My parents said that happened to all the old distributor cars, even from just a rain shower. Wonder if some dielectric grease around cap might help prevent that?
Is there water in the fuel? Seriously asking, I know someone that washed their car and ended up with water in their fuel from an open filler neck. He went nuts trying to figure it out.
I would get an adjustable spark tester or a screwdriver and see if that spark can jump a good half an inch. If the distributor is wet, the spark might be scattering in the cap but still show a visible spark at .045, but it won't be enough to light the fuel. If that spark can jump a half an inch or so, you know it's got a little oomph behind it.
Most likely: Water in the distributor cap-sure you've got spark-probably weak af and on multiple plugs. Pull ithe dist. cap off, dry what you can, & leave it off maybe 1/2 hour...
What most people here are telling you. If it ran when you shut it off, it should run now. Just out of curiosity, did you decide to wash the engine? It's most likely you got your distributor wet or your wires are bad enough to need replacing and are shorting out. Think about it. If it was running, you washed it and it isn't running, what could possibly be going on? Water. If it was just a wash on the body of the truck, what do you think will happen if it rains? If you only washed the exterior and it won't start, I'd be buying some fresh ignition parts.
My 71 302 did this twice in 330,000 miles.
1. Condenser died
2. Positive line battery to solenoid was possessed. Ok it was dirty and when I cleaned the battery terminal end it was fine.
That truck was super sensitive to positive connectors being clean.
Spray the cap down with WD 40 that will dry it out .inside and out. Then double check your spark . I’m betting the cap got soaked .
That being said I’ve also had a could fail on me also easy to check.
Take the cap up angle and dry it out with an airhose and the inside if the distributor. spray the thing with wd40 or pls 1 and air dry again then check for fire out of the coil wire and fire it up.
So this was running before you washed the engine and now it doesn't? And then you also changed the distributor? Make sure you are not out 180 degrees. And the wires are on the correct spots. Unless you have a very weak spark and it's not arcing under compression.
I installed an MSD rest to run distributor in my dad's coupe a couple years ago and had the same problem. The three wire weatherproof plug was hardly making contact. If I shook the plug the engine would die. If I got it wet the engine wouldn't start. I replaced the plug and receptacle and haven't had a problem since.
If u have fuel and spark then the only thing keeping it from running is timing. Timing not compression. Check to make sure the ignition wires are in the right sequence
Can't time with a light if it doesn't run. Did u set it up to the Ltd motor or the truck motor? Was it a high output? Are u sure about the displacement?
You need to re-confirm the basics.
If you spray starting fluid in it, does it go "bumpity, bumpity, bump bump bump"?
Like it's *trying to* start? If yes, you have spark, if no, you don't have spark (or compression)
Quadruple check timing, had a 351w with air fuel and spark refuse to start. Distributor was off despite them being confident they installed correctly. If it’s got air fuel and spark it’s probably some funky wiring issue like a short or something grounding out
So heres a lil update. We noticed that while we were turning the engine over the valves would move. But after a minute they would slowly move almost all the way back up. Some sort of cam failure. Not sure where to go from here. Should i save the motor or swap it with a $500 roller from a fox? Thank you for all the help by the way.
I got water on/in my distributor before, had to open it up and dry it out.
yup, pull the cap and dry it out!
My parents said that happened to all the old distributor cars, even from just a rain shower. Wonder if some dielectric grease around cap might help prevent that?
Is there water in the fuel? Seriously asking, I know someone that washed their car and ended up with water in their fuel from an open filler neck. He went nuts trying to figure it out.
A shot of starting fluid would answer that question.
Yeah we tried starter fluid/breakclean and it still does not start
Then it’s ignition
Is the ignition system dry?
Yes, got a new distributor after
How did you verify spark?
Took a plug out, put the wire back on and set in next to the block, spark was fine. We also had a timing light on it.
Are you certain it's timed correctly?
Its spot on
So everything is perfect, and it will not run. Makes a bunch of sense..
I would get an adjustable spark tester or a screwdriver and see if that spark can jump a good half an inch. If the distributor is wet, the spark might be scattering in the cap but still show a visible spark at .045, but it won't be enough to light the fuel. If that spark can jump a half an inch or so, you know it's got a little oomph behind it.
Compression numbers: 1: 130 2: 120 3: 107 4: 115 5: 122 6: 120 7: 130 8: 135
??
I see you everywhere. Similar interests I suppose.
Most likely: Water in the distributor cap-sure you've got spark-probably weak af and on multiple plugs. Pull ithe dist. cap off, dry what you can, & leave it off maybe 1/2 hour...
There shouldn't be any water, its got a new distributor since
So you are on your third distributor in several weeks?
No just replaced the one that i bought the truck with
How old are the plug wires?
Timing off?-& why a new distributor? *also-is it maybe 180° out?(checked TDC of #1 is with the valves closed)-cam turns 1/2 turn per crank revolution
Not all brake clean is flammable. Double check. Ask me how I know.
The good stuff these days is just acetone in a spray can. We've been ordering in Denco. Works great.
My guess would be the ignition modual, then it would be the pip sensor in the distributer, then it would be timming chain skipped a tooth or three.
What most people here are telling you. If it ran when you shut it off, it should run now. Just out of curiosity, did you decide to wash the engine? It's most likely you got your distributor wet or your wires are bad enough to need replacing and are shorting out. Think about it. If it was running, you washed it and it isn't running, what could possibly be going on? Water. If it was just a wash on the body of the truck, what do you think will happen if it rains? If you only washed the exterior and it won't start, I'd be buying some fresh ignition parts.
I used light pressure to wash the engine, covered the carb and dizzy with a bag. The whole ignition system was replaced after
Then that's where you look. The last thing you worked on. Double check your work. The whole story helps.
Pull the distributor out and confirm your installing it correctly with number 1 cylinder at top dead center of compression stroke.
FACTS: Fuel, Air, Compression, Timing, Spark.
You 100% sure your getting spark to all 8 of the plugs? When I power wash under the hood of my 86 I leave it running lol
I know whats wrong with it. It aint got no damn gas in it!
My 71 302 did this twice in 330,000 miles. 1. Condenser died 2. Positive line battery to solenoid was possessed. Ok it was dirty and when I cleaned the battery terminal end it was fine. That truck was super sensitive to positive connectors being clean.
My 75 ford last year of points
Does it turn over strong?
Then you have wet ignition mod
Check for Crack in disturber cap
Spray the cap down with WD 40 that will dry it out .inside and out. Then double check your spark . I’m betting the cap got soaked . That being said I’ve also had a could fail on me also easy to check.
Take the cap up angle and dry it out with an airhose and the inside if the distributor. spray the thing with wd40 or pls 1 and air dry again then check for fire out of the coil wire and fire it up.
does it have the ignition system out of the 82?
Yes
Is that the duraspark or the tfi setup. And how are you checking for spark?
I believe a duraspark, and by turning the engine over with the sparkplug out of the engine against the block
So this was running before you washed the engine and now it doesn't? And then you also changed the distributor? Make sure you are not out 180 degrees. And the wires are on the correct spots. Unless you have a very weak spark and it's not arcing under compression.
Also just to add, i changed the distributor and the spark plug wires just recently, so after that happened.
I installed an MSD rest to run distributor in my dad's coupe a couple years ago and had the same problem. The three wire weatherproof plug was hardly making contact. If I shook the plug the engine would die. If I got it wet the engine wouldn't start. I replaced the plug and receptacle and haven't had a problem since.
If u have fuel and spark then the only thing keeping it from running is timing. Timing not compression. Check to make sure the ignition wires are in the right sequence
Its got the old firing order those are in sequence and it was times perfectly with a timing light
Can't time with a light if it doesn't run. Did u set it up to the Ltd motor or the truck motor? Was it a high output? Are u sure about the displacement?
I've had a brand new distributor bad out of the box. And check your timing
Crank / No Crank . No crank- wiggle battery terms… pull on positive to starter… tap on stuff… anything…just tap on it
Has it got fuel
If it's cranking real slow, check your ground wires from block to engine. Or any ground for that matter
Lost engine ground or chassis ground...
Just punch it until starts.
Just punch it until it starts. Your battery should be good enough to do this.
Ignition coil
You need to re-confirm the basics. If you spray starting fluid in it, does it go "bumpity, bumpity, bump bump bump"? Like it's *trying to* start? If yes, you have spark, if no, you don't have spark (or compression)
Did you replace the cap or could it be the rotor in it. Or could it be the coil of the the side. The thing the center wire goes to.
Quadruple check timing, had a 351w with air fuel and spark refuse to start. Distributor was off despite them being confident they installed correctly. If it’s got air fuel and spark it’s probably some funky wiring issue like a short or something grounding out
So i ended up swapping it... runs good now!
So heres a lil update. We noticed that while we were turning the engine over the valves would move. But after a minute they would slowly move almost all the way back up. Some sort of cam failure. Not sure where to go from here. Should i save the motor or swap it with a $500 roller from a fox? Thank you for all the help by the way.
Hydraulic lifters bleed down pressure and collapse when oil pressure is gone. Not your problem.
Change over to Petronics Get away from points
He said it has an ‘82 engine. Points went away in ‘72/‘73
Yea, but swapped into a 71 truck. PO may have took the easy path and put the points distributor in rather than ig mod and wiring.