Help please, 72 olds 88 has crazy popback

GrymReaper · September 11th, 2007, 01:18 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 · September 11th, 2007, 05:29 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 · September 11th, 2007, 06:32 PM

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

Oldsguy · September 12th, 2007, 06:03 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) · September 13th, 2007, 09:05 PM

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

Danny Wiseley · September 19th, 2007, 08:33 PM

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

88 coupe · September 19th, 2007, 10:33 PM

Compression test is an easy way to check cam timing.

Norm

September 11th, 2007, 01:18 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; September 11th, 2007 at 01:21 PM..

September 11th, 2007, 05:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,360	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 '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB. Last edited by Oldsguy; September 11th, 2007 at 05:30 PM.. Reason: forgot something

September 11th, 2007, 06:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
texasred Tom Servo's Stunt Double Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 824	1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 but make sure it's counterclockwise. C.J. __________________ Dad said, "Sometimes you read Job...sometimes you ARE Job!"

September 12th, 2007, 06:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,360	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 '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

September 13th, 2007, 09:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
J-(Chicago) Seasoned beater pilot. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,696	Is this 72 a convertible ??? It'd be cool if it is. __________________ I'd rather have a numbers matching poker hand.

September 19th, 2007, 08:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Danny Wiseley Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: West of Lubbock, TX Posts: 160	It really sounds like the timing chain has jumped. Exactly. Do you know if it's been replaced?

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