flattiefreak Posted May 16, 2009 Report Posted May 16, 2009 hey folks. my 58 plymouth just got a new carb, the engine was rebuilt last summer but has only been driven about ten miles. the 230 flathead is completely stock. the other day i went to start it and the starter just kept turning over and over. i am getting spark at the coil, but not at the distributor. the distributor wire that goes to the negitive terminal on the coil was frayed. i have been thinking of going over to the stovebolt electronic dist. what are some of the advantages of it? Quote
Don Coatney Posted May 17, 2009 Report Posted May 17, 2009 Why not find and fix your problem? You could easily buy a new electronic distributor and then have the same problem. Fix what you have first and then upgrade if you feel the urge. Quote
dezeldoc Posted May 17, 2009 Report Posted May 17, 2009 What do you mean you are getting spark at the coil but not the distrubitor? if you pull the coil wire out of the dist cap and hold it next to the head it will spark? if you pull a plug wire and hold it next to the head does it spark? if it sparks at the coil wire but not the spark plug wire it is either a rotor or bad cap. if the pionts are bad it won't spark at the coil. if you go to the hei from langdon's you eliminate the variance from the points wear, more stable timing, more and hotter spark and it should fire off eaiser. Quote
greg g Posted May 17, 2009 Report Posted May 17, 2009 Is the center carbon deal in the dist cap contacting the rotor? Do you have the correct distributor cap for your distributor????? There are about 4 diggerent styles of distributor usd onthe flathead 6 and each one takes its own cap. The only way to assure the correct one is to order the piece from the part number ont he distributor. Some caps are short some are tall and some are just right. Quote
dezeldoc Posted May 17, 2009 Report Posted May 17, 2009 Greg, put your kids book down, no goldilocks! ya need to be reading the motors manual! Quote
flattiefreak Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Posted May 17, 2009 i pull the coil wire that goes to the center of the dist cap and it sparks, i pull the wire off the spark plug and it doesnt spark. i have the right dist cap, replaced the points, rotor andcondensor about 2 months ago.. Quote
greg g Posted May 17, 2009 Report Posted May 17, 2009 Spark plug wires fully seated i the cap?? Quote
flattiefreak Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Posted May 17, 2009 yes the wires are seated good. Quote
dezeldoc Posted May 17, 2009 Report Posted May 17, 2009 If it is getting spark at the coil wire and not the plug wire, pull the cap and look inside at the coil tower and see if the carbon contact is there and make surt it is contacting the rotor, also make sure their are no cracks in the cap, check and make sure the rotor goes out to the edge of the cap and check that the end on the rotor that goes to the outside is straight and not pulled over to one side, it should be straight. that or you have bad plug wires, only 3 things will cause that, cap,rotor or wires. Quote
flattiefreak Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Posted May 17, 2009 i made a test lamp, it lights up when i turn the dist, i locked it down and still no fire, the cap is pretty much brand new, along with the accel plug wires. i will replace the rotor and see if that solves the problem. Quote
Slick Steve Posted May 18, 2009 Report Posted May 18, 2009 Flattie... Contact Bubba from Bubba's Hot Rod Shop. He can help you. He can also test, rebuild, or turn your distributor into electronic if you choose! http://www.lindertech.com/bhrs/ Tell em' Slick Steve sent ya! Quote
flattiefreak Posted May 18, 2009 Author Report Posted May 18, 2009 thanks steve when i have a little extra money ill give him a call. Quote
dezeldoc Posted May 18, 2009 Report Posted May 18, 2009 Flattie...Contact Bubba from Bubba's Hot Rod Shop. He can help you. He can also test, rebuild, or turn your distributor into electronic if you choose! http://www.lindertech.com/bhrs/ Tell em' Slick Steve sent ya! stay away from the pertronics unless you want to carry a spare dist with you. Quote
flattiefreak Posted May 18, 2009 Author Report Posted May 18, 2009 replaced rotor still wont start no matter how i turn the dist.. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 18, 2009 Report Posted May 18, 2009 replaced rotor still wont start no matter how i turn the dist.. did you get fire? Quote
Powerhouse Posted May 18, 2009 Report Posted May 18, 2009 I had a similar problem...the cause was a 2 inch piece of wire on the plate...they do go bad somehow...mine was corroded from the inside...sometimes the nuts loosen and the contact isn't good enough. Try finding the wire...and testing each contact point..an test conductivity of the little wire...Mine looked fine...and so did the nos one I replaced it with...which was also corroded from the inside...what a pain. Quote
flattiefreak Posted May 19, 2009 Author Report Posted May 19, 2009 its now trying to fire.. it sounds like it is going to start but doesnt. from what i can tell im getting fire at some plug wires. i pulled number 1 plug wire and it looks like it isnt firing at all but i know number 3 definately is. i replaced the wire in the dist already. i hear and see a loud spark from the points when dist cap is off Quote
dirty dan Posted May 19, 2009 Report Posted May 19, 2009 stay away from the pertronics unless you want to carry a spare dist with you. Do you mean pertronix? I've been running pertronixs "ignitor" set-up in a 71 Bronco for 5 years without a lick of trouble. Do they make a unit for the P-15s? I didn't see one on their website. I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Quote
flattiefreak Posted May 19, 2009 Author Report Posted May 19, 2009 just confirmed that it isnt firing on some plug wires.. this doesnt make since to me. why would it be firing on some plugs but not others?? the wires are good. Quote
dirty dan Posted May 19, 2009 Report Posted May 19, 2009 its now trying to fire.. it sounds like it is going to start but doesnt. from what i can tell im getting fire at some plug wires. i pulled number 1 plug wire and it looks like it isnt firing at all but i know number 3 definately is. i replaced the wire in the dist already. i hear and see a loud spark from the points when dist cap is off Are you certain that your plug wires are in the right spot and order on your distributor? I've done that on mine before. I felt like a real dullard when I realized what I had done. Quote
greg g Posted May 19, 2009 Report Posted May 19, 2009 pertronix look int he agricultural section Massey Ferguson combine powered by chrysler 6 cyl, also marine section uder Chrysler marine not /6. You can order with the 6 V + suffix on the part number. Quote
dirty dan Posted May 19, 2009 Report Posted May 19, 2009 pertronix look int he agricultural section Massey Ferguson combine powered by chrysler 6 cyl, also marine section uder Chrysler marine not /6. You can order with the 6 V + suffix on the part number. Thanks! Quote
flattiefreak Posted May 19, 2009 Author Report Posted May 19, 2009 im positive the wires are in the right place. i havent pulled them from the dist. Quote
Slick Steve Posted May 19, 2009 Report Posted May 19, 2009 Have you taken the distributor out? If so, when you put it in, could it be 180 out? Just a guess... Quote
flattiefreak Posted May 19, 2009 Author Report Posted May 19, 2009 i did tske the dist out but i tok a pic with my camera to note where the rotor was pointing Quote
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