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2.8L V6 wont stay running. When running it hesitates. It hesitated when I tried to drive it.


After I did my conversion my engine would not fire off either. It just cranking, didn't even try. I checked for spark, didn't have any. Started checking all my wiring. Was checking the wiring going down to the coil, found one of the pins in the coil connector was halfway out. Pull the connector off the coil, it had almost fallen apart, and the pins where sliding out the back. The store had a new pigtail connector. Bought it, spliced it in, tried it, it fired right up.
 
After I did my conversion my engine would not fire off either. It just cranking, didn't even try. I checked for spark, didn't have any. Started checking all my wiring. Was checking the wiring going down to the coil, found one of the pins in the coil connector was halfway out. Pull the connector off the coil, it had almost fallen apart, and the pins where sliding out the back. The store had a new pigtail connector. Bought it, spliced it in, tried it, it fired right up.

Ill check that! I think Im getting spark since yesterday it sounded like it wanted to run/start for like 2-5 second and died.

If my local parts store doesn't have the connector. Would it be better to just take the plug like clamps and hook it onto the plugs? Since they are flat like the module male plugs? Then splice them together and heat shrink it all? I do plan on heat-shrinking everything after I get her running. Dont wanna do it unless I have a issue with the wiring.
 
Check for spark. If you have it, move on to other things.

Whats the best way to test for spark without having to crank the starter? Thats if there is a way.
 
No way to test it without cranking. The little wheel turning in the distributor generates the signal to the module.
 
UPDATE: I fixed the spark issue. I had some bad/loose wiring to the dizzy. Its all fixed. Not I'm getting backfires through the carb. Im gonna remove the passenger side valve cover and put her at TDC and then drop the dizzy in and try and get her JUST RIGHT.

I checked all of my HEI connections with my multimeter and everything was strong up until I got to the dizzy's connections. They were really low or jumpy. I just ran new wires and crimped them nice and tight. I also make the wire longer so if anything tugs on them. It doesn't cause them to come loose. Also, my wire wasn't even meeting the slide connector. Stupid me! haha.

UPDATE 2: I believe I've got it all settled out. Now when I crank the motor it spits smoke out of the carb and it also sounds like the motor is having a hard time cranking over. Like it spins freely and then it gets stuck and then continues to crank. The starter or motor makes horrible sounds. When it cranks over for a few seconds it will puff smoke out the carb. Its wired compared to how it was shooting flames out of the carb.
 
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Did you double check your TDC? If it cranks over unevenly, fast then slow then fast then slow, the timing is off. It should be constant. If it's having a hard time turning over, and it's consistent, the timing is too far advanced.

Other things need to be in good shape for it to start. Your starter is worrisome. If it won't crank over properly, it's not going to fire off. You also need to make sure the choke is shut. And then open the throttle quickly a couple of times to shoot some fuel into the engine. Even a properly timed engine is not going to start without some extra fuel when it's cold, or some choke action when it's cold.
 
Did you double check your TDC? If it cranks over unevenly, fast then slow then fast then slow, the timing is off. It should be constant. If it's having a hard time turning over, and it's consistent, the timing is too far advanced.

Other things need to be in good shape for it to start. Your starter is worrisome. If it won't crank over properly, it's not going to fire off. You also need to make sure the choke is shut. And then open the throttle quickly a couple of times to shoot some fuel into the engine. Even a properly timed engine is not going to start without some extra fuel when it's cold, or some choke action when it's cold.

Yeah, It was doing what you described. The noise I was hearing was the starter trying to spin the motor but the motor stopped it. It kept acting like something was forcing it to stop/slow its cranking. Im gonna reset the timing/put it back at TDC and reinstall the dizzy.

Im hoping it didn't do any damage to the ring gear or starter.

I did not double check my TDC. IDK why.
 
After the bull shit that happened yesterday. I went out to crank the motor back to TDC and it wont even turn over. Every time I turn the motor by hand it sounds like its hitting something. I don't know what the **** is going on... Ill be posting a video with the sound hopefully soon.
I pulled the dizzy and #1 spark in hopes I could get it to TDC. Its not in gear. It sounds and feels like it is but its not. It sounds like is coming from the rear of the motor.
 
Heres that video.
 
Have you ruled out that the starter gear is not stuck out, engaging the flywheel teeth?
 
Have you ruled out that the starter gear is not stuck out, engaging the flywheel teeth?
I have not checked with my eyes but I did bang on the starter. Im gonna crawl under and see if it can see it engaged.
Thanks! I guess you cant watch the video since the audio is really the part that matters.
 
Have you ruled out that the starter gear is not stuck out, engaging the flywheel teeth?

It was that! The starter I guess somehow got stuck engaged with the flywheel. Im still puzzled on how and why yesterday it was acting the way it was. Ill try and put it in words.
 

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