New Member here.

[tom'sB2B]

Hello everyone. I just bought a 1950 B2B last week. It will be a big project for me and I'm excited to find this forum. I'm already coming to the limit of my automotive knowledge. The engine turns over, but I don't seem to get any spark. I put new plugs, plug wires, cap, rotor, condenser, points, and coil in it today. I pulled one of the plugs and layed it ontop of the head to see if I could get a spark...nothing. What should be my next step? I also see that there is fuel leaking from the bottom of the carb..should I buy a rebuild get?

Thank you for the help.

Can't wait to get it on the road again!

Tom

[HanksB3B]

Tom,

Welcome. Looks like the only thing missing is a hub cap. Great start there's lots of real knowledgeable Pilot-House owners here to help. The technical archives has a lot of troubleshooting info to get you started.

Hank

[buds truck]

Tom, welcome to the site. You will find these guys extremely knowledgable and just as friendly and helpful. Bud

[John-T-53]

Tom, Welcome to the site. There's lots of friendly folks here who have more than enough knowledge to help you out. Looks like you live out here in the Golden State...where 'bouts?

As for the spark issue...check that the points are opening and their gap is within range, and also check to see if the coil is getting power on the negative side from the ignition switch. The old cloth covered wiring is easily shorted out with the age that it is.

The Pilothouse knowledge section on the DPETCA site is another very useful page to check out:

http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/know.htm

[tom'sB2B]

I live in Scotts Valley CA which is near Santa Cruz. thanks for the help John. I will keep plugging away at it. Looking forward to some dry days ahead to get out there and work on it

[pflaming]

Double check ALL the wires in the distributor. Mine LOOKED OK, then I found (1) the wire coming in was loose, (2) there is a small 1 1/2 inch wire that connects the incoming wire to the points, mine was broken off, it must NOT touch the distributor wall or it won't rotate with the innerds. When I tighened the one and correctly replaced the other I had spark. The little things will kill you at first, but eventually. . . it will run. Good luck.

[tom'sB2B]

I found your "electrical system check list" thread. I will use it to go over everything and hopefully find the issue

thanks

[tom'sB2B]

couple more photos for fun

[48Dodger]

Hey Tom,

You've found the right place! Nice looking truck too. Seems you're close enough to make it to our Tailgate BBQ out by Clements. Its east of you, about 2.5 hours or so. Its next month, so throw your truck on a trailer, come out and meet a bunch of the guys from the club. Here's a link if you think you can make it.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=18445

48D

[Merle Coggins]

Welcome to our little family.

A couple of thoughts on your spark issue... The first one was covered by 'pflaming', the little wire inside the distributor. The points need a good connection to the terminal on the outside of the dist housing without being grounded to the case. I've heard many stories of this wire either being shorted out to the case or broken off at one end.

Also, there are a couple of different style caps and rotors. Be sure that yours match. It's possible to have a tall cap with a short rotor and there will be no contact between the two.

Other than that just double check power to the coil and that all wires are fully plugged into the cap. Remember, if your electric system is still original it is 6 volts and POSITIVE ground. In other words, you'll have to think opposite when connecting a volt meter to test things. The Negative terminal of your coil is the "Hot" side. the Positive terminal should be connected to the distributor. If this is all good, connect a test light to the Positive terminal of the coil and a ground connection. Now crank the engine. If the points are working properly your test light should blink. When the points are open your light provides the path to ground and will light up.When the points are closed they become the ground path for the coil and your light will go out.

Good luck. Don't let the iron beat you. You are smarter that it is. Once you get it running, be sure that you have brakes and go for a joy ride. I garauntee that grin won't go away for a L O N G time.

Merle

[41/53dodges]

welcome , tom. like bud said, these guys are extremely helpful.