor without using a reference mark than all bets are off or worse if you did that and cranked the engine with the dizzy out you can refer back to the previous posters information.

Spoon

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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

quote Originally posted by Spoon: Correct me if I'm wrong but just replacing the valve cover gaskets and intake manifold gaskets would not disturb the timing.

You must've missed the "valve knock" repair... although your guess would be as good as mine in regards to what exactly was done!

quote Originally posted by jdborne: Got it running once but had a bad valve knock so i had to redo the now I cant get the thing to run.

Yes I did miss the valve knock. Here's a Youtube link of what others have mentioned. Just may help.

https://youtu.be/a4toMvnDg-I

Spoon

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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

quote Originally posted by Spoon: Yes I did miss the valve knock.

And let's not forget about the fire.

quote Originally posted by jdborne: redid the intake due to a vacuum leak. Didn't pay that much attention to how the injector wires were run. got it all back together and it to run but not well. had a fire from a leaking injector. pulled every thing apart chanced the o rings. put it back together it would not run. Had to find top dead center now it will start on starting fluid. disassembled again and took the harness apart looking for damage I think I have it right but I'm not sure. can anyone help. I cant figure this out.