1776 not starting`

[plimthing]

Finally assembled my 1776 and fully installed, oil topped up , fuel connected and fresh fuel. Ignition is pertronix flamethrower1 with matching coil. Valves set. New spark plugs.
Tried a few turns of the key to build up oil pressure... perfect no problem light goes off. A few more turns and get the fuel pumping into carb, manually move throttle arm on carb and can see fuel squirting into carb throat, perfect.
Check each lead with a correctly gapped plug against crankcase, nice spark every time. Excellent.
Put it all together and turn key... nothing.
An occasional cough and a pop but not even any glimpse of ignition.
Ideas Please?

[richparker]

Did you verify whether or not you’re were getting spark?
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’71 Westy build
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[plimthing]

yes, checked sparking against crankcase whilst someone cranked engine over, did this with each lead.

[SGKent]

maybe your timing is 180 degrees off. There are two TDC for each time the distributor passes TDC. Make sure you are on the correct one.
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[plimthing]

checked that, all ok

[Spike0180]

What Cam?
What Carb(s)?
What is your Timing set at?
What jets (if different than stock)?
What is the carb set at (screw turns)?

What dizzy? are all the hoses connected correctly?
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Brutis Patches Izabich: 1970 VW Transporter - 1776cc DP
Current State: Projects never truly end...
Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Other cars: 2003 F150, 2003 Jetta GLI vr6-6sp

Sambastic: adj; the quality of being nit picky, elitist, expecting everyone to do things the way they believe is best with no regard to situation, "sambastic"

[plimthing]

34pict3 carb
standard jets
timing is only statically timed as it hasn't ran yet
distributer is a 009 with pertronics elec ignition

[plimthing]

and stock cam.
And carb set to initial settings given by the carb instructions.

[aeromech]

I would have someone crank it while slowly turning the distributor back and forth looking for a pop. Use a squirt bottle to shoot a small amount of gas directly into the carburetor throat.
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[plimthing]

2nd person is hard to come by at moment lol so ive purchased a remote starter switch which should help.
Battery on charge again now. Going to start from scratch again tomorrow, ive rebuilt quite a few engines now and they usually come to life after a few mins... this one is a big. So I guess ive done something wrong somewhere!

[Spike0180]

[Dkwautounion]

I know this sounds silly, but I didn't see you mention it, Did you ever check the compression? Is the gas your using freash ? Are your spark plug wires in correct order ? Maybe you have a big air leak? Are your manifolds to cylindrr heads tight and tight and on the carb to manifold good too ? Sometimes its the simplest things. Sounds like you have air, fuel , and spark so I would look into the human error sounds of things

[plimthing]

I haven't checked compression, but I will do. May sound weird but it sounds right when I crank it, or even just rotate engine with a wrench, so I'm as confident as I can be that there is compression.
Gas is fresh, a day old.
everything is bolted on tight with correct gaskets.
So tomorrow I will start again from scratch...get #1 at TDC , ensure rotor is pointing at notch in distributor rim, ensure distributor drive is at 90deg to crankcase joint and large sector at front. Then set valves.
See what happens! thanks for guidance, will report results.

[wcfvw69]

If you getting spark and fuel, I'd zero in on the firing order. We've all plugged them into the cap wrong in our lives.
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[Ry-dog]

Also double check the rotor cap - make sure the center rider in the cap is intact with the spring action. I had one pop out on me once and that was the only reason it did not start.. I also second the idea of double/triple checking firing order with spark plug connections.
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'70 Westy
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[aeromech]

[telford dorr]

Pull #1 spark plug, then rotate with a wrench until you feel compression pressure in #1 spark plug hole. Now check the distributor rotor and see which plug it's pointing to.. Could be the distributor drive is 180 out...
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[Wildthings]

Just for grins swap all your wires 180° on the cap and give it a whirl.

[plimthing]

So.....
When I assembled engine, set timing, set valves, covers on done and dusted.
Prior to engine start up checked valves.... 'they were out' I thought.... so I adjusted valves.. engine didn't start that's when I cam on here...
So just for grins as wildthings put it, swapped wires 180degrees.... and she runs lol
Seems I set timing correctly during build, then altered it 180 deg prior to running.

LIVE AND LEARN HEY!
Wont be first and wont be last to have done that!
Many Thanks
Anyway second problem, generator light stays on. Any ideas? how can I check my alternator?

[Spike0180]

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_________________
Brutis Patches Izabich: 1970 VW Transporter - 1776cc DP
Current State: Projects never truly end...
Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Other cars: 2003 F150, 2003 Jetta GLI vr6-6sp

Sambastic: adj; the quality of being nit picky, elitist, expecting everyone to do things the way they believe is best with no regard to situation, "sambastic"