thatguy32567

Im not sure if my 350 is a big block or small block and not too sure if the engine in the problem here but thought id check. I was driving for about 20 minutes and all of a sudden the car died. No warning signs like stalling or sputtering. I pulled over and checked the carb and its getting gas. I put gas in the gas tank thinking i was near empty even though my fuel guage said i had 1/8 left. I also put some gas on the carb and it still wont start. I need some helping on what to check for. Please if you know just list of what you think it might be and how to fix it. I dont think the transmission has any matter but just incase its a 3 speed automatic. My car is a 1971 olds cutlass s. 2 barrel rochester carb. ive been told that it might be the timing chain which i find hard to belive. The only other options im thinking would be distributor, carb, or for some weird reason the starter. Please help. Thank you.

J-(Chicago)

check the wire from the coil from the distributor. if it is cranking and not firing up.

thatguy32567

alright thanks for the tip. Im waiting for my friend to come pick me up to go try and fix it. Any other problems you could think of relating to this?

joe_padavano

What, are you emailing from your cell phone or something?

If you see fuel squirt from the accelerator pump jets when you operate the throttle while looking down the carb, fuel is not the problem. The other thing is to check for spark. If you have spark, check for timing to verify the timing chain has not slipped.

And when you get it fixed, be aware that the 350 is considered an Olds small block. The distinction is the deck height. Olds motors built between 1964 (excepting the 394) and 1990 were made in either short deck or tall deck versions. The short deck motors came in 260, 307, 330, 350, and 403 cu in displacements. The tall deck motors came in 400, 425, and 455 cu in displacements.

captjim

Air, fuel, spark, and compression. We'll assume you have air, and it seems that you have fuel. Pull the coil wire, have a buddy crank the engine and check for spark. If yes, reattach the coil wire and pull a plug wire and re-check. If no, cap and/or rotor is bad. If no spark at the coil wire, pull the cap and crank the engine. If the rotor turns, chances are a points issue. If the rotor does not turn, timing chain. If it has spark, but does not start, do a quick compression check, the chain may have jumped, where the rotor will turn giving spark but the engine will have no compression.