Swap is finished, car won't start - any ideas?

Allright guys....

we tried to fire her up and no dice. Here are the symptoms:

1. Car cranks very laboriously.
2. some backfiring into the intake.
3. when we unplug the coil wire at the coil, the car cranks much smoother - does this suggest opti not installed properly?
4. the ground wire from the coil to the driver side fender gets very hot

Here are some other facts:

1. we are getting spark - we pulled a plug and checked
2. we are getting fuel, since the injectors are ticking - is the ticking enough to verify that we are getting fuel? any other ways to check this?
3. the roller rockers seem to be ok.... so i doubt it's a compression problem. the motor is VERY hard to turn over by hand, even harder then my stock 350 with 10.5:1 compression (this motor is 8.5:1).

There is one known problem right now - the ground wire that attaches to the block right near the starter motor is not connected.... coud this cause the problem? I doubt it since if the engine is cranking, the starter is obviously working. unless this wire is interfering with the spark......


I am going to have to work on the car this week - any volunteers want to come over to Shaun's in the evening and check this out? Whoever figures out the problem gets a cash prize (or I can make an additional donation to the food bank in lieu).

..are you at home or still at Shawn's?...do you work Monday afternoon? I'm free...:)

I'm home, got my dad to pick me up :)

Originally posted by sleeperZragtop
..are you at home or still at Shawn's?...do you work Monday afternoon? I'm free...:)


edit:)

I can get the time off work. That is very kind of you.... we can give it a shot if Shaun approves. Meanwhile I will scour the boards and come up with alternatives.

Originally posted by Draco
I can get the time off work. That is very kind of you.... we can give it a shot if Shaun approves. Meanwhile I will scour the boards and come up with alternatives.


....just call my cell, 604-785-5835...my car is well on it's way...it's like putting a model together, slow, perfection and beauty;)

Originally posted by sleeperZragtop
....just call my cell, 604-785-5835...my car is well on it's way...it's like putting a model together, slow, perfection and beauty;)


You bastage :).

I wouldn't wish what I am going through on my worst enemy, hehe. I am glad things are coming together well for ya!

said it on the phone .. said it on MSN .. saying it one last time :p

fix ur plug wires and fire it up ;)

if its not ur plug wires .. then stevie probably had one too many *potent* canadian beer when he was puttin in ur opti :p :p

Yeah I think checking the wires is a good idea. not sure about the "compression" issue. I guess if the plug wires were wrong that would help explain that problem.

The car does seem to labour when trying to turn over. We missed a BIG ground wire to the motor and we also need to work on the small ground wire at the starter area. However, even after fixing the big one the car still laboured.

I will be home this afternoon although I have a hockey game at some time tonight.