Posted by doug on Monday, March 26, 2007 at 10:32:33 :
I have a 56 FF power wagon with a 318 conversion using a Helitool kit. The engine is a '70's vintage rebuild. I've driven the truck for 2 years now with the current ignition set up. It's always had problems starting when warm, I think because the starter gets hot. When cool-cold it has always started no problem. Last week, after installation of the latest Mexican-rebuilt carburator (#3), I started it and let it run for a few minutes so to adjust things. Shut it down for a while and after a few attempts started it again and moved it around, checked for leaks, useless brakes, the usual stuff. After letting it get good and warm I shut it down. Several hours later tried to start it and after two or three cranks heard a telltale "szzzzzzt" and lost power to everything. Replaced the solenoid, replaced toasted 12 v wire to ignition switch with a fused length, replaced wire to coil. Power was restored but engine would not start. I checked #1 spark plug while cranking and noticed that there was no spark. Over two days I replaced everything with similar new parts, verified good grounds, checked leads, voltage flow, gap (has a points style distributor) etc. Still no spark/start. Then replaced ignition switch and it started! I thought I solved problem. Let it run for a few minutes but had to shut down because I had to find my special phillips head screwdriver to check dwell. The screw for adjusting dwell is conveniently located behind the distributor and barely accessable. Another wonderfully conceived Chrysler design. Anyway, it would not start again, no spark. This time I ran a separate fused link from the alternator to a switch, then connected the + coil wire to the switch. Now I have continuous 12v to coil. Still no spark when cranking.
Notes: The coil I've used all along is a "Standard" that states on the outside "no external resistor necessary" and I have never installed one.
The The truck had run previously with the exact same ignition.
I should have kept the 230, if nothing else it ran.
I think this truck is haunted, I've had other strange electrical problems/phenomena.
If you've read this whole diatribe, thank you, even if you can't help.
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