The plot thickens...

[porsche_virus]

OKay...got the car to idle okay this morning...let it run for 20 minutes or so...but still had no power. I pulled a plug wire and got a zap so figured spark is okay. I crawled under the car and felt the left heat exchanger and it was COLD. The right one was hot as it should be. Anyone have advice? I'm gettin fuel and spark on both sides, although I haven't checked the spark plug while it's hooked up to the wires outside of the engine yet for fear of starting a fire.

[Jim Sims]

You did put the rocker arms in on the left side? Just kidding! I would first check to make sure you have the left side spark plug wires in the right order on the distributor cap and that all the sparkplug wires/boots are well seated on the plugs and distributor cap. Cheers, Jim

[Sigurd]

Have you re-checked the timing of the left cam?

Try to adjust the ignition timing to where the engine runs strongets. If this is way of the where it should be, then I would have considered checking the cam timing once again.

[47silver]

you can check the plug wires by using a spare spark plug instead of removing the plug, that way the fuel is not being pumped out of the cylinder head. just remove the plug wire put in the spare, ground it and turn the ignition.

gary

[Elombard]

Virus

do you understand what is happenign here? I believe you are not having a healthy combustion "event" on the left side. Its doing domething or it wouldnt run at all. but the combustion is going out a valve or happening at the wrong time. The explosion is not very strong or happening at such an odd time the the hot exahust gases are not going out the exhaust. That; I think, is the big picture. Now you just have to figure out how to get the explosion to happen when it is supposed to. Seems like it has to be the spark is at the wrong time or the valves are opening at the wrong time to make the above scenario possible. Are you able to take the left side valve covers off, rotate the motor and visualize that valves are opening at the proper time in the sequence? i.e. piston up, valves closed, compression (rotor in distributor points to that piston for spark), piston down intake opening gas/air in etc.?? Its ok if you cant I have known alot of car guys that didnt really grasp it. In fact when I did my first cam I didnt - what a mess.

Good luck. enjoy the challenge!!

[john70t]

If the timing was off, wouldn't it affect the whole engine(doesn't hurt to check though)?
"Cold" would indicate a total lack of combustion, not just incomplete. My guesses would be many bad plug wires, mixture settings way off, crimped fuel line/filter for that bank, or even a broken chain. What did you do before to get it to run? Double check the routings/conditions, spark, fuel, and valves. Good luck man!

Please use a spark tester next time-40,000 volts isn't too good for the heart muscle. It also doesn't help the ignition system by having that voltage backfeed into it. They look like a sparkplug with a clip on the outside you put to ground, turn over and watch the spark.
I watched a neighbor doing a power balance on a pickup truck by pulling each wire and checking for rpm drop(while running). There was this loud ticking and there's a spark arcing from his pant leg to the bumper. The same guy had cut open his hand on the fan blade a week before and wrapped duct tape around it. Definitly a learning experience.

[david c.]

double and triple check to make sure the plug wires are on the right cylinders.

[porsche_virus]

Thanks for all the response! I am leaning towards the left cam being off. I'm out of time tonight but will inspect it first thing in the morning. This afternoon I pulled the spark plugs and switched them...same problem. The plug wires are in the right spots...definately. In fact, there is only one way they can go on because of their length, if you start with the shortest being number 1.

[82SC]

right...but are the other ends of the spark plugs in the right place on the dizzy cap???

double check that...

good luck...glad to hear you are pluggin away...

[porsche_virus]

Yes, I have double and triple checked the order of the spark plug wires to the dizzy...as per the Haynes book: 1,6,2,4,3,5 going clockwise from #1. I'm going to check the chain tensioner today and make sure it's got full tension on the chain and check to make sure it hasn't jumped a tooth on the cam sprocket.

Will keep you posted...

[Rot 911]

In another post didn't you mention that you had a bunch of fuel in the air box? This would support the theory that the left cam is not properly timed and the intake valves on the left side cylinders are open on the compression stroke and atomized fuel is being forced back thru the CIS into the airbox.

[stormin48061]

this doesn't make sense. when you say "idle" i can just imagine idle means thumping as it has to be idling really really rough for only half of the engine running? sure it isn't one of those new caddy motors that cut out on the highway? (just kiddin')

[Wayne 962]

The engine can indeed run on 3-cylinders - not well, but it can run. How's the #1 spark with respect to the TDC Z1 mark on the pulley? Is it firing at TDC (or near it)? Check this first. Do it also for number 4 (should be the same timing mark).

If everything is good, then your cam timing is most likely off. You're lucky you haven't bent valves (perhaps you have, and don't know it).

-Wayne

[lendaddy]

I had this problem after I had the injectors cleaned and put my MSD unit on. I thisnk I was running on two or three, can't remember exactly. Anyway I put new plugs in and bam everything was fine. I had overgapped the plugs and some of them fouled out. I read that you swiitched some of them but did you switch the "right" ones? I would put a new set in and try it before I dug too deep.

[Quicksilver]

I don't know the history of the car in question. What kind of induction does it have? Any chance that it just isn't getting any fuel?

Wayne

[Tim L]

Could you have timed both the left and right cams the same (both intakes opening on the same stroke)? This could make it run on three cylinders.

Tim

[porsche_virus]

Okay. I guess my so-called Porsche mechanic was just a wanna be VW mechanic. All the left side rockers arms have broken, and I can only assume it's due to bad cam timing. See picture. This project has now been terminated until further notice. One can only imagine what the valves look like if the rocker arms have been destroyed. I've spent over $3000 in this motor so far and am quickly learning that I could have bought a completely rebuilt 2.7 for that. Anybody know what a '74 roller is worth?

[Jim Sims]

Yikes! You would have been better off if the mechanic had left them out! Jim

[osidak]

If the mechanic timed the camshafts I would go back to him and present him the bill to replace all the valves on that bank.

If I remember correctly you rebuilt this engine already. If so you should be able to get by by replacing just the valves. Not cheap but still not overly expensive.

[Doug E]

I feel for you buddy and second the motion of going back to the mechanic who did the timing. Try talking to him about paying for the repair but if that doesn't work then you might want to look into your legal options.

Good luck.