1986 Chevy P30 454

[Beauty1969]

I have a 1986 p30 454 and I'm getting no power at all. I just put a new starter relay, new starter, new distributor, alternator, ignition Switch, headlight switch, and a new quadrojet carb. My mechanic had it running and when he left I couldn't get it to start again.  Any ideas on what it could be? I desperately need help!!!

[Silverado4x4]

I am assuming it turns over but not starting? Sounds like fuel problem with fuel pump, fuel filter or coil not giving spark to me See if it starts by spraying starting fluid down the carb.

[Jsdirt]

So you're shotgunning parts at this thing for 4 completely unrelated systems ... WHY? Fuel, ignition, starting, and charging each have nothing to do with each other, but you need 12v to make the distributor create spark, you need GOOD FUEL to make it run, you need TIMED ignition, GOOD COMPRESSION, and AIR. You're missing one of these ...

 

You need a good battery, #1. You need good CABLES - BOTH of them, and good connections, not those crap emergency clamps from Advance Auto. You need 12v on the purple wire to the starter solenoid when in the CRANK position. If you don't have 12v there, you need to find out why. Switch bad? Wiring open? Shorted? You also need 12v at the distributor, and that 12v needs to be connected to the correct port on the cap - NOT the TACH port. There needs to be 12v there when the key is ON and CRANKING. If not, you need to find out why ... again.

 

IF all that checks out and it cranks, do you have spark? Is it happening at the correct time? Is it STRONG? Is that spark making it from the distributor all the way down the wire? Is the spark plug(s) good? If ignition is all good, what is happening at the carburetor? Do you have 5 psi of fuel at the carb inlet feed? Does the fuel smell like fuel? Run some into a clear glass container - is water settling out at the bottom? Does it look like orange juice? Is the carburetor set correctly?

 

We need answers in order to help you here.

Edited March 31, 2022 by Jsdirt