Date:         Sat, 8 Jun 1996 14:48:24 -0500
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Rob <becida@gtii.com>
Subject:      Re: Need Advice - New Motor in '76 Won't Run

At 11:43 PM 6/7/96 -0500, you wrote:
>At 10:39 PM 6/7/96, RON SALMON wrote:
>
>>The motor was also purchased from a listmember, and was supposed to
>>have under 30,000 miles since a full rebuild.  However, I cannot
>>make it run.  It backfires _badly_ through the intake (we're
>>talking flames here!)
>
>That's a sure sign of timing being off.  WAY off.  I seriously doubt there
>is anything wrong with the basic motor, based on your post.  Line the thing
>up at Top Dead Center and make sure the rotor is pointing pretty close to
>either the #1 or #3 plug wire.  If it isn't, turn the distributor until it
>is.  If the rotor is already pointing at 1 or 3, swap the plug wires over.
>Switch 1 with 3, and 2 with 4.  Then try starting the engine again.  This
>has ALWAYS worked for me.  Usually, I am off 180 degrees.
>
>p.s. If this doesn't work, suspect your measurement of TDC.  Don't trust
>the mark on the fan.  You should be able to tell by looking at the valves -
>turning the engine over, TDC will be at the spot about halfway between when
>the intake valve closes and the exhaust valve opens.  You can tell
>approximately where TDC is by when the motor is easiest to turn.  If you
>get this far (valve covers off) do this on #1, and then compare to rotor
>position.  Almost foolproof for setting basic timing.
>
>-David
>


I once got the distributor drive in, well not right. The rotor did not point
at #1 when the cam was ready for #1. 
I was not able to get the dist drive out, so I had to swap wires until I got
the sucker to run.
Live and learn.
Good luck.
Rob