Help/ Truck wont start

[twoskies]

Hello Everyone
1972 chevy c10/ 1979 chevy el camino motor 350/hei
Started with an antifreeze leak at thermostat housing, bought a new housing, hoping it is sealed now, got the hose out and engine degrease to get rid of antifreeze(pet safe antifreeze), cleaned the engine bay several times before this, after cleaning truck wouldnt start, stopped and bought a new cap, rotor and plugs, fired right up, started making clicking sound from distributor, back cap clip was off, shut off truck and tried old cap after getting water out, tried different rotor, no start, i am getting 12 volts to the coil/cap when ign is on
heading back to parts store to buy another cap and rotor and coil pack on top of distributor

any other ideas

Thanks

[truckster]

Spray WD-40 inside the cap. People use it for all kinds of crazy stuff, but that's actually what it's made for - water dispersal (hence the WD).

[gmc684x4]

Was the new rotor fully seated and any rub marks on the inside of the new cap to show any possible rub marks ?

[twoskies]

Thank You
forget about the wd40

no the new cap was not seated correctly, chewed up a few very very small pieces of plastic inside the cap, so yes it did rub/ the noise i heard

i did just go buy another cap and rotor and coil, no difference

Think tomorrow im going to change the ign module inside the distributor

if that doesnt work, ill pull the distributor and start from square one,

TDC, set rotor/mark number 1 , then hopefully it will start, then timing

Thanks for the replies

[Willys_MB]

I just went through something similar and ended up having an old worn out distributor. I bought a cheap Chinese one to diagnose the issue and never looked back. I still have the GM HEI to rebuild some day. Check the end playa bed other warning signs of a dizzy in need of a rebuild.

[Mike_The_Grad]

Here's a link that might help. Sure helped me a lot. And kinda got me tinkering around with stuff. Eventually I ended up with as much of a "custom built" Dist. As you can get. Lol. Now I got enough parts to build at least 3 distributors.
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...EI_distributor

[special-K]

Check the wires from distributor to coil for cracks. Look for patina green. I blew a new module before noticing minor cracks in wire jacket where it comes out of the dist.

[Willys_MB]

Originally Posted by Willys_MB

I just went through something similar and ended up having an old worn out distributor. I bought a cheap Chinese one to diagnose the issue and never looked back. I still have the GM HEI to rebuild some day. Check the end playa bed other warning signs of a dizzy in need of a rebuild.

I priced out rebuilding the dizzy myself and it was going to be nearly $300 with all Echlin parts. I decided to throw the Chairman Mao special in for $60.

If you have lots of time and can spare the extra $250, I would have rebuilt mine as well

[twoskies]

little update

found tdc , lined up timing marks to 0, turned oil pickup so dist would point towards number 1 cylinder, put distributor back in after replacing the ignition module, yes i did use the die electric grease, put everything back together

fired right up, set timing to 8 advance, running ok, hooked vacuum line back, seemed to be running ok, shut off

tried to restart, nothing again

whiskey and coke, think about it and try again, maybe tomorrow

Thanks for all the ideas, might go for the distributor idea

[Willys_MB]

This sounds exactly like what I was dealing with. A few burnt out chips later and I threw in the towel. Did you check the end play on the dizzy? There are a few measurements you can take that’ll tell you if it’s seen the last of its days

[Mike_The_Grad]

Modules dont stand the heat very well. It might work the first start in the morning but after a few minutes the heat gets to it. Any of the national chain stores(oreillys,autozone,pepboys) should be able to test the module for you. Get them to test it 4 or 5 times in a row. That way you know if the heat is your problem

Or just throw a new module at it. At least you will know the modules good. Unless you get a bad one out the box. Happened to me once.

[twoskies]

another update

ordered a new distributor from advance, will be here in the morning

i did put a new ignition module in it , and yes i did use the paste or grease

it started up, but after i shut it off, no start again after maybe 4 or 5 starts

Thanks

[68 P.O.S.]

Could be the in cap coil as well. They can layer short because the windings are in epoxy, which holds in the heat. This is why the external oil filled coils are better; heat dissipation. A layer shorted coil can take modules out in seconds.

[twoskies]

ok

new distributor, new plugs(might as well) changed battery clip to distributor again , might as well
TDC ok, installed everything, fired right up, sounded better than before, no noises, very quiet,
i did find 0 on timing on TDC, but when started, i set by ear and hooked up vac advance,figured i could check during the day later, still ok, sounded good

shut off

tried to start, then nothing again, wont fire on starting fluid, nothing

going to give it a day, cool off, take a look on Thursday

might try direct 12 volts from battery to check, never had an issue, ive checked voltage a few times, no issues but kinda only thing it could be

any other ideas appreciated, anyone have any electrical issues like this, might be related, clutching at straws Thank's

[rockyrivermark]

So when it doesn’t start are you verifying that there is no spark?
RRM

[twoskies]

yes, no spark when not starting

going to try 12volt straight from battery tomorrow

about only thing it could be, or maybe losing a ground although the starter always turns

Thanks

[twoskies]

last update

Truck is running right again, the 12 volt wire i orginally ran was breaking down, voltage would drop

Ran new wire, good to go



Thanks for all the help

[Barnfind46]

Glad you got it figured out! I had ignition issues when I was moving 300 miles out of state. Broke down twice. It was my Chinese dist. The module went out then the trigger. Put the old one back in and problem fixed. Had the same problem as you did on a 70 Cutlass. Changed the supply wire and done. Never give up on these old trucks! They are very basic. When there is a problem keep checking.

[Mike_The_Grad]

Glad to hear you fixed it. Sucks to hear how much it cost to fix though. Oh well, new truck parts are good no matter which way you look at it.