Trouble with that first summer startup

[shadowVOLPE]

It's the middle of July and I still haven't gotten my 86 GT past the end of the driveway. Not happy about this.

I've rebuilt the entire ignition system, 700 cold amps battery, STI plug wires, MSD ignition coil, new distributor from fierostore.com, and NGK iridium plugs.

Turns over easily, doesn't start. Could be timing.

Since I stored it early November, I've put stabil in the tank, replaced all 4 brakes (rotors, pads, calipers, fluid) an oil change, replaced the old carpet with fresh black, painted all the trim, and swapped nearly all of the ignition system.

What do you guys do, to get the car out the door after a winter snooze? What should I look at if timing is not the current issue?

 

[Oreif]

Remove the #1 spark plug and turn the engine by hand with your thumb or finger over the spark plug hole. When you feel pressure building that means you are on the #1 cylinder's compression stroke. Then set the damper timing mark to "0".
Finally pull off the distributor cap. The rotor should be pointing at the position of the spark plug wire for cylinder #1. If it is not, then the distributor is not installed correctly.

If it is close, put the cap on and the spark plug back in then turn the distributor 1/8" counter-clockwise and try to start it. If that doesn't work, try and turn it clockwise 1/4".
If timing is off, one direction or the other should get the engine to run. When it runs, then set the timing properly.

 

[superdave]

Remove the #1 spark plug and turn the engine by hand with your thumb or finger over the spark plug hole. When you feel pressure building that means you are on the #1 cylinder's compression stroke.

Keep in mind It will do the same on the exhaust stroke, so if you look at your dampener and the mark is no where near it is suppose to be, turn the crank 180 degrees and look for the mark, then check your distributor rotor placement.

 

[Oreif]

Keep in mind It will do the same on the exhaust stroke, so if you look at your dampener and the mark is no where near it is suppose to be, turn the crank 180 degrees and look for the mark, then check your distributor rotor placement.

No it will not. The exhaust valve will be open so there will be no pressure.

______________________________

 

[shadowVOLPE]

Turns out the timing is off just a couple teeth. Solved the problem by rotating all the plug wires one metal prong. (temporarily)

The rubber inside the harmonic balancer is cracked and dried out. And the alternator mounting bracket is cracked, hopefully, replacement will help with the blasted squealing.

Despite all that, she still got fired up yesterday for the first time since november. Super stoked to get back on the road!