how to start a 302

[samson101478]

trying to start my 302 in the bronco im building. building it from scratch. i just had the engine built and put in. i have not installed the new harness yet. i want to start the engine so bad. i always thought if i supply the coil with power and apply juice to the starter it should run. well i am cranking it over but will not start and the wire going to coil gets really hot. what am i missing?

 

[Broncobowsher]

What kind of ignition system do you have?

 

[samson101478]

stock 1 wire distrib. and msd blaster 2 coil.

 

[dave67fd]

Confirm your basic wiring setup. Was the motor pre-run or setup (points, timing, carb)?
The negitive terminal (-) goes to the distributor wire.

 

[samson101478]

i will wire in a temporary key switch using the one from the sentec system and wire it up just like that diagram . hopefully it will fire up. still not sure why the wire gets super hot. ill wire it up and see. thanks for the help and will keep you posted

 

[Pa PITT]

I want to keep up with this post.

 

[PaveBronco]

Do you have a resistor in the system between the key (power) and the coil ?

 

[WheelHorse]

Has your engine already been broken in on a dyno?

IF it's roller cam, the break in is no where near as nail biting as a flat tappet.

 

[DirtDonk]

What dave and WheelHorse said. And don't just sit there cranking it if it is not starting right up. Prime the oil system, prime the fuel system with some gas in the carburetor's float bowl, check all your bolts and nuts and anything you can think of. Even to the point of checking your ignition manually for spark.
If you don't, your anxiousness for starting it up to hear it run could wipe out all of your investment in one fell swoop when you wipe out your flat tappet cam.

Sorry if you have a roller, but we wanted to make sure you were familiar with how critical the initial startup is with a flat-tappet cam.

Good luck. It's always exciting to hear it run for the first time!

Paul

 

[Socal Tom]

Fuel, spark, air.
Are you getting fuel to the carb?
Are you getting spark,
Is the timing correct? Is the dizzy 180 out?

 

[samson101478]

Wow i have a lot of responses . You guys are awesome. I primed the oil , it does have a resister. Spark at the plug And gas. It cranks over fine and just pops and farts. Timing is right on the money and according to the manuel I have the firing order right. I think its weird that the coil wire gets hot fast. I didn't have time today to wire in a ignition switch. Hopefully tomorrow. I wonder if the resister is bad

 

[Socal Tom]

Popping and farting is a sign of the dizzy being 180 out. The easy way to check s to swap the wires across the other side of the cap.
Tom

 

[Broncobowsher]

There are two different top dead centers. One on the top of the compression stroke, spark here and the engine will run. The other is at the top of the exhaust stroke, this makes for popping and sneezing backfirey no run.

Also check the firing order carefully, check it against the cam card as well. There are two different firing orders possible depending on what cam you have.

 

[samson101478]

If its not the stock firing order then what is the other firing order? I believe I had a comp cam put in to match the comp cam roller rockers in it. The guy I had build it moved down south. So I can't ask him the details that I have forgotten about. He did break it in for me so I know its good to go .how ever I pulled the cap of and changed wires .I put them back to what the book said.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The original small block firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
But the 351 and 5.0 HO (most of the mustang roller cams) have the firing order of 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8

This is dictated by the cam, the crank has the same throws. Basically half the cylinders have the firing and compression strokes swapped.

 

[samson101478]

Hmmm im not 100% sure. But it just might be a ho

 

[DirtDonk]

No guessing on this. 'Gotta take a few plugs out and verify with a finger tip over the plug hole while you or someone rotates the crank clockwise.
You may have to turn it over several times just to make sure what you're feeling is really the higher pressure of TDC on the compression stroke.

1. When you start to feel the big buildup on the #1 cylinder, watch the markings for TDC that should be coming up (we're assuming that the damper is the correct one and the markings are accurate) into view.

2. With the #1 cylinder at TDC, verify where your distributor rotor is pointing. If at #1 wire, great. If not, pull and re-install correctly.

3. When the timing marks are at TDC for #1, you should put a finger on #3 and/or #5 (if you have two people or a long reach) to see which cylinder pressurizes next.
It should be within the next quarter turn or 90° of crank rotation.

Whichever one is next will determine your firing order. Verify your #1 wire position and orient the rest in a counter-clockwise direction for your cam.
And just to be sure (because it happens a lot) you are familiar with the Ford cylinder orientation? With #1 being the front-left when facing the engine. Or front passenger side.
From there it goes 1, 2, 3, 4 all on the passenger side. 5, 6, 7, 8 are front to back on the driver's side.

Just thought I'd throw that out there as many owners are more familiar with GM or Dodge and everybody likes to do it different.

Paul

 

[samson101478]

Ok I temporary wired in a ignition switch. Properly ran the wires. Tried the ho firing order and even did the 180 degree.firing order. I get the most reaction at regular 302 order. No start! Think I might be fludding it. Ill try some more tomorrow.thanks everyone for the help.

 

[samson101478]

Just so everyone knows. The engine ran at the builders shop. I pulled all the wires off and put a new carb on it once i put it back in the bronco.

 

[Ohio Bronco 21]

Carb is flooding it?