Had head rebuilt, now no start, need some help

[nydiver]

96 ranger, 2.3l. About a month ago found mayonnaise on the stick, overflow was empty, radiator down 4 inches. Knew it wanted a head gasket.

Tore it down, sent the head off to be checked and refurbed. They tore it down, fly cut it, 2 angle, new cam bearings, stem seals, front seal. I cleaned up everything on my end, replaced anything sketchy like the hose housings upper and lower, thermostat, water pump came with the timing kit, new tensioner, had 2 year old wires so I put in new double platinum plugs, new hoses, pcv, replaced all rubber vacuum lines. Was absolutely meticulous to mark and bag every fastener, connector, everything to ensure it all went back exactly as it was. After 3 weeks I got the head back, it looked good, but it took a LOT longer than they promised. replaced the dowel pins and copper sprayed the felpro gaskets, brand new head bolts. Used a fuel injector connector to apply 12v to the injectors and sprayed Valvoline heavy duty carb and throttle body cleaner thru them, it sprayed thru fine and the patterns looked good.

Thought I had it 100%, everything was back in place, turn the key and it sounds all good but never catches, surf the net, check the crank sensor which made sense since it broke trying to get the old timing backer off. Use a oscilloscope and find that is working, check all the power points on the PCM, all the ground points, check every spark plug and wire on the intake side, Check every injector connection with a noid light set, everything is working right. Put it back together, bleed out the fuel log, pump 1/2 a gallon of fuel out of it, it has 34 lbs of pressure, pump whirls for 2 seconds and shuts off, swap the relays from PCM and fuel pump, no difference, check all fuses for PCM, all good. Open throttle body and shoot ether down while cranking, nothing.

At a loss here, could they of messed up with the cam re-install? can it be 180 out? Can they have left out a key and now the pulley is just turning with the cam just sitting there? We swapped the 1-4 pair on the coil pack for the 2-3 pair and that did nothing. Plugs are dry. I've checked and the 3 timing marks are aligned. Can the cam sensor do this? Could I have screwed up the injectors pumping that carb cleaner thru them? At this point we're going to take the upper plenum off and take the valve cover off so we can watch the cam be turned. Just lost on this one, really irks me as I've got easy 800-900 into this project on a 20 year old truck, figured it was the first big thing it ever threw at me since new I'd give it some love and throw some money at it. I know it was at TDC on the crank (I saw the pistons), can spinning the oil pump while the timing belt was off do anything? I don't remember touching it, but who knows. Just really confused and tired of being in the dark on this one. Any ideas are sure welcome.

 

[tomw]

Do you get a spark when you try to start the engine? No spark == no run. End of story.

If the cam/crank sensors are not functional, you won't get a spark.

Do you have 12v at the coils? the injectors? The relays/switch will send power to both when the key is ON. The computer(ECM) provides the ground to allow flow of electricity. In the first case, coils, removal of ground causes spark. In the second case, providing ground allows flow, allows the electromagnet(coil) to move the pintle valve to open the fuel flow.
Given that ether was not enough to get it to light off, spark problems are more likely.
The fuel pump system is powered for a few seconds at first key turn to ON, but is disable after until there is evidence the engine is running. There should be enough pressurized fuel in the rail and line from the pump to enable the spritzers to spritz and start the engine, at which time the pump is re-enabled. Normal activity.
tom

 

[nydiver]

Do you get a spark when you try to start the engine?

Yes, we pulled each plug wire and plug out so we could visually verify each, they each fire when the motor is cranked.

If the cam/crank sensors are not functional, you won't get a spark.

So if I do get a spark that means both are working correct?

Do you have 12v at the coils? Yes


the injectors? Noid lights plugged into each connector shows they are being pulsed

The relays/switch will send power to both when the key is ON. The computer(ECM) provides the ground to allow flow of electricity. In the first case, coils, removal of ground causes spark. In the second case, providing ground allows flow, allows the electromagnet(coil) to move the pintle valve to open the fuel flow.
Given that ether was not enough to get it to light off, spark problems are more likely.

Hmmm, we are hooking a jumper from battery to the body of each spark plug and we see spark, perhaps I lack a good ground for some reason to the block now.

The fuel pump system is powered for a few seconds at first key turn to ON, but is disable after until there is evidence the engine is running. There should be enough pressurized fuel in the rail and line from the pump to enable the spritzers to spritz and start the engine, at which time the pump is re-enabled. Normal activity.
tom

 

[tomw]

Do you have compression? If the lifters/suppports were filled before installation, they may be too tall, leading to the valves not seating or barely seating. That would make it hard to start.
The 34psi you got on the fuel pressure is too low for a 1996 model, I think. Even the older systems were in the 40psi range.(the ones with fuel return lines), and a bit more when the vacuum line was pulled from the regulator. I think the returnless should be in the 60psi ballpark. Check your specs.
tom

 

[nydiver]

We got a lucky break on another forum with someone who had the same issue and got it straight tonight. If I ever meet the genius at ford that put 2 marks that look pretty similar on the cam pulley I'll kick him square in the junk. So if anyone ever finds this thread with a similar situation USE THE TRIANGLE!!!! The diamond is NOT YOUR MARK, shouldn't even be on the pulley, SCREW THE DIAMOND, line up your timing on the TRIANGLE!!!!

 

[Doofy]

Good to know. Thanks

 

[beech2000]

https://youtu.be/bkJIrHp83S4

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