No Spark help!!!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jmlcolorado · 09-08-2012, 07:19 PM

I need some assistance here guys!
I'm working on a buddy's truck. He just had a new engine dropped in. Crate 350.
He had the installer put in a new distributor.
He is getting spark every now and then. He had it die on him a few times so I came over to help out.
We got it to fire up immediately after rotating the distributor a bit. It reved great and idled find, then suddenly it died. Like someone turned off the key. A couple tries later it fired up again.
Keep in mind nothing was changed while it was running from the time it died.

SO we took the coil off and did the test on it for both the secondary's and primaries. Both tests looked okay. We replaced the coil anyways. We took the ohm meter to the parts store and tested two new coils and got the same results on both tests of each coil as we did on the origonal.

So! Now with a new coil, we put it back together and still got zero spark.

We jumped power from the battery to the BAT side of the distributor, as well as ground, and still got no spark. We did the ohm test on the pickup coil and it came back in spec.
This distributor is 3 weeks old, with less then 100 miles on it. New spark plugs installed.

Can anyone give any other pointers? What else should we be looking for?
This is on a 1979 K20 by the way.

Zane M · 09-08-2012, 07:41 PM

Is it HEI? If so, check the ignition module.

jmlcolorado · 09-08-2012, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zane M

Is it HEI? If so, check the ignition module.

It is an HEI. I was just talking with my dad (who is a 20 year old mechanic with the denver police garage) and he said the same thing.

I guess I just found it tough to see a 3 week old ignition module going out but I've been wrong before

Posted via Mobile Device

jmlcolorado · 09-08-2012, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zane M

Is it HEI? If so, check the ignition module.

Thanks Zane!!!! That cured it!
Posted via Mobile Device

INSIDIOUS '86 · 09-09-2012, 04:31 AM

Chinese modules can last years or hours.
Posted via Mobile Device

Zane M · 09-09-2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Chinese modules can last years or hours.
Posted via Mobile Device

Yep. When I have had to buy modules from the chain stores in a pinch(like on Sunday), I buy two and keep one in the glovebox until I can get a Delco.

09-08-2012, 07:19 PM	#1
jmlcolorado Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Elbert county, CO Posts: 249	No Spark help!!!! I need some assistance here guys! I'm working on a buddy's truck. He just had a new engine dropped in. Crate 350. He had the installer put in a new distributor. He is getting spark every now and then. He had it die on him a few times so I came over to help out. We got it to fire up immediately after rotating the distributor a bit. It reved great and idled find, then suddenly it died. Like someone turned off the key. A couple tries later it fired up again. Keep in mind nothing was changed while it was running from the time it died. SO we took the coil off and did the test on it for both the secondary's and primaries. Both tests looked okay. We replaced the coil anyways. We took the ohm meter to the parts store and tested two new coils and got the same results on both tests of each coil as we did on the origonal. So! Now with a new coil, we put it back together and still got zero spark. We jumped power from the battery to the BAT side of the distributor, as well as ground, and still got no spark. We did the ohm test on the pickup coil and it came back in spec. This distributor is 3 weeks old, with less then 100 miles on it. New spark plugs installed. Can anyone give any other pointers? What else should we be looking for? This is on a 1979 K20 by the way. Last edited by jmlcolorado; 09-08-2012 at 07:28 PM.

09-08-2012, 07:41 PM	#2
Zane M Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 706	Re: No Spark help!!!! Is it HEI? If so, check the ignition module.

09-09-2012, 04:31 AM	#5
INSIDIOUS '86 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: washington Posts: 4,178	Re: No Spark help!!!! Chinese modules can last years or hours. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 377 sbc thumpr cam autogear m23 muncie 3:73 Detroit trutrac 3''spintech prostreet mufflers xpipe 1 3/4 headers build thread !http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=577217 Iroc gauge threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=554511



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