Posted by chriscase on Friday, April 29, 2005 at 11:42PM :
In Reply to: ignition problems on ffpw posted by dave on Friday, April 29, 2005 at 10:26PM :
Dave, do you have gas? Does the carb give a squirt into the throat when you work the throttle? If so, we'll move on to the ignition system.
My digital camera is at the shop. I'll try to walk you through some troubleshooting without pics.
Go to the junk yard or an auto parts store and get a 12v light bulb and socket with a few feet of wire. (assuming 12v neg ground truck) Hook some wire to each side of the bulb. Check that the bulb will light when the wires are hooked to each side of the battery. Now take it under the hood. Now hook one side to a good ground, the bulb should light anytime the other side is touched to a 12v spot. Like the + side of coil, ignition switch on, bulb should light. With points open, - side of coil should light the bulb. Also, points open, connection on points should light bulb. With points closed, - side should NOT light bulb. Get back to us with the results of those 4 tests.
Primary lead from coil to points should be insulated from ground where it goes through dist housing. Then it is hooked to points. Also hooked to points is the condenser, easy if it is a wire, but if it is the copper strap type, it must be examined to be sure it is not touchin any metal. The stud/nut/screw on the points should also be insulated from ground, it should conduct to the movable point. The wires have to be under the right spot, insulated from touching ground. The other point is ground. So, when the points are closed, the juice flows through the points to ground, and your light won't light. When the points are open, anywhere the primary wire is bare should light your test lamp. Points should open about the thickness of a matchbook cover, .018" if you have a feeler gauge.
Did you save your old parts? Double check that the rotor is identical, some are 180 degrees out, the internal flat spot is on the wrong side and it will not run.
The first time I changed points, I had to have my pick up towed to the mechanic. That was 30 years before the net, five years before going to the GM tune up training school. You've been working on it for 2 weeks , stick with it, we'll get her running yet.