Engine not starting

[davis911s]

Trying to get my new engine started.

I charged the battery overnight.
It is turning over, has 38 lbs of fuel pressure (fuel injected) and spark (I pulled the #4 spark wire and grounded it out) I am not sure how much spark should be there but it looked ok.

The only thing I can think of is the timing is off, I loosened the distributor and tried adjusting that to get it to catch but to no avail.

It is not "catching" at all just turning over and over.

Please help, I took an extra day off work to try and fix this.

I also looked for an vacuum hose off but nothing (triple checked everything)



Edit - all these components worked on my old engine 2 weeks ago. (ignition and fuel)
_________________
"I choose to use CAA on old cars with character...instead of car payments on a new car "

1973 Westfalia, Camper Special with 75 FI. Automatic 003 . Non-pop top
1977 Porsche 911S Targa, 2.7 L with 5spd
1992 Passat G60 Syncro Wagon (SOLD)
1975 Westfalia (SOLD)
1979 Westfalia (SOLD)

[Randy in Maine]

Put the engine to TDC and look at the valves so you know you are getting ready for #1 to fire and see if it will go.

It should.

[SGKent]

when was the last time the bus was running and what changed since then?
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[busdaddy]

Dump a tablespoon of gas into the S boot and see if it coughs or tries to start, you'll know if it's a fuel or spark issue then.
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[davis911s]

Randy. Put it to TDC for #1 cylinder - no change

SGKent- the bus was running two weeks ago. I built a new engine, took all the fuel and ignition components off the old engine and put them on the new one.

Shawn
_________________
"I choose to use CAA on old cars with character...instead of car payments on a new car "

1973 Westfalia, Camper Special with 75 FI. Automatic 003 . Non-pop top
1977 Porsche 911S Targa, 2.7 L with 5spd
1992 Passat G60 Syncro Wagon (SOLD)
1975 Westfalia (SOLD)
1979 Westfalia (SOLD)

[davis911s]

Update

I pulled the 3/4 injectors and put them into small bottles. They sprayed as the engine was cranking so I know the engine is getting fuel.

I also am getting spark (as mentioned before)

So my question remains. What the heck is going on??? I have fuel and I have spark why is it not starting???

Shawn
_________________
"I choose to use CAA on old cars with character...instead of car payments on a new car "

1973 Westfalia, Camper Special with 75 FI. Automatic 003 . Non-pop top
1977 Porsche 911S Targa, 2.7 L with 5spd
1992 Passat G60 Syncro Wagon (SOLD)
1975 Westfalia (SOLD)
1979 Westfalia (SOLD)

[onion456]

compression? timing?
_________________
'76 Sage Green Westy 2.0 FI
'76 Creamsicle 7-passenger 2.0 CS FI
'85 Tan Westy

[davis911s]

Compression. It is brand new and I was going to do a compression test once I was able to run the engine and warm it up. So no. I may end up doing a cold compression test.

Timing- I can't get it started to set the proper timing, but I marked the distributor where it was, then I tried moving the distributor a bit hoping I could get it close enough to catch, but nothing.

I know I am close but it is real frustrating. I leave in an hour and will be gone until next week
_________________
"I choose to use CAA on old cars with character...instead of car payments on a new car "

1973 Westfalia, Camper Special with 75 FI. Automatic 003 . Non-pop top
1977 Porsche 911S Targa, 2.7 L with 5spd
1992 Passat G60 Syncro Wagon (SOLD)
1975 Westfalia (SOLD)
1979 Westfalia (SOLD)

[WhirledTraveller]

sometimes, when you take a break from a frustrating project, you will have a mental revelation a day or two later. Relax, it'll still be there when you get back.
_________________
1977 Westy, Automatic. Big Valve heads, CS Cam.

[davis911s]

Great advise

Thanks
_________________
"I choose to use CAA on old cars with character...instead of car payments on a new car "

1973 Westfalia, Camper Special with 75 FI. Automatic 003 . Non-pop top
1977 Porsche 911S Targa, 2.7 L with 5spd
1992 Passat G60 Syncro Wagon (SOLD)
1975 Westfalia (SOLD)
1979 Westfalia (SOLD)

[73kombi]

This is your Camper Special?

What did Jake Raby say?

those key words should alert JR

[davis911s]

73Kombi

Yes it is, he has advised me to do compression test and report back to him.

This forum is more active of course and I like to get ideas to keep my mind going, but I promise I would not try anything on this engine without his royal nod. Also more people will search this forum later and once this is solved it might help someone else in the

Luckily my schedule takes me away until Sunday so WhirledTraveller's advice is bang on. A rest will do me well

Thanks all

Anyone wanna makes bets on what it will be?
_________________
"I choose to use CAA on old cars with character...instead of car payments on a new car "

1973 Westfalia, Camper Special with 75 FI. Automatic 003 . Non-pop top
1977 Porsche 911S Targa, 2.7 L with 5spd
1992 Passat G60 Syncro Wagon (SOLD)
1975 Westfalia (SOLD)
1979 Westfalia (SOLD)

[Jake Raby]

I assisted the user on my engine kit support forum yesterday. He did what I instructed and still didn't receive results.

This is the first kit in probably 7 years that hasn't fired up on the first try...

Lots of things it can be... He needs to slow down, lose the adrenaline and start a few procedures and report back for more assistance.
_________________
Jake Raby
Raby Engine Development
www.rabyenginedevelopment.com
"I've never given anyone Hell, I just told them the truth and they thought it was Hell"

[SGKent]

when I first build an engine I set the timing with a multi-meter or a little light. This assumes the distibutor has points and not an electronic ignition.

Turn the engine to where #1 is at TDC on the compression stroke. With the cap off make sure the rotor is pointing to #1. Hook the meter or light up to where the meter is between ground and the green wire. Rotate the engine counter-clockwise back to about 12 to 15 degrees before TDC. Rotate the dist to where the meter shows continuity. This means the points are closed. rotate the engine to about 8 degrees before TDC and if the points don't open then rotate the dist until they do open. Then go back to 12 -15 degrees and they should be closed. Do this several times until the points open around 7 - 10 degrees BTDC. Lock the dist clamp and see if the car starts. As you do your run up you can tweak it with the regular timing light.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[davis911s]

Jake is right, he has been assisting me on his forum. I don't like to hear that I am the first guy not to fire up on the first try BUT I know we will get it going. It has to be something fairly simple, like I said I know it is getting spark and fuel.

So now it will either be timing or compression.

I will post the results once it is figured out
_________________
"I choose to use CAA on old cars with character...instead of car payments on a new car "

1973 Westfalia, Camper Special with 75 FI. Automatic 003 . Non-pop top
1977 Porsche 911S Targa, 2.7 L with 5spd
1992 Passat G60 Syncro Wagon (SOLD)
1975 Westfalia (SOLD)
1979 Westfalia (SOLD)

[pgtips]

are all your plugs connected in right order to dist ?

[david_594]

Do you have someone who can crank the motor over while you turn the distributor by hand seeing if you can get it to the point where it starts?

When I built my motor my static timing was off by a lot more than I expected.
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1968 westy weekender
2000 jetta tdi
79 vespa p200e