Won't start. Depressing as hell in atlanta.

[BrianStep72]

Guys and Gals,

I have been a member here for like 3 years or so but I haven't been around for the last year or so. (just lurking). My truck quit running last fall and I looked at it, i figured it was water in the distributor, or some electrical problem. This spring i fiddled with it a little trying to get it to fire, but got nowhere. It's HEI, -- I finally stuck a NEW Igntion module on it, and then a new coil as well. I traced the wires down to the starter, the second wire on the starter is loose and so i need to get in there and tighten it up. It used to run SO well... something went wrong electrically and I can't find it.

I'm so depressed that my truck is just sitting here, never moving at all, even though it has lots of cool stuff on it. I just can't bring myself to break down and spend the time to get it running good again. Something else has always seemed to come up. I have spent a total of like 50 hours looking at it and I always leave MORE PISSED OFF than when I started...

I'm REAL depressed about it as you can imagine. So.. That's my story, it never seems to get spark so that it can fire, but it's not fuel when I dump gas in the carb (new edlebrock). it MUST be spark.. i just can't find it... putting a new battery in it seemed to have a small effect, but it only fired once and then went back to the nothing, never catch.... damn.

So, basically, any ideas what to try next? Other than just putting it in the paper and findiing a new owner for it?

Depressed in Atlanta,

BrianStep72

[ac102nv]

Brian, have you confirmed if the plugs are firing or not?

[BrianStep72]

I'll check on it and get back to the board.
Thanks.

[Super Duck]

also check that the dizzy is turning when you crank. I have stripped a gear and all I could get was the ocasonal back fire. the other thing to check is the module under the rotor

[cdowns]

if you're not getting any spark the first thing to check is if you have a 12V supply to the distributor
if your truck was retrofitted with a HEI you can't use the original wiring because of the ballast resistor used by a points distributor

[BrianStep72]

Guys and Gals,

I tried the spark test and it failed. BUT the battery was weak. I had a NEW battery laying around (from out of my race car), so I dropped it in there and fired it over. SPARK, SPARK, SPARK, real regular on the #1 cylinder.

IT HAS SPARK with the battery, in fact it almost started the first couple of times. Ran rough and then died.. NOW i'm wondering if I have a fuel problem. It's now dark here on the east coast, so I'll try it tomorrow with some fresh fuel and make sure we have gas in the carb.

It was sparking though, no problem there.

Thanks guys, I am feeling a little better now, especially since my daughter was jumping up and down saying 'Daddy, Daddy, your baby almost started'..

Nothing like a little energy from a 7 year old to get us 38 year olds moving.



Thanks guys your ideas are getting me going again. I really do love these old trucks, but once in a funk, it sure is hard to get out of it, eh?

Brian

[jhwkns]

Did you replace your ignition power wire. The original is a resistor wire, and wont work with a HEI. G/L

[BrianStep72]

Yeah, i forgot to mention that... now that i'm excited, let me give a little background.

2002 i replaced the whole top end of the engine. it's a 307, 3 speed, now it has an edlebrock intake and carb and a HEI Distributor. I *DID* replace the ignition wire back to some point (i don't remember how far back tomorrow, but I'll double check). It did run well for over 2 years before stopping. So I don't know if the wire just finally gave out OR something else.

So, that's the history on my problem -- I'll double check the ignition wire back tomorrow and put some good fuel in there to see what happens.

THANKS GUYS! You are the best.

brian

[70 shorty]

What is it about our little girls and our trucks? My truck is so ugly ( I call it the Fred Sanford special) and my girls would rather ride in it than any other. Anyway, you answered my question because I would have betted it wasn't getting spark. Now I bet you just have bad gas (in the truck of course).

[shifty]

You sure the timing is correct? Have you had anyone spin the distributor slowly back and forth while you're trying to fire the truck?

I'm in Atlanta too, but I just got outta surgery and I'm leaving for Vegas on Friday - I'll be gone still memorial day weekend.

I actually have the same truck as you too!

If you still don't get it running by the memorial day, give me a shout, I'll come by and see what we can figure out. Always good to see another local around the forums.

[ac102nv]

Brian, one more thing to add to the list...timing chain. You say it ran great for two years then stopped. If this stop was sudden it's "probably" not gas (although 70 shorty is right on - after two years it needs new). Shifty mentioned checking timing...great idea. If that checks out I start looking at timing chain, you said engine had new topend, bottomend could be getting tired. Just a thought or two......have fun!

[thisolechevy]

Timing for $1000 please. lol I would definetly check timing!! if that dizzy hold down got loose and it turned even a little it would backfire and maybe even crank for a little while then crank at all. Thats my final answer! lol

[BrianStep72]

Originally Posted by thisolechevy

Timing for $1000 please.

DING! Correct, and now for the next question. Where is Jimmy Hoffa buried??

Excellent! it's FIXED... It's running like a top now..
YAHOO!!! Apparently, the timing was a little out of wack. I loosened it up
threw some gas in there twisted the dizzy and it fired up. I got some help from my father in law (a master of the small block) to play with timing and such, but it is alive.

I will be getting her washed up, getting the plates put on her and i'll be driving it to work this week. PICTURES coming out soon. I have SEVERAL new things planned.. <grin>

YAHOO!!!!

You guys are the best. Thank you, thank you a million thank you's!!!!

I'm NOT depressed, i'm delighted.

[shifty]

If I had my guess I would say it's a timing issue and a slow battery drain also. But that's just my 2¢

[BrianStep72]

Guys,
After an oil change and a set of spark plugs, i found ANOTHER problem. A broken plug, it was running on 7 cylinders.

I put 8 new plugs in her and some oil.

AWESOME. I'm happy now, she's running better than she ever has, EVER in 5 years of ownership.

The only small problem now is a smoking rear brake drum when I park. (i think it's locked up or something, i'll tear it down tomorrow and see what it looks like in there).

I am SO delighted to have my truck running, I'm going to a cruise night and show off!!!


Brian in Atlanta

[Palf70Step]

Glad your up and running again. Those little things can be very aggravating.

[shifty]

Glad to hear you're up and running again. Glad it was something as simple as timing.

I have a pile of stuff I gotta do to my truck, just waiting on some header paint from Eastwood and I should get to do lots of work this weekend.