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Just installed a crate motor-starting issues-HELP??


hmdznrcld

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If the starter fluid doesn't get it started for you, I would verify that the cam timing is correct(especially if the engine wasn't still packaged/crated when you got it).

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  • 2 weeks later...

i had the exact same problem with my crate motor. turned out to be 2 things

1. the ignition was not hookedup all the way and the 2nd was the timeing was 50% backwards from the factory. I would have all the cams retimed since they had a factory defect when the built the 3.4L DOHC.

/?

can you please specify if your motor is cranking over slow or fast?

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Sorry took so long to respond! But guess what I have the same issue!!! The cams were at least 90 out on the front side I have not pulled the back cover yet to check. It's hard to believe a crate motor would not have proper timing, luck of the draw I guess. The last crate 3.4 I bought was timed fine.

 

My buddy is gonna borrow the tools and time the beast for me, I should be good to go then. The only other hassle is getting to that darn wire on back of the alternator! What a pain that is.

 

I will post up some video once she is fired up, maybe this weekend I hope.

 

Forgot to say it turns over pretty fast, but the starter is making a racket!! Must need to be shimmed

 

 

 

Thanks Guys

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I'm in the same fix as you seem to be. No start on a 1995 crate motor wired as a 1991-1993. I had the timing belt off to remove one of the cam carriers. I guess I need to take a look to see if I retimed it correctly. I've also been dealing with cranking issues. I just found out today my 18 month old Optima Red Top is bad. Maybe that's been the problem all along.

 

One thing that's bugging me is the tach. Does yours show RPM while cranking? The manual says it should or you have an ignition problem. Mine did, to my relief. Then I did the crank sensor wire reverse. The tach didn't show RPM anymore (it didn't start, either). I switched the crank sensor back and I still don't have tach movement. Maybe it's co-incidental and they have nothing to do with each other.

 

Anyway, I'm following this thread closely hoping for a magic bullet. If I find one I'll let you know.

 

Neil

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Hey Neil, My tach shows nothing during cranking either. My buddy is coming over tomorrow evening to time this thing. It should be golden after that, if not I'm gonna spit bullets. We looked at the motor that came out of the car and sure enough the flats were aligned on both sides.

 

I knew we had an issue then. I also found on the front cams that you could push the timing belt down ant least 3/16" of an inch between the sprockets, it scared the crap outta me when I saw that but when you crank the motor around it tightens up. I was praying that my lambo's 3.4 belt is not that loose. I'll keep ya posted.

 

hmdznrcld aka RUNDLC

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Hey, Carthan! I didn't pick up on your AKA. Is this TK that's coming over? Man, I wish I had him on site!

 

You know how after you finally get a motor installed and you're routing lines and such, you think "The first time I have to drop this motor I'm going to fix that"? Well I've reached that point on mine before it's even started the first time. Mostly it's the coil pack on mine. My exhaust is stock Fiero routed, plus the A/C hoses, plus all the wiring is in Thermo-Tec sleeves . . . I can't even see the coils from underneath. I need to unsleeve everything to re-route wiring to mount the coils up top so I can deal with them. Can the coil/ignition pack be bench tested somehow?

 

Take care,

 

~Neil

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Yes... I drove it around yesterday... Although it might not show up on the tach because the car cranks really slow, but fires right away... I will check the black car one of these days and see if it shows while cranking.

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Yes... I drove it around yesterday... Although it might not show up on the tach because the car cranks really slow, but fires right away... I will check the black car one of these days and see if it shows while cranking.

 

Interesting. I'm going by this:

 

34ignitionpage.jpg

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so before assuming it was timing - did you attempt starting fluid to rule out fuel? like before you went out and potentially wasted money on a new pump and stuff?

 

when you don't go about things methodically and cross one system off the list at a time is when you start throwing money at problems that are not there.

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