Help please, 72 olds 88 has crazy popback

GrymReaper · 09-11-2007, 12:18 PM

Okay, so I'm working on my cousin's 72 Delta 88 , he drove it to my house but after the second day I've been unable to get it started again. I've checked the plugs and wires, put the wires into harnesses, replaced the coil, static timed it, and STILL can't get the sucker to fire up. The couple times it's caught it pops back crazy loud, I just can't figure out why. It's definitely getting gas, and when I pump the accelerator it acts like it almost wants to fire, but doesn't. Anybody have any ideas as to what I'm looking at here? Could it be a vacuum issue? I'm stuck at this point, can't figure out which direction to go in next. Lucky for me he just wants to sell it, so I'm not on a real timeframe, though it is taking up an awful lot of my garage space (like all of it).

Oldsguy · 09-11-2007, 04:29 PM

Get a good reference, or at the least one of those $29.00 books at the auto parts stores that lists all the tune-up specs for your car, including the wiring of all the plugs. I suspect plug wire placement or distributor positioning. History? has there been previous maintenance or related problems? Has the distributor been removed and re-inserted? etc.

btw, welcome to our site.

texasred · 09-11-2007, 05:32 PM

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 but make sure it's counterclockwise.
C.J.

Oldsguy · 09-12-2007, 05:03 AM

Thanks C.J. I was thinking of providing that but thought, he could use a good maintenance referance anyway. And I wasn't sure so didn't want to make a mistake. My memory is terrible and I will forget 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 as soon as I hit the submit button!

J-(Chicago) · 09-13-2007, 08:05 PM

Is this 72 a convertible ???
It'd be cool if it is.

Danny Wiseley · 09-19-2007, 07:33 PM

It really sounds like the timing chain has jumped. Exactly. Do you know if it's been replaced?

88 coupe · 09-19-2007, 09:33 PM

Compression test is an easy way to check cam timing.

Norm

09-11-2007, 12:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
GrymReaper Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1	Help please, 72 olds 88 has crazy popback Okay, so I'm working on my cousin's 72 Delta 88 , he drove it to my house but after the second day I've been unable to get it started again. I've checked the plugs and wires, put the wires into harnesses, replaced the coil, static timed it, and STILL can't get the sucker to fire up. The couple times it's caught it pops back crazy loud, I just can't figure out why. It's definitely getting gas, and when I pump the accelerator it acts like it almost wants to fire, but doesn't. Anybody have any ideas as to what I'm looking at here? Could it be a vacuum issue? I'm stuck at this point, can't figure out which direction to go in next. Lucky for me he just wants to sell it, so I'm not on a real timeframe, though it is taking up an awful lot of my garage space (like all of it). Last edited by GrymReaper : 09-11-2007 at 12:21 PM.

09-11-2007, 04:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,553	Get a good reference, or at the least one of those $29.00 books at the auto parts stores that lists all the tune-up specs for your car, including the wiring of all the plugs. I suspect plug wire placement or distributor positioning. History? has there been previous maintenance or related problems? Has the distributor been removed and re-inserted? etc. btw, welcome to our site. __________________ Dan '46 2 door Last edited by Oldsguy : 09-11-2007 at 04:30 PM. Reason: forgot something

09-11-2007, 05:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
texasred Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 805	1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 but make sure it's counterclockwise. C.J. __________________ Home of the 1971 Cutlass Supreme convertible Super Karate Monkey Death Car.

09-12-2007, 05:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,553	Thanks C.J. I was thinking of providing that but thought, he could use a good maintenance referance anyway. And I wasn't sure so didn't want to make a mistake. My memory is terrible and I will forget 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 as soon as I hit the submit button! __________________ Dan '46 2 door

09-13-2007, 08:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
J-(Chicago) Seasoned beater pilot. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,394	Is this 72 a convertible ??? It'd be cool if it is. __________________ I'd rather have a numbers matching poker hand.

09-19-2007, 07:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Danny Wiseley Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10	It really sounds like the timing chain has jumped. Exactly. Do you know if it's been replaced?

09-19-2007, 09:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
88 coupe Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Southern CA Posts: 738	Compression test is an easy way to check cam timing. Norm __________________ I love the reaction when they find out it's not a Big Block Chev . . . . . . . It gets even better when they find it's all Olds.

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