Will not start

SEOMANTEK

MEMBER
1981 DODGE RAMCHARGER
V8
4WD
MANUAL
132,000 MILES

I have an '81 ramcharger 4x4 with a 360. I accidentlly started it while it was in gear( it has a np435). It would not start after that. I tore it down to the timing chain and it was spun 180 dgrees according to the chilton manual. The chain had 3/4 inch of play per side at that time. I changed the timing chain, and put it all back together. I still had the same problem. I then checked to see if the cam was working by removing the valve cover to see if the valves were workin, they were. I then brought the #1 cylinder to top dead center and checked to see if the distributer rotor was pointing at the #1 plug wire, it was. What do I do and what is wrong. The truck ran before I made this dumb mistake but why won't it run now? Please help!

Saturday, November 27th, 2010 AT 11:59 PM

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,330 POSTS

The cam gear WILL be off 180 degrees every other crankshaft revolution because that gear has exactly twice as many teeth so it turns half as fast.

Have you checked for spark? Do that first and holler back. If you find a single dandy-looking spark from the coil wire when you turn the ignition switch off, that proves the coil is working. If the pickup coil in the distributor got bumped, check its air gap with a brass feeler gauge. Don't use the regular steel ones because they are magnetic. The gap must be.018". It doesn't take much before they won't produce the proper signal.

Caradiodoc

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Sunday, November 28th, 2010 AT 12:33 AM