2000 gp 3.1

replaced head and intake gaskets on my gp ,now it won't start.the car begins to crank and the starter disengages and keeps spinning ,also i get a small backfire from the engine. have spark at plugs and fuel in injectors.

Just wondering, Did the pushrods that came out go back in exactly the same places?

The intake and exhaust ones are different lenghts.

I'm not sure how the starter/wiring could have gotten disconnected, but check the starter connections and fusible links.

First, double check to be sure you didn't mix up the plug wires, as this is easier than tearing the valve covers back off to check the pushrods. Also double check all the vacuum lines (especially the big one that goes to the brake booster) to see if any are still off. If the wires are correct and you didn't leave any vacuum lines unhooked, I agree with Tblake that you need to double check that all the pushrods are in the right place, as they are indeed different lengths for intake and exhaust.

As a note, I just did the head gaskets on my wife's van, and the alternator decided to die just after putting it back together. It dead shorted and was drawing the engine down and causing the engine to stall. At first I thought I did something wrong, until I saw the serp belt smoking. I took the alternator in and had it tested, and it drew the test machine down. I treated that alternator like it was made out of glass, so I know I didn't damage it while removing or re-installing it. I was a victim of my own bad luck.

So if you have luck like mine, it's very possible it's a coincidence that the starter decided to buy the farm just after you completed your work, but it could also be the starter is disengaging due to the backfiring.

If you did put the push rods in the wrong spot,I have some bad news: bent valves.The valves do bend if the pushrods are in the wrong spot

If the engine was never revved up (which I doubt as it sounds like it hasn't even started yet), it should still be ok. I believe the pushrods would get bent before the valves (as they are far weaker than the valve stem) if someone races the engine thinking a lifter is just bled down, but I don't believe this is the case.

My father has seen one with valves bent due to the pushrods in the wrong spot.The long ones are on the outside.

My father has seen one with valves bent due to the pushrods in the wrong spot.The long ones are on the outside.


Ahh no. The longer ones are not on the outside. I believe the exhaust ones are longer than the intake ones. So you have to make sure you know what valve you are on.

The long pushrods go on the outside corners and one long one goes in the middle.I have seen it this way.Another thing to check is the threads where the rocker arm bolts in the head,the threads will strip out and a heli coil is the fix if this happens since the bolt is steel and the head is aluminum

i did have on set of push rods backwards,fixed them and after a few cranks engine started. I also think my starter drive is bad because of the disengagement when trying to start. Thanks for all the help info ,Very much appreciated!!!!!!!

i did have on set of push rods backwards,fixed them and after a few cranks engine started. I also think my starter drive is bad because of the disengagement when trying to start. Thanks for all the help info ,Very much appreciated!!!!!!!

Nice Job! and no dinged valves? Thanks for the feedback!

The long pushrods go on the outside corners and one long one goes in the middle.I have seen it this way.Another thing to check is the threads where the rocker arm bolts in the head,the threads will strip out and a heli coil is the fix if this happens since the bolt is steel and the head is aluminum


If you pay attention while your taking it apart (which you should be doing anyways), you wont have to worry about "the long ones go on the outside". Thats a pretty vague description.