Technical How is this possible?

If the OHM meter ( I have one in my tool box that I never use that all it checks is OHMs ) shows that contact to be dead open if it fires at all it will probably be weak. The only reason that I suggested the back yard repair for this is that I have done it before on a brand new Echlin cap for an olds motor ( American made in the '70s). It was 27 miles back to the parts house from where I lived and it took me 2 hours to hitch it the first time. From what I could gather at the auto parts when I did get there under my own steam was that Echlin recalled the entire run that my cap came from, so I switched the cap in the parking lot.

I think that if he said that he checked continuity coming out of the cap and it made no fire that one could interpret that it showed open with his meter as opposed to closed where current could be p***ing though. That was my logic on what he was saying anyway.

 

I think he means, continuity checked good, but no fire (spark) comes out.

 

See even you question it. However post 5 and 13 clears things up.

 

Like was said earlier... I would look inside the distributor. I once had a 351C that was really wonky when checking the dwell. At an idle it was bouncing the dwell all over the place. Sometimes it ran good other times not so good. I found the breaker plate was flopping all over the place when I dug deeper. I popped in a rebuilt distributor and I was running strong again!

 

^^^^^ I'm sure OP is doing what needs to be done on his end with all the advice given before he gets back with a solid answer and or fix. We're just being restless in a differant way. Just killing time by pocking fun at one another.

 

Pull the dizzy out and rotate the shaft 45deg+ on the install, then rephrase all the plug wires on the cap to see if the problem follows.[no 1 will be in a different position on the Dizzy]

 

I like to read an entire thread before posting, just to see if someone has already posted what I was intending to suggest. I like redundancy in electronic things, but not so much on an internet forum. Guess what?

 

Yep! I saw that too.... That's why I wrote my reply in a more plausible variety of English.

What the F__k does "bounce the plug wire back" actually mean? [Does he mean throw the plug wires at the distributor cap and see if they bounce back into your face!]

 

Lol, I guess post #8 didn't get through to anyone.

 

Yes of course that's exactly what I said, not really but somehow extra has been implied while the meaningful content has been omitted. Exactly what I said , Except I never said to throw anything, however it may help to throw something. And use of a face shield would protect you from ricochet plug wires thrown at the distributor cap. I to have no idea what "bounce the the plug wire back" means either without the supporting context. However ,,, if the entire context is included -

It really shouldn't be that hard to follow, is it?
Simply keeping all of the post together in context without any personal or private implied extra meanings or omissions would help. At that time I posted the word bounce didn't have much time or patience to get wordy, just trying to help the guy and yet still fully aware that readers usually don't get past word #7 if they read anything at all as pointed out above about post #8. This morning I have more time
Rotation of the 8 cyl distributor by a full 1/8 turn will advance all the cap's terminals 1 place in the firing order then you need to BOUNCE the plug wires back one terminal to re establish the correct starting place of the firing order. Perhaps Bump would have been a better word to use? Or the very wordy explanation of removing 1 plug wire to vacate a terminal to have a place for the proceeding plug wire to now reside and repeating the process 7 more times around the cap would have been better ignored, more than seven words you know.

Doing it this way, there's no need to remove anything, it's fast and easy trouble shoot diagnostic tool. Hey it's even fulfilling all 3 of good fast and cheap and that's pretty rare. Sorry my word choice threw you off Kerry,

 

Haha !

 

Not if they can't karaoke. It's a metaphor.

 

==============

X2 for 31Vicky.

In my experience, tail chasing usually ends up like this -

With me dizzy, and still not knowing what tail tastes like.

As suggested by others, there are some excellent simple diagnostic tests for the electrically dis-inclined, and those with this affliction.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/612AOR1S-5L._UX679_.jpg

Wiggling the distributor shaft in the direction of the non-firing cylinder looking for radial play ( should be danged near zero) , and checking the point gap at each distributor cam lobe will most likely make it obvious what is, or at least is NOT wrong

 

You sir must be in a minority, not knowing what TAIL tastes like.

 

I have run into this head-scratcher myself. I was a VW mechanic for 25 years and they had points/condenser systems. I spent hours trying to find a miss. Checked everything out over and over but still came up with zero. Finally, I replaced the condenser out of desperation. Oddly enough, that solved the problem completely.

 

I appreciate everyones suggestions and would like to report what I found but...I didnt find the cause. When things arent right, I know to go back to the basics and thats what I did. I started by checking for dead top center, set the valve lash, Again. Set the timing. Replaced the plugs, wires, Dist cap, rotor, points, condenser, Again. I agree that it must be the Distributor so I took it apart, checked for play in the shaft/bushings, inspected the point plate and the plate under that. Everything in the dist looked very good. After re-***embly with the new parts, it runs a lot better and all spark plug wires strobe on the timing light so I dont know what the problem was. Thanks guys.

 

Thank You for reporting back.

 

Thanks for the update.
Those things drive you a bit crazy but fixing it was the goal and that's accomplished. At least for now

 

X3. Just knowing that it is fixed, whatever it was makes the responses trying to help you out seem appreciated.