Engine won't start please help!
 

Hey guys I need some help. I recently pulled an LT1 out of a 95 transam. I stripped it down because it had a bad head gasket. I replaced all the seals because they were leaking as well. I got everything back together and torqued it down properly. When I did the timing chain and sprockets I made sure that the crank gear dot and the cam gear dot were facing each other at the 6 and 12 o'clock position. If I did my research right I guess that is tdc for #6. I Got all of the wiring and the heads back on as well as all the vacuum lines in the correct positions. I also installed the vented opti spark properly on the dowel. When I 1st started her up All it did was turn and turn and turn. I heard one little pop like a backfire but other than that nothing. I'm getting fuel and I'm getting spark And other than the leaks everything ran fine when before I pulled it out.. So obviously I did something incorrectly..
I made sure all of the connections and grounds were connected and hooked the computer backup properly. Now the only thing that I'm not quite sure if I did right was when I put the heads back on and then installed the rocker arms and pushrods, I didn't turn the motor at all. I simply left it where it was from when I adjusted the timing and then tighten the rocker arms down To torque spec of 22 pounds . Would this cause my intake and exhaust valves do not be working properly? I just figured that they would set properly Because I adjusted the timing right. Do I have to individually adjust each rocker by turning the motor or was me just putting the heads on and tightening the rockers down to spec good enough? Any information would be much appreciated. I guess I'll check for compression tomorrow to see if they're opening properly but I was just curious if that would cause the engine not to start.

That's not going to work, There are various ways to adjust rockers but they are not torqued to spec. There are tons of videos on youtube, I'd suggest you watch more than one Youtube search lt1 rocker arm adjustment Hopefully you didn't damage any valves.

So that is definitely a possibility of why it won't start?

If the valves aren't adjusted correctly you'll have valves open all the time and some that may not open at all, So that would make it nearly impossible to start.

oh I would say that is about accurate...I took it apart today
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...7fb963e4fd.jpg

so I took it apart and push rods are destroyed..replaced them and the lifter to be safe . I have a question regarding the head gasket that sticks out past the heads..they have little holes for each push rod..are they essential? Or just used to guide the push rod to the rocker from the lifter? A few of them ripped

My guess is the gaskets are just a guide , It's been a few years since I've been into the LT engines. One thing I would be concerned about after seeing those pushrods is bent valves, I would install new pushrods and adjust the valves correctly and then do a compression test before starting the engine just to be sure everything is ready to go before actually starting it.

Will do. Greatly appreciated

This is not an LS motor where you can torque the rocker arms to 22 ft lbs and hopefully you haven't bent the valves in your cylinder heads. Get familiar with the EOIC method before you start setting up valve lash on your rocker arms and do one cylinder at a time.

When the exhaust valve begins to open you can adjust the intake valve and when the intake valve is starting to close you adjust the exhaust valve. Find zero lash by tightening the rocker arm down as your spinning the pushrod and once you've felt the slack has been taken up then tighten the rocker arm another half turn.

Does it matter if its a roller type or hydraulic type? I was actually going to use this method. I'll post the link below. Would this method in the video work?

Yes it will work I just prefer the EOIC method to get on the base circle of the cam and I typically start on one bank and work front to back.


Just remember that when the exhaust rocker arm for the cylinder your working on begins to open you can adjust the intake rocker for that cylinder and when the intake rocker has fully opened the valve and begins to close you adjust the exhaust rocker. Pretty simple thing to do actually and having a remote starter switch will make things easier but if not you can turn the engine over by hand.

If you can find a regular Haynes or Motors manual for your engine it has the GM spec on the adjustments as well as the procedure.
I find I do better with a printed manual even if I have a u-tube video of whatever new thing I'm fiddling with..

thank you everyone. I've never had this issue before. I really do appreciate everyone's help!