bringing a '61 apache panel back to life - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

pbob42 · 07-11-2013, 08:49 PM

Struggling a bit here and could use some pointers. Believe everything is stock here - 235. Got this and the head was off and the cam was out with a new alloy timing gear on it. (old Timing gear busted) Looks to have had the timing gear on the crack replaced as well. Had no timing mark.

THe old timing gear mark was 4 teeth over from the chuck as well as every picture I saw. so we slid the cam gear into that slot.

We got it back together, have spark but can't get it to catch using started fluid. New plugs and wires. Firing order is right. Set my valves cold at .2 and .08.

Any thoughts?

Wolfinthesnow · 07-11-2013, 09:39 PM

I'm sure the engine spins over without hitting the valves. That being out of the way, you could try what I did on an engine I had. I took the spark plug out of cylinder no. 1 and put a screwdriver through the hole so it was resting on top of the piston. By hand I rolled the engine over until I reached the compression stroke. I knew what stroke it was by watching the rockers. Once I determined this, I brought the cylinder as close to TDC as I could. I then installed my distributor pointing at cylinder no.1. I roughly adjusted the dizzy so it would be firing where I had it set. After doing all this I ran my plug wires again to make sure there were no mistakes. After force feeding it some ether it fired up and I could then use a timing light to fine tune it. Kind of a tedious process but it worked for me. If anyone has any input on my procrss by all means chime in.
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pbob42 · 07-11-2013, 09:41 PM

how did you use your light? I don't see any timing marks on the balancer.

pbob42 · 07-11-2013, 09:45 PM

can I also hit TDC watching for the BB on the flywheel?

Wolfinthesnow · 07-11-2013, 10:16 PM

Sorry, didn't realize there wasn't any timing marks on the crank. Once you found tdc with the method I mentioned above (if you decided to go that route), you could make your own mark with a paint marker. It's not accurate at all, but it should get you close enough to get your engine started...
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pbob42 · 07-11-2013, 10:37 PM

just static timed it. Dead on #1. Still nothing. I am going to put the valve cover off tomorrow and make sure everything looks right on top. (the key in my balancer points straight up at #1 TDC)

cortcomp · 07-11-2013, 11:04 PM

I'd do a compression test, if you have spark and timing is right and nothing off of starting fluid, that's going to tell the last part of this story.

pbob42 · 07-12-2013, 08:55 AM

get to it this aft

pbob42 · 07-12-2013, 11:46 AM

Pulled the valve cover off and I think my cam is out of time. My valves should be loosest at #1 TDC (or #6 TDC depending) right. All other positions they should be compressed to some degree or other (right?). I have some 1/4" play in some of my rockers as my engine rotates around.

Looks like I have to pull that cam out and re-time it. My crank timing gear has no mark. I had the old gear lying around and the mark was 4 off the key slot so I counted over and lined it up. All looked good, but . . .

Could use some guidance on this. thx

pbob42 · 07-12-2013, 05:05 PM

Well gee whiz - couple valves are stuck

pbob42 · 07-12-2013, 06:40 PM

Took the head to the machine shop - no compression anywhere. Head had just been resurfaced and looked good, except where it counts.

07-11-2013, 09:39 PM	#2
Wolfinthesnow I put the laughter n slaughter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Plant City, Fl Posts: 172	Re: bringing a '61 apache panel back to life I'm sure the engine spins over without hitting the valves. That being out of the way, you could try what I did on an engine I had. I took the spark plug out of cylinder no. 1 and put a screwdriver through the hole so it was resting on top of the piston. By hand I rolled the engine over until I reached the compression stroke. I knew what stroke it was by watching the rockers. Once I determined this, I brought the cylinder as close to TDC as I could. I then installed my distributor pointing at cylinder no.1. I roughly adjusted the dizzy so it would be firing where I had it set. After doing all this I ran my plug wires again to make sure there were no mistakes. After force feeding it some ether it fired up and I could then use a timing light to fine tune it. Kind of a tedious process but it worked for me. If anyone has any input on my procrss by all means chime in. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ I still dont care how you did it in California!!!

07-11-2013, 09:41 PM	#3
pbob42 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san deigo ca Posts: 10	Re: bringing a '61 apache panel back to life how did you use your light? I don't see any timing marks on the balancer.

07-11-2013, 09:45 PM	#4
pbob42 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san deigo ca Posts: 10	Re: bringing a '61 apache panel back to life can I also hit TDC watching for the BB on the flywheel?

07-11-2013, 10:16 PM	#5
Wolfinthesnow I put the laughter n slaughter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Plant City, Fl Posts: 172	Re: bringing a '61 apache panel back to life Sorry, didn't realize there wasn't any timing marks on the crank. Once you found tdc with the method I mentioned above (if you decided to go that route), you could make your own mark with a paint marker. It's not accurate at all, but it should get you close enough to get your engine started... Posted via Mobile Device __________________ I still dont care how you did it in California!!!

07-11-2013, 11:04 PM	#7
cortcomp Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: cortland, oh Posts: 792	Re: bringing a '61 apache panel back to life I'd do a compression test, if you have spark and timing is right and nothing off of starting fluid, that's going to tell the last part of this story. __________________ Project "i'm just going to clean up the interior and the engine bay": http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=550931

07-11-2013, 08:49 PM	#1
pbob42 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san deigo ca Posts: 10	bringing a '61 apache panel back to life Struggling a bit here and could use some pointers. Believe everything is stock here - 235. Got this and the head was off and the cam was out with a new alloy timing gear on it. (old Timing gear busted) Looks to have had the timing gear on the crack replaced as well. Had no timing mark. THe old timing gear mark was 4 teeth over from the chuck as well as every picture I saw. so we slid the cam gear into that slot. We got it back together, have spark but can't get it to catch using started fluid. New plugs and wires. Firing order is right. Set my valves cold at .2 and .08. Any thoughts?

07-11-2013, 10:37 PM	#6
pbob42 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san deigo ca Posts: 10	Re: bringing a '61 apache panel back to life just static timed it. Dead on #1. Still nothing. I am going to put the valve cover off tomorrow and make sure everything looks right on top. (the key in my balancer points straight up at #1 TDC)

07-12-2013, 08:55 AM	#8
pbob42 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san deigo ca Posts: 10	Re: bringing a '61 apache panel back to life get to it this aft

07-12-2013, 11:46 AM	#9
pbob42 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san deigo ca Posts: 10	Re: bringing a '61 apache panel back to life Pulled the valve cover off and I think my cam is out of time. My valves should be loosest at #1 TDC (or #6 TDC depending) right. All other positions they should be compressed to some degree or other (right?). I have some 1/4" play in some of my rockers as my engine rotates around. Looks like I have to pull that cam out and re-time it. My crank timing gear has no mark. I had the old gear lying around and the mark was 4 off the key slot so I counted over and lined it up. All looked good, but . . . Could use some guidance on this. thx Last edited by pbob42; 07-12-2013 at 11:59 AM.

07-12-2013, 05:05 PM	#10
pbob42 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san deigo ca Posts: 10	Re: bringing a '61 apache panel back to life Well gee whiz - couple valves are stuck

07-12-2013, 06:40 PM	#11
pbob42 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san deigo ca Posts: 10	Re: bringing a '61 apache panel back to life Took the head to the machine shop - no compression anywhere. Head had just been resurfaced and looked good, except where it counts.



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