Thread: 350 '93 Buick Roadmaster Won't Ignite After Changing Head Gaskets

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Originally Posted by DennyW

Check to make positive that you are not 180° out of time with the cam.
Is the plug wires in the correct firing order ?
Pull No. 1 plug, take a sandwich plastic bag, or similar push it into the plug hole with your pinky finger, then just bump the starter until it pops out. Then turn the crank by hand to bring No. 1 to the top. Now check distributor to make sure it is pointing to No. 1 cylinder. And if you still have the valve cover off, you can also watch the rocker action.
Red spark means weak spark. Check all connections.

Originally Posted by ted dehaan

When you see the intake valve closing bring the timing mark up on t.d.c. and make shure the rotor is pointing to cyl. #1if not pull the dist. up enough to point it to #1 in the dist. cap or if the valve covers are on remove #1 spark plug hold your finger over the hole when and turn eng over till you feel compresson and set timing mark on t.d.c. and then set dist in P/S how did you determin you needed head gaskets

Turns out I had overtightened the rockers so much the valves weren't closing! I didn't have a good understanding of what valve lash was. 5 turns too tight. The car is timed and running like a top now, save for the coolant leak that just popped up.

Originally Posted by DennyW

Well, now you know how to set the valve lash...

((coolant leak that just popped up.))

Did you use sealer on the head bolts ? Did you make sure the intake fit correctly ?

The leak is/was from the drain petcock. I shouldn't have ever removed it to drain the radiator. I hear it's more problem than it's worth. I retightened it by hand, hoping it won't blow out again. Newest problem is the tachometer isn't working anymore. Would you happen to know which connector I most likely didn't attach correctly?

Originally Posted by DennyW

We would need to know what tach you have, and distributor you are using. Standard delco style ? What brand of tach ?

Hmm it should be the standard delco style distributor and tach, the one in the dashboard. The service manual has a diagram of all the electrical connectors in the engine bay so I'm going to go through that.

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Is this engine an LT1 with an opti-spark distributor???????

Nope LT1's came out in 1994. It's your typical 350.