ka24de Not firing after headgasket install. timing/cam related!

[97gsx]

Ok, we just did the headgasket on my ka24de from a 93 s13. I think the cam's are on wrong, it wont fire even after doing the distributer adjustment.

When you line up the pulley marks at TDC on compression stroke, and line up the #1 plug with the rotor, and put it back together, it still doesnt fire.

When putting the cams back on, we put it at TDC and had the Intake cam's first lobes pointing at about 10 o clock, and the exhaust cam notch pointing at 12 oclock, as shown in the jim wolfe cam install guide.

I dont know what else there is to it that would make it not fire?

It cranks and will occasionaly fire, exhaust pops make me believe its wanting to fire. We got it to fire once but idled very rough and then died.

I searched and found some good info, but if i pull the valve cover off and set the car at TDC via the marks on the pulley, what should i look for for cam placement? also, does it really matter where the upper chain is positioned on the sprockets?
Modified by 97gsx at 9:40 AM 11/15/2006

[180fan]

yes it matters where the upper chain is located on the sprockets. time to pull up your sleeves for reals and get workin on resetting the timing on your car.

[dcino]

YOU MAY WANT TO VARIFY THE FACT THAT THE COIL GROUND WIRE HAS BEEN ATTACHED. IT IS LOCATED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ENGINE.WE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHERE THE GROUND WAS JUST RESTING ON THE STUD AND WOULD SOMETIMES MAKE CONTACT AND FIRE AND OTHER TIME NOT BE GROUNDED AND NOT ALLOW THE COIL TO DISCHARGE.

[lsxavier]

double check your sparkplug wires firing order and grounds.it happened to me.

[97gsx]

According to the jim wolfe cam install guide it seems pretty simple.

At TDC we had the intake cam sprocket notch at 10 o clock and the exhaust cam notch at 12 o clock, lobes point away from each other.

At TDC the #1 plug is aligned with the rotor at about 9 oclock.

Firing order is set up as 1342 counterclockwise.

Where are the coil grounds? there is one plug unplugged near the battery on my harness that i cant find the other end for..

I cant seem to find why it wont fire...thanks for the help guys!

[dkdeleon68]

are you sure its set to TDC on compression stroke? or you might have installed the chain wrong or a tooth off.

[97gsx]

I believe that ^ is where i went wrong. Can someone point me in the direction of where teh lower and upper belt should be positioned on all the sprockets? We just put the chain on, didnt think it mattered where certain links went on the sprockets

[Dustin94]

i just did the timing chain and gears and tesnioners replacement on my S13...same motor, KA24DE.. and thank god my buddy told me that U ABSOLUTELY have to make sure the cam gears and the silver links on the chains line up, cuz i didnt know that and was gonna just put it together. once he came over, we did it the right way, put the distributor back in, and it fired right up.. just make sure u align hte Dots on the gears, with hte Silver links on the chain, or else your pretty much screwed..