ugh, fkn pissed!

[Raysurc]

so awhile back my radiator cracked along the 15 north in san diego. got the car home, and replaced it. then realized i had all this smoke coming out of my car, then figured it was a broken head gasket. took apart everything in the engine bay apart that was needed to get to the gasket. cleaned the surfaces, and replaced it. put everything back in and even fixed my knock sensor and egr problems i was having (code 32 and 34 iirc). checked the timing and its good. put in new spark plugs and wires. new oil and coolant. then i tried turning the engine.


it didn't run.


i can turn the crank, but the car wont start. at this point im really frustrated. this is the most work i've done on my car. all that time and effort, the money for the parts. for a still non-operational car. i've never been so frustrated in my life! i wonder if you guys had an experience like mine, where all your efforts just dont seem to work the way you would want it. i told myself i wouldn't bring it to a shop because of the price of labor and tackling this on my car would give me a greater sense of pride. but now, im on the edge of reconsidering. just wondering what you guys got to say :-/

[contranication]

yeah, man I know how you feel I have spent a shit ton of money replacing every part that has to do with my clutch... and I still can't get it to disengage right... I told myself I wasn't going to take it to a mechanic cuz I don't trust anyone and its been three weeks I have spent trying to resolve the problem.... Well all I do is give it a break and then try and remember the good times with the car... works for me... I feel for you man

[420sx]

wait wait, it dont crank?


DID U RESERFACE THE HEAD?
no....? well u should have

if yes.
then something isnt hooked up right.

first check the wiring.

second check for fuel. got fuel? k. got spark? trying to crank? making wweird sounds? did u set the cams right/ align with the crankshaft.

then time it. make sure u do it right. dont do the redneck "pop the plug" on first cylinder.

[420sx]

cams should be aligned with the crank's tdc. which is the red mark. third i think from first. they should be pointing away from each other under an angle.

to set the timing, set the crank of the first mark - 20 deg. that i stock timing.
then use A timing light to time it to desired state. good luck

dont quit.

The harder you fall the faster you should get up

[pwhitersxs]

Make sure the cas or distributor is not 180* off. Try flipping it around a couple of times to see if that helps.

Mechanical timing should be set by the fsm.

Make sure you have fuel and spark.

Check for codes.

Resurfacing the head should be done to make sure the surface is smooth and flat for a better seal of the gasket.

I think everyone who works on cars goes through the "I hate working on cars" stage. Just gotta keep going until it's done.