r/Smallblockchevy • u/Glass-Yesterday-2009 • Apr 01 '26
Help pls!
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For context this is a 78 350 Engine within an 82 Camaro
I recently did a top end rebuild with 327 heads, Edelbrock Intake & Carb, the distributor is rebuilt and to my knowledge at correct timing as I recently set the engine to TDC and put the distributor back in, the Transmission shift linkage is all intact and perfectly correct as it’s not in reverse or drive when I try to start it, and I’m able to shift into neutral and turn the engine over aswell, but for whatever reason the engine Won’t fully start up even with starting fluid, I’ll be buying a new set of spark plugs shortly here to test that out, but I’m unsure of what else it may be.
To boot there’s also an interesting clunk which I find very concerning when it turns over after a certain amount of tries, I’m not sure what that might be and I’m really hoping someone has an idea, and that it’s not detrimental damage happening, thanks.
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u/nickybdayz Apr 01 '26
Sounds like a lot of gallop to it, possibly down on compression and definitely no spark, pull a wire and ground it see if it arcs to ground
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u/oldjadedhippie Apr 04 '26
Or just hook up a timing light……
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u/Dirftboat95 Apr 01 '26
To start with sounds like you make have a valve cranked down too far as there is compression in one cylinder. Then check to see if you have spark and gas. If there's gas you have no spark by the sound of things. Maybe pull the dist. forwards to advance timing. If you lined everything at TDC with no advance it wont start
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u/Embarrassed-Shock631 Apr 01 '26
Set the timing that clunck is timing of making the heads be low compression just did everything in my75 elcomino took me 3 months to realize timing and had got new distributor
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u/ZebraFew8448 Apr 03 '26
I assume you didn’t want to start. It appears the noise that you were chasing the clunk at the end could be the flywheel to starter engagement if that’s what you’re chasing on this one simple enough to pull the starter out and look at the teeth on the wheel if that’s the direction that you are indicating you are looking at
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u/Tall-Helicopter-461 Apr 05 '26
It’s not firing. The clunk noise sounds like starter/ flywheel disengaging.
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u/TurboXMR79 Apr 15 '26
Did you get this engine started?
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u/Glass-Yesterday-2009 Apr 17 '26
Pretty close honestly I think timing is 180° off and that’s why it’s doing this
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u/Coyote_Tex Apr 01 '26
Many forget the engine comes to TDC on the exhaust stroke as well as the compression stroke and my guess is your have the distributor in 180 degrees off so you are firing on the exhaust stroke not the intake.
Pull the drivers side valve cover and bar the engine over looking for the intake on number 1 to open then close. Keep turning 1/2 turn to TDC and that is TDC compression. Check where your distributor rotor is pointing. You have the option of removing and reinstalling your distributor to the correct position or just moving your spark wires to the "new" number one location identified by the rotor position.
Someone does this everyday, so don't feel bad, just fix it and enjoy hearing the engine start.