I have put my 272 Y block back together after a rebuild, only to come to break-in and she won't start. Just seems like a timing problem. As I don't know too much I'd thought I'd try the collective knowledge of you y blockers.

Now regards to ignition/timing, I have a new cam, valve springs, timing set, crank dampener and MSD distributor and coil and new leads and plugs.

Bit of insight-

I set #1 piston at TDC compression stroke and counted 12 pins between timing chain marks. The new dampener's timing marks also correspond to #1 TDC. So at this stage I'm looking good. I marked where I wanted #1 lead on my dizzy cap, transferred it down and dropped the dizzy in with the rotor pointing a #1. I then cranked the engine by hand until piston #1 was at compression TDC and checked rotor was still pointing at #1. All good.

After checking a few thinks I tried to start the engine... I threw a tiny bit of fuel in the carby and cranked her over. Nothing- kept cranking until fuel was fully primed in carby. I then left it for 15mim to think and tried again, still nothing but a couple of coughs.

I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the new MSD dizzy and coil or something I have done wrong.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Dan.





Thanks, Dennis.

56 F100 - 272 Y Block
NSW, Australia.

How did you determine it was on the compression stroke? Could be 180 off. Did you try turning the distributor a few degrees either way? 
Nice looking engine, what headers are those? Is that an aftermarket bell housing you have the OD trans bolted to?

If you determined that number 1 is on compression while installing the timing chain, then you are 180 out.  When you install the chain and have the 12 pins, #6 is on compression and #1 is on exhaust.

Pull a the valve cover, turn the engine untill both of #1's valves are closed.  When they are closed, they will wiggle slightly because of the clearance.  If they do not wiggle, then they are on overlap of the exhaust stroke (or adjusted incorrectly).  That will be the compression stroke of #1.  With the damper indicating 0, remove the distributor cap and see if the rotor is pointing to #1.



Lawrenceville, GA

I hope the 12 pins and marks were on the right, the Eckman book is wrong when it says they are on the left. 

It's referring to the left side/bank of the engine not your left hand.

It's not going to start because you painted it the wrong color.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

Don't believe him Dennis, mines that color and it starts just fine.😀

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Dennis22, another thing to check is to be sure the plug wires are installed in the correct firing order-the distributor rotates counter-clockwise, therefore the plug wires should be firing around to the left in the distributor cap.

Ok, so I'll try to answer everyone-

Ponymare- yep the timing marks were on the right when looking at the engine, and the valve lash is correct.

57RancheroJim-
I determined #1 TDC by putting my thumb over the plug hole and cranking the engine by hand until the pressure blew my thumb off.
Not sure about the bell housing- it was like that in the truck when I bought it- see below pic, and the headers are from eBay, advertised as thunder bird headers.?


Charliemccraney-
When I put the heads on I adjusted the valve lash and got #1 TDC Using thumb over the plug hole method. When dizzy was put in I cycled through the strokes with thumb over plug hole method until I got #1 TDC and looked at the dizzy rotor and it was at #1 plug and the dampener wat in marking TDC. I don't think I have installed the dizzy 180 out but you never know, I'll recheck with a fresh mind today.

56fairlane and Miker- the paint is pretty scuffed up now it was way nicer before the rebuild- I cleaned it up and painted it before I had convinced myself it needed to be rebuilt
Before shot-



Bamabob-
I have the shop manual and the y block rebuild book, so I'm sure the firing order is correct and is going in the right direction- I will double check though.

Thanks for all the great feed back! I will go and check everything again. I'm sure it's a timing problem, I'll keep you updated.


Thanks, Dennis.

56 F100 - 272 Y Block
NSW, Australia.