kingofthetwisties Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 Guys I have just taken my old start cylinder head of my 1600 x flow 711m block and have replaced it with an unleaded stage 2 head from Burton power. However, for those who have read my other cries for help will know I am not known for my spannering skills. The car will now not start. When I try to turn it over it just spits and coughs. The dude next door to me who claims to know all about everything said it sounded like the leads were not on the right plugs. To check this I have put the engine to TDC. Used the position of the rotor arm to identify where lead number one is on the distributor. Then in an anticlockwise direction used the firing order of 1243 to identify the rest of the leads. I then assumed that the cylinders are numbered 1234 from the front of the car to the back. Can anyone confirm that this is correct? Assuming it was I checked to make sure there was a park at each plug and there is. I am now not sure where to go from here. Will the timing need to be either advanced or retarded to compensate for the new head? If anyone has done this and experienced similar problems your suggestions would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammy Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 Your numbering is correct, one is nearest the radiator, 1243 I *think* is right from a quick Google. Couple of things - you can easily be 180Deg out with the dizzy as it only makes one turn for two turns of the engine. With the motor at TDC check both valves are closed ( springs uncompressed) on number one. If not turn the engnie over one more time. Then set the dizzy with the rotor arm pointing at number one cylinder. If you have a "points" type dizzy you also need the points to be just open at this time , if it has a chopper optical or a magnetic pickup type pick up try to work out the same situation for those. It should then fire. then Use a timimg light to get it right. 10Deg BTDC should be a good starting place. If you didn't touch the distributer/leads when you took the head off it should have all been ok Did you check the valve clearances are all ok ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffC Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 should the firing order not be 1342 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofthetwisties Posted December 23, 2007 Author Share Posted December 23, 2007 Thanks Hammy, ill check to make sure both valves are closed. The dizzy is the old black lucas one. It does not have points so I am not sure exactly what I should be looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 Hi Kingofthetwities, First of all, are you sure that no.1 cylinder is at TDC on the right stroke? You could have your timing 180 degrees out. Check the timing mark on the front pulley is right, this would cause your problem. Secondly, if you have taken off your Carbs, are you sure they are sitting correctly as any air leaks will also cause it to spit and cough due to incorrect mixture! Tiggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofthetwisties Posted December 23, 2007 Author Share Posted December 23, 2007 should the firing order not be 1342 Not sure this is right. Are you thinking of the lotus engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 Must type faster - Doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofthetwisties Posted December 23, 2007 Author Share Posted December 23, 2007 Hi Kingofthetwities, First of all, are you sure that no.1 cylinder is at TDC on the right stroke? You could have your timing 180 degrees out. Check the timing mark on the front pulley is right, this would cause your problem. Secondly, if you have taken off your Carbs, are you sure they are sitting correctly as any air leaks will also cause it to spit and cough due to incorrect mixture! Tiggs I have had the carbs off to fit the head but got two service sets from burtone and a complete top end gasket set so all are new and appear to be fitting right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 I'd go with the 180 degrees out then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammy Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 hmmm conflict on the firing order then - I just googled it to see wot came up, and it confirmed your thinknig ,so happy to stand corrected on that *if* jeff is sure. got mine from : firing order If yuo are not sure about the point at which the dizzy fires the cylinder then a crude method is to align the rotor arm with noumber one and rotate the dizzy back and forth, slowly, say abpout 10 deg whilst someone else leans on the starter with a bit of throttle - it should fire, then adjust properly with a timing light. The mark on the crank pulley will be near enough spot on for the purposes we need here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richgm Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 should the firing order not be 1342 No. Firing order is imprinted on my brain from 17 years old with a mk2 escort as a first car(That seldom worked ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asterix Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 just in case the solution is a little more troglodyte thank you think, have you checked the leads for subtle tippex marks or a unique number of small cable ties between 1 and 4? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofthetwisties Posted December 23, 2007 Author Share Posted December 23, 2007 I have alos googled and come up with the same results as i firts set them at 1243. Going to go with this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffC Posted December 23, 2007 Share Posted December 23, 2007 should the firing order not be 1342 No. Firing order is imprinted on my brain from 17 years old with a mk2 escort as a first car(That seldom worked ). ignore me Its 20 years since I had my hands on a crossflow and I cant remember what happened yesterday if firing order is right my next guess would be dizzy 180 degrees out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofthetwisties Posted December 23, 2007 Author Share Posted December 23, 2007 just in case the solution is a little more troglodyte thank you think, have you checked the leads for subtle tippex marks or a unique number of small cable ties between 1 and 4? No there are no marks on the leads as i put these on myself when I got e car. I should have thought to mark them up wbefore I took them off. DOH!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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