89 GM wont start!

[gadget73]

Just pull #1 plug and stick your finger in the hole. You'll be able to tell when its on compression stroke because it'll try and blow your finger out.

If you set it by #5 and dropped the distributor to #5, in theory it should be OK, but out of habilt I do them to #1.

[Jason91GM]

reason i set it at #5 is cause its easier to get to and i did it with the vavle cover off, when both valves were closed, meaning it was on the compression>power stroke. so that means i cant be 180 out, right?

[roastdawgg]

if its popping out where you say it is there is detonation at the wrong time...ur timing is fuskered mang...

[Lincolnmania]

set the engine at tdc and make sure that the rotor points to the #1 position on the distributor cap.........u may be 180 deg off
scott

[gadget73]

Why set the timing with #5 if I might ask? Just wondering. I'm used to doing it with #1, but its pretty much arbitrary. The distributor is also pointed correctly, yes? Fords point straight back when at TDC on #1 compression stroke.

Try shooting some starting fluid in the throttle body to see if it will light off. If it does, you poss aren't getting injector pulse. There is supposedley some plug-in light thing that will let you visually see if the injector is getting pulse, or you can use a standard analoge multimeter or a small bulb that will light on about 5v to check. If no pulse, check the harness for damage and good connection, and if thats all OK, maybe try swapping out the ECM with a known good one. If you end up needing one and can't get a boneyard one, let me know and I can send you the orig one from my 86 Townie. You'd lose cruise control function with my ECM tho.

[Jason91GM]

of course! i even tried the HO pattern just for the hell of it.

[gadget73]

Are the plug wires in the correct order?

[Jason91GM]

i pulled the vavle cover off the drivers side, pulled plug out of #5, set igition timing with that and checked vavle timing. everything appears to be functioning correctly. i did swap distributors with my running 91, to see if that was the issue. should i try swapping the computers?

[monterey1962]

TFI module?

[roastdawgg]

that sounds a lot like timing issue....how did you check your timing?

[Jason91GM]

ok, my 89 wont start. it turns over, and pops out the throttle body. vavle timing and igition timing seem to be correct. got fuel pressure on the rail, got spark at the plugs. supposedly before i got the car it had a mis fire, really bad. the car was wrecked and the front clip was replaced, which means the wiring harness has been fucked with alot or replaced too. any ideas? i need to get it running asap! thanks!!!