Advice Needed - Can't Start Rebuilt 273
Are you 100% sure the wiring is correct. I'm talking about the run/start circuit and the coil? I also don't know if the compression is really an issue either. I've never checked compression on a new engine without the rings seated. Maybe someone else would know. Do you have good grounds for the elecrical? Do you have the engine grounded to the frame? I sure hope you get this figured out. If your thinking about dropping in a 360 I think your fun factor would increase too:)
Yeah, I'm sure about the wiring. The car had a running 340 in it. It is the one in the link in my signature. I kept everything including the distributor on the 273 engine because I didn't want any issues like that.
I just finished pulling the cover and checked the timing marks. They line up perfectly. I was really hoping they were off :) While doing that job something occurred to me. Here's a little story:
I got this engine in a project car I purchased years ago. I was told it had been rebuilt but never started. The previous owner gave up on the project and parked the car. When I got it, I spent a lot of time trying to get it started - same results as now. The engine was so tight you could barely turn it over so I figured the bearing clearances were wrong or something. When I originally pulled the engine, oil poured out of the front of it. Weird.
I eventually sold the car years ago but kept the engine. I recently decided to put this in my Dart (originally a 273 car) to make it more of a daily driver. So I tore this engine down and went through it completely. I discovered that the oil leak out the front was because the front pieces of the pan gasket were completely gone. Everything inside the engine was new and clean except that some kind of gunk had gummed up the rings and cylinder walls. The pistons would barely move and the rings were stuck in the grooves. I cleaned up all the gunk and bought new rings. When I put it back together, everything turned freely.
Now today, when I pulled the timing gear cover, I was careful but the front pieces of the pan gasket tore off - just like I had found it. So, that got me to thinking that someone had taken that cover off before I got the car - then just slapped it back together. I'm thinking that the last unlucky SOB that worked on this engine had gone through the same steps I have :)
Anyway, since the timing marks are lined up, I'm pulling the engine. Maybe the cam is screwed up. It's probably not even the correct cam -who knows.