1987 chevy S10 2.5L TBI

1987 CHEVROLET S-10
67,000 MILES
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KOHLERKID
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My 1987 chevy s10 won't start and i don't know why, I will try to explain the problem. So I got the little truck for free from a family friend, and he said that it needed a new modular put in the distributor, so I put that in, and still nothing. So I took the distributor out and cleaned it up and noticed a crack on the magnetic pickup so I put a brand new distributor in and while I was there, I put in a new coil, and still nothing so I checked to see it I had spark, and discovered that I was getting literally one spark, and it was when I would let the key spring back to run, but I wasnt getting anything while I was cranking it over. I'm out of things to try, got any suggestions as to what could cause this? thanks!
Jun 2, 2011 at 3:54 PM
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JDL
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Does the distributor rotor turn when you crank it? Do you have primary voltage to coil, engine cranking? Pink wire.

On the negative side of coil/tach, does it pulse, engine cranking? Does the battery have a full charge and all connections clean and tight?
Jun 2, 2011 at 9:11 PM
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KOHLERKID
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the rotor didnt turn, and i pulled the timing cover and the cam gear just spins, i haven't torn into any small engines like this, so this was a first for me. so is it supposed to spin like that or what, it seems like its on a bearing and if so why? its got me confused, never seen this before! thanks for the suggestions!
Jun 3, 2011 at 12:51 AM
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JDL
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The camshaft gear is driven by the crankshaft gear, no chain. The gears should mesh with each other. I can't tell if your camshaft is broken?
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Jun 3, 2011 at 2:25 AM
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KOHLERKID
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No the camshaft is fine, I guess i didn't explain it enough. I
attached a picture will use it to try to explain it more thorough. Ok in the center where it's all shiny and where the way is, the put side of that hole thing is spinning, not where the cam shaft is at, but where the shiny machined part starts going to the rougher cast part is where it's spinning, is it just broke right there or what? I hope that cleared up a little confusion! Thanks JDL for all the suggestions and help, Its much appreciated!
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Jun 3, 2011 at 3:31 AM
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KOHLERKID
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ok i missed a few keys haha its supposed to say: the shiny part where the key way is, the out side of that whole thing is spinning...
Jun 3, 2011 at 3:38 AM
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JDL
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Sounds like you need a new camshaft gear. Thanks for the picture, I'm a little dense sometimes.
Jun 3, 2011 at 3:47 PM