Please, please, help me! Missing school!

[cfan10]

Changed ignition coil/ignition control module/cap and rotor arch seal. Timing 8degrees BTDC can someone please post a picture of your fuse panel under dash
Is the ignition coil red wire supposed to be hooked to a thick orange/pink looking wire for battery connection from the distributor cap?

84 305/350 giving me pure hell!!!
On my way to class yesterday and this happened again, had to get towed because I don't trust driving it. But it did start back up, but runs like crap!

As always thanks in advance for your advice or experience.

[hatzie]

Look in my signature. The GM wiring diagrams and service manual for 1984 are there.

If the pink wire or the three wire module-to-coil connector is damaged or loose you'll have issues.

I am assuming you used heat sink grease on the module and that you cleaned the contact pad on the distributor.

The module to coil connector pigtail is usually listed as an HEI Ignition condenser. Wells U518 or Pertronix D9007.

[FarmYard]

have you put a multimeter on the battery while its running to see if the alternator is doing its job? (14.x volts while running). i had a similar prob and it was the a bent spade in the alternator not making contact with the plug. it wasnt charging the battery and would run like crap.

[cfan10]

Originally Posted by hatzie

Look in my signature. The GM wiring diagrams and service manual for 1984 are there.

If the pink wire or the three wire module-to-coil connector is damaged or loose you'll have issues.

I am assuming you used heat sink grease on the module and that you cleaned the contact pad on the distributor.

The module to coil connector pigtail is usually listed as an HEI Ignition condenser. Wells U518 or Pertronix D9007.

I did clean the base and use all that was supplied for the paste. Thanks.

[cfan10]

I forgot to mention that if I turn my headlights on they are dim and get dimmer with more driving. Usually the hi beams and low beams are on together but the bottom is very dim just barely on. This totally drains the battery, where can I find a quality alternator over the counter. Have an advance parts on now. Thanks.

[cfan10]

Last night I noticed that with the cap and rotor off the advance curve is really loose and does not snap back. In fact, one end was sitting on the top of the other end. There is a gap between them and the base thick enough to fit a nickel with no problem. So, my question is can this loose advance curve on the dist cause the truck to shut off while driving?

84 c10 305/350

[jetmech85]

That may cause it to not have power and possibly back fire but don't think it would just shut off. A discharged battery and an alternator not charging would cause it to shut off but at that point the battery would not have enough juice to spin the starter.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by cfan10

Last night I noticed that with the cap and rotor off the advance curve is really loose and does not snap back. In fact, one end was sitting on the top of the other end. There is a gap between them and the base thick enough to fit a nickel with no problem. So, my question is can this loose advance curve on the dist cause the truck to shut off while driving?

84 c10 305/350

That will make her run like garbage but it won't just shut her down. Dodgy Module to Cap wiring pigtails and Capacitors can burn out modules and shut off the truck at random times. I finally found the AC Delco part # 19207437. The Pertronix 9007 and Wells parts will work but the connectors tend to be brittle.

As long as the counterweight pins aren't badly worn... Advance curve kits usually will fix a loose centrifugal advance with new counterweights, bushings, and springs. Attach a rare earth magnet in close proximity to each E clip so it doesn't go flying off onto never never land.
If the vacuum advance is bad you can replace the can while you're in there.

Mr Gasket advance weight kit. http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Gasket-929G-Advance-Curve...
The Asian crap is just that... Just say no to cheap Asian HEI distributors and ignition parts. Yes. I'm a snob. The Delco electronics actually work better and keep working longer. Cheap isn't really that cheap once you factor in a couple tows or afternoons by the roadside putting in parts. If you have a cheap Chinese coil or a "performance" coil it's probably most of your grief.

[ruffrida2005]

There is a company in Temple that rebuilds Alternators, They are very good from what I have been told. Sorry I don't know they name, but you might be able to talk to some shops. Or if you google it, they show 2 different companies in Temple.

[ruffrida2005]

I may even have a extra Alt at the house, but I wont be home for about another week or so. I live in Killeen.

[cfan10]

Changed the HEI distributor to an MSD street fire HEI unit, turned the engine(timing mark moved when I took the old dist out.) until I felt the most compression and the rotor was pointing where it always pointed for the TDC mark I made on the oil switch right side of the distributor.
Had a hell of a time getting it seated on the oil pump thingy. Turns over but no start, changed the crap starter and put a 1994 starter on again.
The thing is the timing mark on the damper was never at TDC on the timing tab, so I made my own mark for TDC on the damper and the side of the cap.
Old dist. Had a broken magnet and advance curve so loose you could fit change underneath it.
1984 305/350 nicknamed: golddigger, lol
Any advice on what I’m doing wrong or what else could cause this issue now? I’m at my wits end and having to rent a car for school! Going broke, please, help.

[cfan10]

Originally Posted by ruffrida2005

I may even have a extra Alt at the house, but I wont be home for about another week or so. I live in Killeen.

Bought a crap one from advance auto parts and took a look at it the inside fins are covered in rust! Good parts are hard to find. Thanks.

[Orion88]

There is a series of videos on youtube by MSD performance that explain distributor install and setting timing very well. One of them explains exactly how to install a new distributor and start from scratch like you are. David Freiburger from Hot Rod is one of the presenters and he explains everything very concisely, simply, and it's easy to understand.