Need Technical Help

[smallarm]

Hello All,

Wanted to attempt to tap in to the vast array of knowledge within this forum.

Yesterday, after driving our 64c10 for approx 20 miles, the engine coughed a couple of times while stopped at a light and then konked out. Truck would not restart - it cranked over as usual but would not start. Spark is present, fuel is getting to the carb. Distributor base seems to be a little loose - I'm able to rotate the whole distributor assembly clockwise and counter clockwise by hand, so I think this may be part of the problem (timing). I've recently tightened the distributor clamp and am now trying to at least get her running, but havent been able to get it to fire up. Engine is a 350 crate with Edelbrock 1405.

Any suggestions?

[morethanstock66]

Points or EFI?

[jayoldschool]

Points and EFI are two different things. It doesn't matter if it is points or electronic ignition (HEI, pertronix, whatever). His problem is the distributor has turned, and he needs to get it back in time.

Pull the #1 spark plug. Bump the engine up on the compression stroke. Turn the distributor to point the rotor at spark plug lead #1. Put the plug back in, dist cap back on. Start truck, set timing using a light, and clamp that dist down.

[morethanstock66]

Sorry, I meant HEI, alphabet soup gets mixed up sometimes. If the hold down was loose the distributor probably jumped out of the cam gear. So what you'll probably want to do is:
1. Take out the #1 spark plug and put a ratchet/breaker bar on the crank pulley and your finger on the #1 spark plug hole.
2. Spin the crank around clockwise until you feel pressure on your finger(that means the compression stroke).
3. Then line up the timing mark with about 8 degrees advance on the balancer. Now you have a good starting point. If it was points before, it won't be exactly 8.
4.Drop the distributor down until it full seats in the cam gear ( no gap between the distributor collar and the intake distributor hole flange).
5. Make sure when you seat it that the #1 location on the distributor will be pointing at the #1 cylinder. If not, then pull the distributor out and drop in again. Don't move the crank anymore.
6. Once you have it lined up tighten the distributor down- for safety sake and replace the #1 plug.
7. Wire the engine up again and slightly loosen the distributor hold down bolt- JUST ENOUGH TO BARELY TURN IT.
8. Try and turn the truck over.
9. If it doesn't crank or barely cranks barely turn the distributor accordingly. MAKE ONE ADJUSTMENT PER TIME YOU TRY TO START IT
10. Once you get it running, you can fine tune the advance by still slightly turning the distributor.
11. Once you get it where it runs well and has good throttle response, tighten down the distributor hold down bolt fully and you are done.
12. Drive it around for a little bit because it may still need some fine tuning.

[smallarm]

Truck is equipped with Accel/HEI

[jayoldschool]

If the hold down clamp is still on with a bolt, but simply loose, it didn't jump a gear. It's just out of time.

[Tx Firefighter]

If the clamp is still in place, just loose, there is no chance it jumped up enough to skip gear teeth. So, you just need to get the distributor back in the same spot as it was before all this happened. No need to go to very much effort. Quickest and easiest way is to just have someone crank the truck over while you turn the distributor back and forth. You'll find a spot somewhere in there where it will start. Then once it's running, tweak it a bit as needed until it runs smooth without drama. Now break out the timing light and get it perfect.

[smallarm]

Thanks all. Still trying to get her going....we have spark, gas and timing, but still wont start. My last two possible causes are the pick-up coil and the control module. Will be changing them out (one at a time) later tonight. If this doesn't cure my problem, I'm totally stumped.

One thing I'm unsure of - If I have spark, can my control module be bad???


Thoughts?


Thanks again.

[Tx Firefighter]

You have good steady spark ? Zap, zap, zap, zap as long as you crank it ?

If so, look elsewhere. Your pickup coil and module are triggering the coil like they're supposed to.

[jayoldschool]

Nice blue spark? Or yellow?

[smallarm]

Thanks to all of you for the suggestions. Problem was the ignition coil - swapped it out and she started right up.