Help with starting 79 k20 400SBC

[kgerrish]

Maybe just dump a little bit of gas down the carb and eliminate a fuel delivery issue. I just went through this on my NEW TO ME and first ever square body. 1985 K20

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Pull #1 spark plug out, have someone turn the motor with you plugging the spark plug hole with your thump, on the outside, no finger in the hole. when air starts to push past your thumb, you are on the compression stroke, watch your balancer, and stop when you see marks. If it is greasy, clean it up and as stated earlier, mark the balancer between 8-12 degrees BTDC. Pull cap look at rotor, it should be pointing at #1, ground plug on manifold and with ign on, turn dist cw viewed from past where the rotor lines up, then ccw until you see the plug spark. that procedure will confirm the timing is close enough to start.

 

[peats]

I agree with Nedrow, the timing is way out cause it spits and sputters when it was flipped 180. That means there is spark and fuel present.

 

[Bextreme04]

Everybody,quit using brake cleaner,looking for intake leaks and as starting fluid,mounting tires etc. Burning brake cleaner creates phosgene gas. ( oh a little won't hurt anybody) yea,how much will? Why take a chance?

To be more specific, that is only chlorinated brake cleaner. The PERC that is contained in the chlorinated cleaners is a major carcinogenic substance and can indeed turn into phosgene when burned.