Timing Chain, or Spark plug or bad gas reason for no start?

[KansasZj09]

Hi i am considering buying my brothers z24. He had a timing chain go out on it a few years ago, and its just been sitting since. He bought a new one and had a cousin place it on the car and it wouldnt start ever since. He said my cousin couldnt figure out how to get it on right. I was curious as to if this could be a good reason why the car wont start? I am hoping to buy it and just reposition the chain if need be and get it running. I have no clue how these chains are suppose to go on? Are they suppose to go on a specific way and i was curious as to if he didnt put it on that specific way, would it cause it to not start? Thanks in advance.

[KansasZj09]

Hi I have a 92 Z24, got it from my brother, he was driving it a few years back and the timing chain broke. It has been sitting for a couple years and last year he tried to fix the chain himself but the car wouldnt start. He forgot about the car sitting and the gas being old, so he didnt put anything in it or drain it either. Today my friend put the time chain back on, and then took a look at the first 3 spark plugs in the front. Two were almost needing replaced due to being wore etc but were okay, then the third is where the problem is. The terminal is basically smashed on top of the spark plug and the top thread where it bolts in to is destroyed a little. There is NO gap at all on the plug, it is closed, and both are touching each other, also needs a new wire for a spark plug, could it be bad gas, and the spark plug and wire be the cause due to non-start? He said the car cranks, but it wont start. Thanks for help

[viggy58]

probably jumped time...

try to realign everything at TDC and see what happens.

[KansasZj09]

Alright thanks, I am hoping the motor is not shot, he says it cranks, but wont start. I am going to try to pick up some spark plugs tonight and see what that will do, whenever I get a chance to work on the car ill update, thanks.

[Scrapper]

sounds like someone put wrong plugs in and are hitting pistos and smashing gap closed or are you talking about the end that the plug wire go's on? and did you check to make sure your getting gas and spark? and are you saying one of the plugs are cross threaded?

[KansasZj09]

Well we took the spark plug out and at the bottom where the terminal goes into the engine block at the the top first tread is smashed in one part. You know how you are supposed to have a certain amount of gap between the terminal and the spark plug? There isnt one, the top terminal is smashed into the spark plug, its smashed so far down that part of the tread is smashed also. Other than that, the spark plug is clean, ill try to post pictures

[KansasZj09]

Its the end that is opposite of where the wire plugs into that the thread got smashed.

[KansasZj09]

Also I heard that my engine is a non-interference motor? I dont know if it is or isnt, would anyone know? I heard that if it is a non inter. motor that i have a good chance that the motor is still good?

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

sounds like someone put wrong plugs in and are hitting pistos and smashing gap closed or are you talking about the end that the plug wire go's on? and did you check to make sure your getting gas and spark? and are you saying one of the plugs are cross threaded?

so they were to long of plug that hit the piston be lucky you never knocked a hole in it? hope not and need to get the rite plugs unless they are and to much slop in the rod and main bearings or a wrist pin.

good luck......

[KansasZj09]

I am willing to bet they are the wrong plugs, I asked my brother about if he seen the plug, and he didnt see it. It needs new wires for the plugs and i also bought some heet for the gas. Ill see what happens

[inafogg]

it sounds like the spark plug was hit by piston has anyone checked the compression?
hope it didnt do more damage but compression test will tell
if you find that the spark plugs are the right ones,then something fell into cylinder
good luck

[KansasZj09]

Thanks guys. What is a compression test? And how would i go about doing one? Also I cant really see a difference in the spark plugs, i compared the new ones to the old ones, and didnt see a difference, the old one looks kind of more bulkier than the new one, but i cant see the difference, so i assume something is screwed up.

[inafogg]

you need to get a compression gauge,it screws into the s/plug hole
w/all plugs removed crank engine a few times,then read the gauge
good luck

[KansasZj09]

Thanks, and lastly what results on the compression is considered good and what is considered bad?

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by KansasZj09

I am willing to bet they are the wrong plugs, I asked my brother about if he seen the plug, and he didnt see it. It needs new wires for the plugs and i also bought some heet for the gas. Ill see what happens

i would take a plug to parts store like autozone.advanced,nappa and see what the plug that go's in it is the same link of threads on plug before you pop a hole in a piston.

good luck...