Hi Guys, Did some work on the truck recently. In the process of putting it back together in the middle of the night, I stupidly wired one of the positive ignition wires to the negative terminal on the coil. Realized my mistake when I tried to start it and my points eliminator started smoking. D'oh! So until I can afford another points eliminator I decided to go back with traditional points. I figured my old distributor could use an update, so got a new stock style one with new points and condenser along with new cap and rotor. Also, just in case the coil had fried too, I put in an older one that I keep as a spare. Gapped points to .019 with dist off the engine (don't know if that makes a difference to have it off). Made extra sure all of my wiring was in the correct place. Truck just barely started a few times but wouldn't stay running. Late night. Had to get to bed. Didn't get a chance to work on it again for a couple weeks and came back to it today. Another stupid mistake... went to double check and plug wires to #7 and #2 had gotten switched when installing the new cap. Went through and traced back all my wires then labeled them. Hooked up 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Triple checked. Thought I had the problem figured out, but now it isn't getting spark. I've hooked the timing light to the wire going from coil to cap. It is getting spark there, although seems like it has to crank for a couple seconds before it starts sparking there. Nothing to plugs though. Went and got another new cap and rotor and a new coil too. Still didn't fix it. Could a bad condenser cause this? Anyone got some ideas? I really appreciate any help.
I check for spark using a spark plug, that has the ground electrode cut off. Put the plug wire on the test spark plug, hold the metal part of the plug on a metal engine part, and crank it and see if you get spark. The reason for cutting off the electrode is that it makes a long gap that the spark has to jump, which simulates being in the engine under compression. Anyways, do that test, if it gets spark at the end of the plug wire, but the engine wont' start, then buy a new set of spark plugs, gap them and install them. All the farting around with things not "right" will foul the plugs, and a new set will usually solve the problem. But first triple check that you have everything wired correctly, fresh gas in the tank, etc.
If you have spark at the coil wire but not at the plugs it has to be bad plug wires, bad cap, or wrong rotor or no rotor. That's all there is between the coil wire and the plugs.
You did put the rotor on before you put the cap back on right? I... I mean, my friend, (yeah that's it my friend)... did that once!
Do you have a ballast resistor on the truck? Does the new coil have an internal resistor? Check the voltage to the coil.
you mentioned a points eliminator being hooked up backward. double check the primary side of the ignition for any damaged or partialy cooked wires that may be causeing too much resistance or otherwise bad connections. Look for a resistor wire that might be partially burnt. Been here. Done this. Had to fix it.
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