So after finally getting my 2.8 together and in the car, I was rewarded with a very disappointing and resolute no start condition. A month of trouble shooting later, I finally took the valve cover off to make sure that at TDC, with the cam sprocket mark aligned with the head, and the rotor pointing in the correct direction (I had already checked that), that the cam lobes were also pointing the correct way. I mean, the cam sprocket only goes on the cam one way, and the rotor mount and rotor only go on one way, so it can't be 180 degrees off, right?
Well, I was somewhat relieved to see that the #1 cam lobes in this all-lined-up situation were in fact holding both valves slightly open; not the recipe for productive combustion. Just to make sure I wasn't having some kind engine theory comprehension failure, I went in the shed and verified that a stock cam, sprocket, and rotor indeed left the cam lobes in the opposite orientation.
At this point, even though I was alone, I expressed my disappointment with Dr. Schrick out loud. Mostly though, I was just glad to have found an obvious explanation for the no start. Eager to validate this obvious solution, I modified an old rotor and installed it the opposite direction with 2 of the 3 screws. Sure enough, it started like I had just turned it off yesterday (not 20 months ago, as was the actual case).
Has anyone else ever seen this?
Well, I was somewhat relieved to see that the #1 cam lobes in this all-lined-up situation were in fact holding both valves slightly open; not the recipe for productive combustion. Just to make sure I wasn't having some kind engine theory comprehension failure, I went in the shed and verified that a stock cam, sprocket, and rotor indeed left the cam lobes in the opposite orientation.
At this point, even though I was alone, I expressed my disappointment with Dr. Schrick out loud. Mostly though, I was just glad to have found an obvious explanation for the no start. Eager to validate this obvious solution, I modified an old rotor and installed it the opposite direction with 2 of the 3 screws. Sure enough, it started like I had just turned it off yesterday (not 20 months ago, as was the actual case).
Has anyone else ever seen this?
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