Bet I know why this eng didn’t run!

[kencombs]

Take a look at this distributor pic.   Came from a non-running 218 that I got years ago.  Starting my slant distributor conversion using this as a shaft donor.  See if you catch the fatal point and condenser change error the PO made.  Hint, the points arm isn’t straight.  

[Merle Coggins]

I don’t see a gap as there should be with the rub block at the high point of the cam. 

[Sniper]

Screw is too long

[Los_Control]

just a guess ....

Looks to me there is too much wear on the shaft and rotor would have too much slop.

 

 

 

 

[Young Ed]

48 minutes ago, Sniper said:

Screw is too long

That's what I saw too. Couldn't open no matter what 

[kencombs]

1 hour ago, Sniper said:

Screw is too long

Yep.  Good eye.  The condenser wire screw is touching the points moveable arm, when they are closed.  Turning the shaft just bent the arm, they don't open at all.

[Tooljunkie]

Thats why i like to remove distributor, service it and bench test before i put it back in. First round with putting in new contacts it would stall as rpms rose. I realized right away, pulled dist and repaired shorting wire as vacuum pulled advance plate. 

[bkahler]

This subject brings back memories from my high school days long ago.  My girl friend had just bought a car and I was of course trying to impress her with my mechanic's skills.  I offered to do a tune up where I replaced the spark plugs, points and condenser.  All went well until I tried to start the engine and it wouldn't start ?

 

After much looking on my part I called a neighbor over who worked on cars as a hobby.  After a few moments of inspection he found I had shorted the points to ground.  A slight adjustment on his part and the car roared to life

 

That was an embarrassing lesson I've never forgotten.....