Will not start

[pierce1904]

I recently purchased a 1977 Spider 1.8 liter that was not running and thought it had jumped timing (it has recently run and the last time the previous owner checked it, it would not fire). When I put the engine in TDC the overhead cam gears were off from where the book said they should be. I replaced the timing belt and got everything lined up the way the book said it should be but it would turn over and not fire at all. I rotated the distributor all the way left and right while cranking and it made no difference. I checked and am getting spark out of each cylinder and good gas is getting to the carb. When I pulled a few of the spark plugs they were wet with gas. I did not check compression but when manually turning the engine it felt tight. Any suggestions on what is wrong?

[124JOE]

pull the dip stick and smell for gas in the oil.
it sounds like its flooded

new fuel pump?carbs use low pressure

[131]

Line up crank at TDC and cam pulleys aligned with pointers (not 180 deg out), check rotor button is pointing at the number 4 lead.

[124JOE]

Line up crank at TDC and cam pulleys aligned with pointers (not 180 deg out), check rotor button is pointing at the number 4 lead.

auxilry oil drive pully at 1oclock?
good ground conection at battery?


stuck float --open?

[pierce1904]

I checked all these things and still nothing so I went to check the compression and was getting no compression at all. I took the timing belt off and saw that the belt was very loose. So it looks like I need to replace the tensioner.

[124JOE]

tentioners are very basic on these its just a spring
you generly replace just the berring

it sounds like it may have streched or the tentioner may have benn tight enuff to hold itself in a loose possion

look like you in for some work

[pierce1904]

I went to tighten the tensioner but could not get the belt tight enough so I suspect the belt is to long. When I tightened the belt I could not get it tight enough to stop slipping on the pulleys.

[rlux4]

The 2 liter engines have a timing belt with 148 teeth, the earlier blocks have 146, so if the PO got the longer belt that's the problem. You can find out by counting the teeth on your belt.
Ron

[pierce1904]

Mine is the 1.8 liter, is it the same for my engine. Also I am concerned that when I bought the car the timing belt had jumped and now I seem to have the same problem (unless it is just a coincidence). Is there something that would cause it to slip when I hit compression when manually turning the engine when I am tightening the belt?

[124JOE]

The 2 liter engines have a timing belt with 148 teeth, the earlier blocks have 146, so if the PO got the longer belt that's the problem. You can find out by counting the teeth on your belt.
Ron

is this because a taller deck hight?
or larger cam gears?

[131]

is this because a taller deck hight?

Same bore, longer stroke = taller block. 17mm I believe.

[rlux4]

If your belt is too long it can slip. The teeth of the belt need to be seated in the cogs of the gears snugly. It's unlikely that your belt has stretched that much, I'd count the teeth on it and make sure you have the correct one for your engine (146 teeth). Pull the belt, mark a tooth with white-out and carefully count the teeth.
Ron

[pierce1904]

I believe I have the timing belt problem resolved and lined up all the pulleys to the spots the book listed and she still will not fire at all. She turns over fine but no fire. She did back fire a little when I rotated the distributor all the way forward and all the way back. What should I be looking at now?

[narfire]

If you have spark,compression and fuel it should fire if the timing is set up. Look at the back of the cam wheels,there will be a hole in them about 1/8 th diameter. If you have these lined up with the small raised marks on the front of the cam towers,you should be at tdc. When the cams are lined up,check the main crank and make sure it is lined up with the tdc mark on the timing cover. When the engine is all lined up, pop the dist cap and make sure the rotor is at or just comming up to the # 4 pin inside the cap. Crank when the dist is set up and cross your fingers it should start. A timing light really helps getting it dialed in just right.
Chris

[pierce1904]

All those those were checked except compression but the engine feels like it had good compression when I am turning it by hand
but it still not fire at all, that is why I am stumped.