Distributor Problems.

[Pl4yboy]

Basically I've been having problems with this dizzy/cap/rotor/module/wiring for the last month. I was on my way to a concert and the thing layed down on me, towed it home and it turns out it was a bad coil. The harness on the cap looked pretty messy but intact and useable. A week later, another coil burns up. It drives fine for two weeks until today. I barely got out of my driveway and it breaks down again. I open the hood, knowing already what it is, and see melted wiring all over the place. The harness cracked and grounded out two of the wires. But this time, it melted pretty much all my wiring to the cap. Now I'm trying to figure out how to get a hold of one of these harnesses and what exactly I need to replace. Any ideas guys?

[UltraBlue71]

Pics Please, are you running a HEI or a Points Distrib? Also are you running the voltage reg/external coil(old style) or the one wire newer alternator, Dont put another coil in it before you work your way backward from it and determine whats frying them. That might be easy now, because it sounds like you have lots of re-wiring to do, The newer overseas el cheapo external voltage regulators are crap, I seem to cook one ever year or so, so i would start there, also pull your alt off take it to your friendly neighborhood parts house that will check them and see if its working right. Do you read wiring diagrams? You might want to get one for your truck and study it, good luck, sounds like ya got some work to do, let us know what you find.

[cdowns]

most points distributors dont have modules so i'm thinking an hei? was a new seperate 12volts feed wire used and the oreiginal resistor wire eliminated? have you made sure you're grounding the module good? cleaned up your battery terminal connections and grounds to the motor and frame cleaned as well?

[PanelDeland]

Also check the parts board.I know there is at least one underhood harness there but it may not have all the accessories you need.

[Pl4yboy]

I converted to an internally regulated alternator a long time ago. That's fine. My voltage reads a constant 13-14.4 with lights/AC on. I may have found the problem. Sorry that I didn't specify HEI, I assumed you guys would understand. Turns out the piece that the ICM connects to, that then in turn plugs into the coil, had a short in it. Some of the wiring covering was cracked and shorting. I'm just trying to figure out how that melted the wiring from my IGN. I'm getting a new dizzy tomorrow because no parts place in town can get the part I need, nor do they even know the name of it. Hopefully this solves my problems.

[cparman]

there is an L shaped ground that sits in the cap, and under the coil. Is that ground strap there, and this is a factory HEI?
If this dizzy were mine, I would look carefully at the rubber insulator, and the carbon insert that sits in the cap. I would also make SURE that this ground strap is in there as well. The ground strap can be bought at NAPA. I will go look it up and post again in a few.

the NAPA part # is RR204SB

[cparman]

http://www.napaprolink.com/detail.as...SB_0166637471#

don't know if that worked yet or not

HOLY SMACKS IT WORKS!!

[Pl4yboy]

I know exactly what you're talking about. I replaced it when I replaced the first coil. I did a new cap/rotor/coil/module just to be safe.

[Pl4yboy]

Update: Put a brand new dizzy in and everything seems to be in working order. I rewired about 20 foot of wire today too. I have it timed pretty well by ear but I still have a lot of detonation with the vac advance hooked up. I'll have to wait until I can get a light to do any better.