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302 Binding on Start


JuJu1289

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Active
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Apr 21, 2009
Messages
113
Vehicle Year
1987
Transmission
Manual
Hey guys, Ive been working on my 302 for awhile now and haven't had much time to work on it because of classes. But today I went to start it up and it seems like there is some sort of binding while it is turning. At first i thought it was the starter because it popped when i first started turning over. But i swapped the starter for a new one and its the same deal. All i can think of is that the transmission is somehow binding up at a certain point. Anybody have the same problem?
 
I'd agree on the timing as well. Baring that have you made any changes lately or is this the first time you've attempted to start it? Is it an auto tranny?

When my tranny went out (C4) after my heart attack my 17 year old son put the new one in and didn't line up the torque converter correctly. Ended up bending the flex plate on the drain plugs (not aligned on the holes). It sounded and acted like a massive bind (which it was) and ended up killing the starter as well.....His heart was in the right place but the torque converter wasn't!
 
Ended up getting it started today. The timing was off but so was the firing order. I had the normal 302 firing order set up and was only getting 1 cylinder on the passenger side firing every turn. Turns out the guy I bought the block from changed the cam to a H.O cam... changed the firing order to the H.O order and it fired up with some distributor rotation.

I did also have to hook up a 850 CCA battery to get it to turn over smoothly. For some reason the 610 I had on wasnt cutting it.

I just need to do some research on my carburetor cuz i was having to hold the throttle to keep it running. Im also only running about 4.5 psi fuel but I think that should be fine. Any objections?
 
Last edited:
Ended up getting it started today. The timing was off but so was the firing order. I had the normal 302 firing order set up and was only getting 1 cylinder on the passenger side firing every turn. Turns out the guy I bought the block from changed the cam to a H.O cam... changed the firing order to the H.O order and it fired up with some distributor rotation.

I did also have to hook up a 850 CCA battery to get it to turn over smoothly. For some reason the 610 I had on wasnt cutting it.

I just need to do some research on my carburetor cuz i was having to hold the throttle to keep it running. Im also only running about 4.5 psi fuel but I think that should be fine. Any objections?

Set the base timing to 12*BTC, close the throttle adjuster screw on the carb all the way closed, then adjust it(with the engine off) until it just barely opens the throttle. Thne start it up and if it doesn't idle (really need to do this while the engine is warm) adjust the throttle screw till it'll idle at the lowest rpm possible. Once you've done this, you can fine tune the idle with the mixture screws.
 

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