Thread: Need Serious help, no spark after backfire

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Hey folks, I have a 5.7 small block and I ran out of gas, upon trying to get it started to at least get out of traffic the engine backfired loudly and I had to push it. I put 3 gals of gas in, and a small amount in the carb...no start. Tried everything I could think of and ended up towing it home. I learned that I was getting fuel but no spark, I replaced the cap and rotor after realizing they were toast, still no start, replaced the ignition module and still nothing any ideas?

Did you check for power to the distributor? I'm assuming it's a small block chevrolet of some year... probably HEI since you mentioned a module.. And if it's a late model, there's probably at least 2 fuses that protect the engine control (and possibly a fusible link)...

But I'm no Carnack the Magician as seen on Johnny Carsons' Tonite Show... (let's see if you remember that one?!?!)

Oh, and welcome to Club Hot Rod!

Sounds to me like you had a sudden ignition failure that led to the backfire, not that the backfire caused this problem. Like Mike says, you need to start from scratch on your ignition system, check for power, and check all of your fuses - a cheap probe type test light can check fuse status pretty fast using the little test port holes atop each fuse, power to the fuse, and power through the fuse with two touches. And welcome to CHR! Tell us more about this 5.7L if more questions - what's it in, what year, carb or injected, ignition type, etc.

There's not much to the HEI on a sbc. Hot wire to ignition sw. Do you have power to the dist.? Check coil? When it backfired did it put you out of time?? OH yes Welcome to CHR

Maybe instead of running out of gas , the timing chain/gear failed------------Check fr rotor rotation and if it points to #1 or 36 at the tdc mark on the dampner

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Maybe instead of running out of gas , the timing chain/gear failed------------Check fr rotor rotation and if it points to #1 or 36 at the tdc mark on the dampner

That's #1 or #6 with the timing mark at TDC on the dampner depending on which stroke #1 is on, compression or exhaust. That's a good tip, Jerry.

I think Jerry scared him off!

Originally Posted by 34_40

I think Jerry scared him off!

Or he was looking for instant gratification Posted at 8:30pm, waited an hour for an answer, and hasn't been back yet, or at least hasn't logged on. Maybe he'll drop in again and let us know what he found his problem to be.