Stl_Greaser

So a supervisor at works needs me to come over and get his car to run. The story goes like this, he knows little about cars and has had this 1956 Chevy of his dads for years and is starting to restore it. The motor ran but smoked a lot so he pulled the head and had it rebuilt. In the meantime he pulled the pistons and re_ringed the motor. after reinstalling the head he pulled the distributor to prime the oil system. Now the car runs really rough with about a 2000rpm idle. He says he thinks the valves are set pretty good. He doesn't know about the timing though. I am unfamiliar with this motor and not really sure where to start. He has also adjust the idle screw on the carburetor and doesn't know where it was initially set, but says nothing he did changed they way the car ran. He adjusted the idle screw on the carb and turned the distributor timing back and forth and nothing changed.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Brian.

2wd-K5

if he doesnt know much about cars, chances are the valves arent set right, also with the high idle, he more than likely has a vacum leak, time to spray around the intake with ether and see if the revs pick up, when they do that probly the area that leaks

old dog

like 2wd-k5 says re check the valve's i believe they should be hydraulic lifters .did he pull the cam when he pulled the pistons ? the cam may be a tooth out on the gear! or the distributor is a tooth out check the timing and see if the vacuum advance is working . the manifold should have alignment rings between the head and manifold ,gasket may be bad or bolts and stud's are loose re check .check the torque on the head bolts after it has been run and warmed up .

Overtime

Timing a 235 is pretty basic, sure that it is something real simple.

Stl_Greaser

Awesome, thanks for all the help. Also He says there is no bolt holding on the harmonic ballancer. How am I supposed to turn the engine over by hand. He is trying to bump the engine with the key to get #1 up to TDC on the compression stroke! That can take an eon to get to perfect top dead center!

2wd-K5

pull the plugs and turn it by the flywheel, if it is and automatic just use the bolts connecting it to the torque converter, if its a standard, grab a pair of gloves