Please help....I just installed a cam in my 95 z28 and all the car will do is turn over and backfire occationally out of the intake.
I replaced the other cam with the exact same cam. (224 236 Comp Cam)
The reason for the replacement was because a lifter turned sideways on me and it ground the lobe off the cam. When I installed the new cam I used the instructions on Shoebox's website as a reference. Although since I wasn't changing the timing set I put nail polish on the chain and both sprockets to line them up. I also marked the block with nail polish to set the new cam in the exact same place. I know I put the right hole on the opti on the cam dowel. I was thinking maybe it could be the rocker arms, but wouldn't it at least start? Or try to start?

 

I also tried firing some starting fluid in the intake to see if it would fire at all, but I got nothing.

 

Sounds like timing. Check your plug wires and make sure they are hooked up correctly. If that isn't it, you may have put the timing chain back on a tooth off. You can check this without pulling the timing cover (oil pan - you know the pain), but you'll have to pull the water pump, opti and crank pulley. Use a 7/16"-20 bolt and nut to lock the bolt to the crank. Rotate the crank with a wrench on the locking nut until the cam dowel is at 3 o'clock. You may have to pull plugs to get the engine to turn easily. Next check the position of the crank key. It should be at 1:15. BTW - the stock/aftermarket timing sets have dots that are used for indexing the cam.

Just a couple of ideas, maybe someone else will chime in with some others .

 

check your plug wires very good, very good

if that is not the problem you must have timed it incorrectly like stated above.

 

That is great feedback thank you!!!
Tomorrow I am going to tear into it and figure it out one way or the other

I just don't get how it would be off if I marked the chain and the sprockets with nail polish and put them back the same way.

And as far as the plug wires, wouldn't I still at least get the engine to fire a little bit if a couple were off? I even sprayed starting fluid into the intake and couldn't get so much as a tease of ignition.

Thanks guys!!

 

Are you 100% certain that you put the cam dowel pin in the correct hole on the Opti?

 

I would say I was 100%.....but at this point I am not sure of anything

I am going to pull the opti off and see what it looks like.

Thanks so much for the help!!!

 

Ok....I pulled the opti and the dowel pin was in the right spot, I also set the cam dowel pin to 3 o'clock and the key hole on the crank is at 1:15.

I don't know what to do now.....

Any thoughts on what to check?

 

Also, I was looking at the diagram on shoebox's website and I am concerned about determining if the timing is right based on the dowel pin at 3 and the crank key at 1:15. According to the diagram the crank key is in that position at both #1 and #6 TDC. I am going to try to figure out if it is at #1 TDC or #6.

 

just install it dot to dot. crank dot at twelve and cam at six and you will be at 6 tdc