Truck just quit on me

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Jppr26

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Posts
114
Reaction score
18
Location
Deer island
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350/5.7
Ok we have a running truck, sort of, so it took a lot of luck, charm, or a lot of cussing, you pick but the truck started up. It blew a good amount of black smoke when I reved it up and would backfire, cough, and sputter then catch its self and be ok. Then all over again when I pumped the gas.

I put a timing light on it and my crank mark was about 1/4”-1/2” counter clockwise past the marker tab. It is not a vacuum advance distributor, I’ll check again. Is there something to unplug on the distributor for timing, and where should it be at on the block marker tab.
Thank you guys
 

Jppr26

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Posts
114
Reaction score
18
Location
Deer island
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350/5.7
Ya no vac advance, and if I had to guse it is around 16° befor tdc. Where should the timing be set at typically, and is there anything I need to disconnect befor setting the timing on the distributor
 

1987 GMC Jimmy

Automobile Hoarder
Joined
Jan 23, 2016
Posts
5,848
Reaction score
2,387
Location
Mississippi
First Name
Jesse
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V1500 Jimmy
Engine Size
350
Yeah, there’s a round, single wire weatherpack connector on the driver’s side of the firewall. Tan and black is the wire color, I believe. You won’t have an idea of your timing until that EST bypass is disconnected. The advance/retard on these is controlled electronically so no weights, springs, or canister.
 

Jppr26

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Posts
114
Reaction score
18
Location
Deer island
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350/5.7
Ok so I found the wire and unplugged it and tried again, now it is at 6° before TDC and running the same. I did get code 42 which is from unplugging that wire. I did take it for a test drive just a little way down the road and it was backfireing and poping like crazy at low RPM but ok at the higher RPM
 

Jppr26

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Posts
114
Reaction score
18
Location
Deer island
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350/5.7
Also with the timing light on it and Erving the motor, whenever it would start cutting out my timing light would would quit flashing
 

Jerry phillion

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2017
Posts
131
Reaction score
43
Location
Saginaw, mi.
First Name
Jerry
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
350
It sounds to me you have a few plug wires crossed. Either at
Distributor or spark plugs. Probably happened when you
Replaced module. As a note, mine quit running 3 weeks ago
and it was the module. If you have gas, spark and compression
It has to run , unless timing is off. ( caused by above )
 

Jppr26

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Posts
114
Reaction score
18
Location
Deer island
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350/5.7
I put a new module in it about 2 weeks ago because out of no where it started running like ****, then a few days later, truck died on me and I’m dealing with all this
 

Jerry phillion

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2017
Posts
131
Reaction score
43
Location
Saginaw, mi.
First Name
Jerry
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
350
Sounds like maybe the 12 v power wire from the fuse block
to the dist may be the culprit. Make new one from 10 ga.
Wire and try. That elec stuff will drive you crazy. It does me.
Oh, also make sure the ign fuse is pushed in tight . Stranger
Things have happened before. Good luck.
 

Jppr26

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Posts
114
Reaction score
18
Location
Deer island
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350/5.7
So when I ease into the throttle the truck revs up fine, when I hit it hard and fast it cuts out and backfires a few times then revs up, if the rpms are up above an idle it will rev up just fine, but let the truck idle a bit then hit the throttle hard and it cuts out and catches up again
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,109
Posts
909,276
Members
33,595
Latest member
T3rraBeara
Top