Died and won't start?!?!

[WadmalawJoe]

I started my 69 (has a 350), started as it normally does (fine) I let it run a few minutes while I put things up. I get back in, go to rev it up a little but it just died instead. Now it won't start.
Any ideas where to start?
It does crank.
Fuel in line.
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[truckster]

Have you checked the spark? Pull a wire, and have someone crank it while you look for spark.

If you've got spark, take the air cleaner off and make sure you're getting a squirt of fuel when you depress the accelerator.

Engines need three things to run: Air/fuel mixture, spark, and to have them at the proper time. If you've got spark and fuel, the next thing to check is timing. If that's off, you may have slipped a timing chain.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

First look down the carb throat & work the throttle linkage. Each time you work it a squirt of gas should go into the throats. If not pour a little gas in the throats & try to start it. If it doesn't take the coil wire out of the dist cap & hold it close to a grounded metal. Crank the engine. As you crank sparks should jump from the wire to ground. If not you have an ign. problem, probably bad points. If it starts when you put gas in the throat you have a fuel delivery problem or carb problem.

[70c10stepside]

I had that happen. It was the distributor module. Check for a spark, if no spark. There ya go.
also check your grounds. When you went to rev, something may of arked or a ground came loose
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[WadmalawJoe]

Super quick responses!! Thanks!
One of reasons I got this truck was for the simplicity.
It just blew my mind the way it just died.
I will check everything out and report back

Thanks again
Joe
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[67ChevyRedneck]

Does it have HEI? Could be a control module or coil. Sometimes when people install HEI they don't know they can't use the old wire that went to the points, it only has 8v going to it, you have to run a new wire with 12v to the HEI. The lower voltage could have finally killed the control module. If that happened, they're cheap and run a new wire to the HEI.

[WadmalawJoe]

No spark from distributor or from the coil.
I need schooling on the ignition systems.
I believe I have the upgraded electronic ignition, instead of points in the distributor I have something else. Maybe that's the ignition module 70C10stepside mentioned?
I will post a picture or two as soon as I can.
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[WadmalawJoe]

I have the Accel distributor 51100E.
A step above points and not obtrusive as a HEI system if I read a description correctly.
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[WadmalawJoe]

Couple pictures

[70c10stepside]

The module that im talking about is on your last pic, on the bottom of your distributor. The black box that has a wire plugging in on both sides. Now, my set up looks a little different im just guessing here.
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[WadmalawJoe]

I have been doing some reading and I wonder if I should just switch to a HEI system?
It looks like they don't even make that distributor anymore and finding a ignition module maybe difficult. There are some out there, but not as readily available as I would like.

I will start a new thread on it.

[70c10stepside]

An auto parts store will have one for like 20 bucks lol Just swapped one a few weeks ago
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[towbar]

With the luck that I've had out of aftermarket ignition over the last couple years I would just drop in an HEI. In the past 2 years I have been left beside the road by both MSD and Mallory ignition boxes, and a MSD distributor....after the MSD distributor failed and I towed it home I put in an HEI distributor and used the MSD box, then the box failed and left me beside the road again. I put a new mallory box on it but put the original HEI pick up and tools to change it out in the glove box just in case.....well a year later, the mallory box fried leaving me beside the road again!! About 20 minutes I had the HEI pick up installed in the distributor and was back on the road.....so now the HEI stays and screw the big $$ junk.

[jc70chevy]

hei i all the way . dont mess with the msd boxs i had three go out. only thing ive ever had go out on my hei is the ignition module. thats after 6 yrs with out replacing it.

[WadmalawJoe]

Originally Posted by 70c10stepside

An auto parts store will have one for like 20 bucks lol Just swapped one a few weeks ago
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I'm assuming I would need Accel's module? Is that what you needed as well or??
The ones I saw online where $50-80.
My module number is 35366.
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[jc70chevy]

check your coil also

[70c10stepside]

No lie. I dont know what mine is.. I think its just a gm distributor.

Here is the best pic of mine.


I dont believe its anything fancy. Honestly found it at a yard sale for 25 bucks. Still new

[70c10stepside]

Just researched. I do have hei lol Yep, now since I get what it stands for I'd swap over.

[truckster]

In my opinion, HEI is the best low-buck upgrade you can make to your truck. Unless you really want to keep the points, it's hard to beat the simplicity, dependability, and performance of HEI.

[special-K]

GM HEI is the most reliable electronic ignition you'll find. No need for aftermarket stuff. They zap as hot a spark as you'll ever need...and on time. You can change weights and springs if the engine is that built up. I still believe in points,too. Never had a problem with those,just like hotter spark.

[Daddy Brim]

Originally Posted by WadmalawJoe

No spark from distributor or from the coil.
I need schooling on the ignition systems.
I believe I have the upgraded electronic ignition, instead of points in the distributor I have something else. Maybe that's the ignition module 70C10stepside mentioned?
I will post a picture or two as soon as I can.
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Did you check the wires going to the coil for proper voltage and ground.

[WadmalawJoe]

Originally Posted by Daddy Brim

Did you check the wires going to the coil for proper voltage and ground.

Yes I did and traced the wire back to the firewall junction panel and found it was piggy backed in with something else. Then spliced with a smaller wire. I will be changing that out.

Voltage was 12v though.

Coil tested out fine as well.