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1987 Buick Regal Tries to start

Tiny
CWESTBROOK
  • MEMBER
  • 1987 BUICK REGAL
Engine Mechanical problem
1987 Buick Regal 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive 49000 miles

87' Buick regal 3.8L V6 non-turbo
After extensive work to replace intake manifold gasket I am now trying to get the thing to run. The distributor was removed without marking (smart) so I found TDC for no. 1 and set to 0 degrees until I can get it to start to set proper timing of 15 degrees BTDC. Now the engine will fire up and try to run but it just wont fully catch and some slight smoke from carb. There is fuel entering the carburator and I have proper spark. Could this be a choke problem? Like I said it will fire up while I am turning the key to start as long as I floor the gas pedal but it just wont fully run. Any help?
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Thursday, November 20th, 2008 AT 8:59 AM

2 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Did you have number 1 on tdc of the compression stroke? Was the rotor pointing at the number 1 plug tower?

If you think there is a choke problem, have a helper start the vehicle, while you watch the choke. When you set the choke on a cold engine, before starting, it should be closed. After starting, it should open a little. If it doesn't open or opens too fast, the vehicle will stall.

Are there any trouble codes?
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Thursday, November 20th, 2008 AT 9:19 AM
Tiny
CWESTBROOK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yeah no. 1 is definately on compression stroke because previously to that I had it 180 degrees out and backfired through the carb. The way I found TDC was to wait for the air to push my finger off the no. 1 spark plug hole and then I rotated the pully manually until the timing marks lined up with "0". Where the rotor was pointing at this point is where I rotated the base of the distributor to and then tightened her up. Thank you for the help and I will veiw the choke operation as well.
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Thursday, November 20th, 2008 AT 9:25 AM

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