S14/VH crank no start, out of ideas

[ca18det_boy]

I really didn't want to do this and wanted to figure this out by myself, but due to the fact that I'm losing my garage in 2 weeks the situation dictates that I have to bug the guys who know.

So I thought I had everything wired up correctly but I guess I was wrong. I have 12v going to the injectors and coils, I had things wired up to "My S14 wiring headache's" thread, but then I started to notice some things were different with my swap I.E also doing a 5 speed conversion. I got the motor fired up utilizing starting fluid and it would kind of idle from there. I found out I had a pretty nasty vacuum leak so I took off the intake mani and fixed that issue thinking it might have also been a contributing factor in my issue. I checked the IACV to see if I had voltage going to the sensors and found out that I have good voltage there. I still didn't think things were right with the wiring so I did some more thinking and some more homework and came to this conclusion....I didn't think the ECU was getting the proper start signal. I dug back into the wiring and didn't see anything wrong. Since I was also doing a 5 speed swap I started to think about the neutral safety switch. I came to the conclusion that the Q uses a relay where I believe the 14 uses just a switch. I check pins 44 and 43 and traced all the wiring to find out that in fact I wasn't getting a start signal to the ECU. I was kind of thinking that if the start signal wasn't present then the ECU would default to running a fuel map for 195 degrees thus a crank no start situation. From there I was able to get 0v in "on" and 12.5v in "start" on both wires. Tried to fire it up and it puttered a bit, and crank, crank, crank. I'm not looking for a mulligan on this one, I'm just out of ideas and I'm reaching to see if anyone has any ideas of avenues to pursue in this matter.

Chassis is a 96 SE with a 91 VH, also doing a 5 speed swap

[elwesso]

Are your injectors firing when you crank? How is fuel pressure? It sounds like your not getting fuel if it idles sorta on starting fluid

[ca18det_boy]

Just for giggles I pulled off the intake manifold again and ohm'd out the injectors just to see where they're at.

1=12.3
2=12.9
3=12.4
4=12.3
5=12.2.
6=12.3
7=13.4
8=13.8

Didn't have a spare set of hands to assist with the coils so I pulled off the CAS and yanked the fuel pump fuse and proceeded to crank by hand slowly. All 8 coils are firing super strong. But I noticed that when I would spin it as fast as I could it almost sounded like it missed here and there. I then pulled all my plugs and double check the ECU grounds at the coils and VTC solenoids (I check all around the injectors but didn't see any factory grounds). From there I pulled the plugs and wouldn't you know fuel fouled! Replaced the plugs, relocated my battery ground from battery-chassis-intake plenum to battery-chassis-lower intake runner. I added another 4 gauge ground from passenger side cylinder head to a sanded down spot on the firewall. Crossed my fingers and cranked....nothing. Thinking I might have accidentally loosened the CAS plug (I don't have the retaining ring on it since I've been messing with it so much) I checked the plug and it was slightly loose. I pushed it back in and went to crank again. The motor stumbled a bit then went back to cranking. I then swapped to my spare CAS and it didn't do anything. So I've decided to pull off the covers and just double check the timing since that is all that is left. Which I'm glad I did since I noticed that somehow my exhaust cam gears are backing off. So I reset all of the timing and managed to strip one of the holes for the drivers side lower timing chain guide and that is currently where I sit. I bought a heli coil kit for it, I'm just frustrated so I'm letting it sit and think about how it is currently disappointing dad right now. Maybe some time out will straighten it up.

[elwesso]

Sounds like it could be epically flooded. Have you tried opening the throttle all the way during cranking? The VH is notorious for flooding under certain circumstances.

[ca18det_boy]

Yeah I've tried that and nothing happened. I decided to go ahead and pull the covers to reset the chain since I replaced it before the install. I took my time and made sure everything was on point, but I guess I goofed up somewhere because I can't get a full rotation on the crank now. So I'm almost wondering if by some chance in hell the piston is hitting the valve. Anyways, I don't have time to try and diagnose the issue any further so I'm swapping in my backup motor and I'll be dealing with this particular motors "issues" this winter. I'm more confused than anything as to how I could have been so meticulous with setting the chain and now I'm having this problem. I may not be the biggest guy in the world but I'm really hoping my torquemaster bicep didn't bend a valve or two trying to crank this...that would suck.