Not long ago I purchased a 74 Maverick...not a bad car, 60K original miles rust free and straight body, just in need of a little engine TLC ( it had setting for about ten years). Got the car running and it burned a little oil, a few miles and a couple of oil changes cleared it right up ( probably the rings had contracted?? ). The car runs but idles rough and is a hard starter, a carb rebuild helped. While checking the piont gap it was found that the plate in the distributor was badly loose and worn, so I got a new distributor to put in. Now I can't get the thing to start at all!!! I tried the inital install by marking the location of the rotor and the dist...no luck. So the I started over and set the engine to TDC and installed the distibutor so the rotor was at No.1 plug wire, still no luck. All I get is the occasional sputter and backfire. My wife is getting real tired of the "daily driver" that will be a hot-rod some day! Need help...any suggestions are welcome (on wife or car).
did yo umake sure that the engine was on tdc on the compression stroke? If it is not it will not start. I usually do this by pulling plug #1 and stick my figure over the hole and slowly tap it over until the compression starts pushing my finger off the hole. Then set it on tdc. I am sure there are better ways of doing it but that is my backyard mechanic way. Hope I helped
Yup! sounds like you were at tdc for the exaust stroke. Just do like Antjc600 said. Just to be sure...Make sure your on plug #1 Facing the motor thats the front left cylinder. I think he is right on this!
