howdy y'all

[OGMudbone]

i just found this group whilst searching for code info on my 94 astro van. read a few threads and knew something good would come out of it. so howdy. no pics of my van on my computer sorry i'll get some soon. i own a factory custom with the captains chairs in front and back and a bench that removes in the way back. it has running boards and tinted aftermarket windows. it is an extended model and it is AWD.

i have owned the van for 3 years now and have never until last month had an issue. I had done a tune up and replaced the ignition and plugs, wires etc... and she rand killer until last month when she started hard and blew smoke i knew the valve seals were going bye bye. i knew it had an intake manifold leak but was not sure of where or how bad. so i tore into the job and replaced the head gaskets (repaired block surface from previous jerk wad that ripped the top threads out on a head bolt hole), replaced the valve seals, new intake gaskets, fuel supply lines and spider injector.
gasket matched all the ports on the heads and intake manifold. got her all torqued back to spec and now the ol girl will not fire! she just spins away. mad spark shooting out of the coil (45000 volt ignition).

so now i am searching for answers, help, and possibly a new van when i get moved to hot rod. most guys hate working on the astro or any van for that matter. it doesn't bother me that bad, just pull out the front seats and work away..

[chevymaher]

Welcome. Port matching you a man after my own heart there. I like the seats in when I work on it. Stand next to it and just put my chest on one. I find that very comfortable working. No back ache.

[94 Van Guy]

Welcome to the site,

Keith

[xit]

Welcome, help is on the way, someone has the answer to your problem.

[RECox286]

Are you sure that the distributor is timed correctly. It goes around once for each 2 crankshaft revolutions. Pull the #1 spark plug,

and hit the starter until you get compression (I use a piece of hose that fits fairly tight in the spark plug hole, and sit in the driver

seat, tweeking the key to START until I feel the compression at my end of the hose) then twist the crankshaft around in the normal

travel, until the timing marks are at 0* (TDC). Then, install the distributor, making sure that the rotor is pointing to the proper

distributor cap tower location.

Good hunting, let us know what is happening.

Uncle Bob

[Lumpy]

... I like the seats in when I work on it. Stand next to it and just put my chest on one. I find that very comfortable working. No back ache.

My seats are in good shape. Come on over, Maher and you can do a little work on my engine. That'll make you even more comfortable, even less back ache...

Welcome MudBone..


Lump

[OGMudbone]

hey thanks for the welcome.

i have tried putting the distributor in 180* out and in proper, i have not done the trick with the compression in # 1 tdc. i will try that. i have limited tools for diagnostics so i rent what i need. would it be better to get a compression tester? i bought the valve spring compressor and some new 3/8 taps already . also my wife informed me the check engine light was staying on, i was unaware as i was lying down working on the distributor and moving wires around. so i learned about he paper clip trick last night. i will check the codes as well. i understand there are 2 sensors that will prevent the engine from firing if they are bad.

so much work and no vroom is depressing. so is the fact Ally the Astro van is 88 miles away at my in-laws shop. this thing was so impacted with carbon it took a die grinder, dremel tool and approximately 60 hours of labor i got the caca cleaned out and final clean up on the porting done. i had to actually use a small ball-peen hammer and some fabricated chisels to whack the carbon out. the passenger head was impacted with it and the EGR ports were closed off with carbon. i do not understand how it ran or passed smog before the valve seals went. there is no way all that carbon got like that in a couple weeks time..hahaha

thank you for the suggestions i will put them into action this weekend. back to Centralia again.......joy

[chevymaher]

hey thanks for the welcome.

i have tried putting the distributor in 180* out and in proper, i have not done the trick with the compression in # 1 tdc. i will try that. i have limited tools for diagnostics so i rent what i need. would it be better to get a compression tester?

You dont need a compression tester. Stick something in the number one hole. I used a spark plug with black tape on the threads. It is a little tough getting your finger in there. Tap the starter. It is obvious it will Pop air out. Then go line up the timing mark on the harmonic balance. Now your ready to put the distributor in.

[Leeann_93]

Welcome - and good luck.

[OGMudbone]

Thanks for the help! i will get a length of tubing as my fat hands can barely fit in there, and i work alone most of the time too so the long tube/hose will let the woosh be next to my ear no matter where i am in the thing working. i figured i would use mt knife and put a chamfer on the end of the rubber hose and that would make getting it in the #-1 hole easier. wedge it in nice and hit the key until i got woosh. can anyone tell me what size socket i'm going to need for the harmonic balancer bolt? damn i hate having to rip all that stuff back out...lol

i will get some pics of the van too if i remember. after fixing just about everything on the thing in 3 weeks i am pretty good with seeing the in-laws and i'm sure they are done with me too..lol