ViciousZ

iTrader: (1)

Just put my new engine in my truck and it won't start b/c I'm not getting any spark. How can I check the ignition coil, the pickup coil, and the module to see which is the problem? BTW, the coil is in the cap. I do know that I have 12V to the coil.

Ward

iTrader: (1)

Is it a new distributor? If not, something my be wrong internally.

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1983 Pontiac Firebird SE
LG4-Based Chevy 400
700R4 Tansmission
Modified 4 Barrel Q-Jet Carb
Accel Super Stock 8mm Wires
Edelbrock Pro-Flo Air Cleaner
3.23 Posi Rear
14X7" Cragar SS/T Wheels
35X4 CD/AM/FM Head Unit
100WX2 Amp
2 Pioneer 12" Subs in Custom Box
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is only half an engine"

CamaroZ_85

if the distributor has been laying around for a while, i would take the module off and see if it's all full of crap underneath, where it makes contact to the base of the dist. i had a blazer that sat for a while and it didnt get any spark when i tried to move it. i just replaced the module/coil and it started right up. i did notice that the module was all crapped up on the bottom though, and i suspect that was the real problem with it

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350, Comp 262, Edelbrock Performer intake 600 cfm carb and exhaust, headers

ViciousZ

iTrader: (1)

I've pretty much started from scratch on this project, originally the engine had a points distributor, and I'm converting it to HEI. The entire distributor, minus the coil, cap and rotor, is brand new. It's a reman distributor, and I've never used it, so I suppose it's possible that I got a dud. The cap and rotor are brand new, and the coil is used, it's been sitting in the garage for about two years, but it worked when I took it off. Does anyone know what the difference is between the coil with the red and yellow wires and the one with the red and white wires? How am I supposed to know which one to use, and what difference does it make? Right now I have the one with the red and yellow wires.

Vader

VZ,

You need to make sure there is a 12VDC supply to the '+' terminal on the HEI switch/amplifier module. There should also be a capacitor in the base of the distributor connected to the module, and the distributor and module need to be grounded. The primary windings of the ignition coil should be connected to the '+' and 'B' terminals on the module, and the pickup coil should be connected to the 'P' and 'N' terminals.

Ignition coil primary resistance should be between 0.5-1.5 ohms, and secondary resistance should be between 6,000-30,000 ohms. The pickup coil should be between 500-1,500 ohms. The pickup coil should have infinite resistance to ground.

An ESC connection is not absolutely necessary to operate the ignition system.

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Later,
Vader
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"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now"
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Engineboy

Are you checking the 12v while the key is on or while you are cranking.

I've been here before, when replacing a pnt dist with an HEI make sure that the 12v is while cranking (with a DVOM, not a test light ) Some 12v source's will drop to 6 volts or lower while cranking.

I would double check my input.

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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

GO #3

8Mike9

If you are in the process of the conversion to HEI, make shure you've bypassed the ballast resistor, and use at least at 14ga wire to the coil hot side...HEI's don't like the 16-18ga "points" wires.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Engineboy, you've got it backwards. Old point systems ran on 6v, cranked on 12v.

I've run an HEI with the standard 16g points wire (balast resistor or resistor wire by-passed) with no problems. If not getting spark, the problem must be somewhere else. I agree, though, that heavier gauge wire should be used.

My guess would be you got a bad distributor, or that the coil is toast. I wouldn't swear to this, but I believe the red/yellow wire coil is for newer, ECM-type ignitions. Don't have one handy to check, though.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.73 unlimited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, TBD heads, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

Engineboy

I've never checked what a point system voltage was while running....I wouldn't know.
I can't remember the last time I installed a set of points.

My point was to make sure he had 12v while cranking and running.

I've installed HEIs and had 12v with the key on but not while cranking, hence a no start. This has happened to me.

I was just checkin to see if this was happening to him

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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

GO #3

[This message has been edited by Engineboy (edited December 06, 2000).]

Pat Hall

iTrader: (31)

[/B][/QUOTE]An ESC connection on a pre-computer HEI???? Ummmm, ok. Like Engineboy said, if your distributor is good, all you need is a constant 12 volt power supply. I put an HEI in my 69 Camaro, and it has the coil with the red and yellow wires. I think the red and white ones were for the later ones with computer controlled carbs. If you're sure of your power supply, I'd exchange that reman for another one. Oh yeah, one other thing to check. Make sure the little carbon bit with the spring and the big rubber washer underneath the coil is there and in good shape. Without that little piece, there's no electrical connection between your coil and your rotor, hence no spark.



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89RS w/350 TPI; 69RS/SS w/450 HP 350/Muncie 4-Speed "Too weird to live, too rare to die."

ViciousZ

iTrader: (1)

Woo-Hoo!!! Got the engine started! And it hasn't blown up yet (knock on wood). You guys were right, I wasn't getting 12 volts to the coil when cranking, I was getting about 9.5V. I never would have figured that one out since I ran the wire straight from the fuse box. Thanks for the help.

Hey Engineboy, who ever said I was a guy?
Girls can build engines too, ya know!



[This message has been edited by ViciousZ (edited December 07, 2000).]

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Touche'

Engineboy

*Pulling foot out of mouth*....I assumed. Sorry I don't see many girls on this board.

I think its cool that you are doin your own work.

Glad to hear its on the road.




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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

GO #3