Please help - Won't start at all now
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: asheville nc
My corvette is at my girlfriends while I work on my 49 chevy....but the best of my memory it is wired like my 49 chevy.
12 volt wire on the starter switch in the dash going to one side of the white cerramic resistor (no volts when car is turned to off position).
one wire from the other side of the cerramic resistor going to the + side of the coil.
one wire coming from the starter solinoid that only gets power when you turn the key to start position...it goes to the + side of the coil.
from the distributor, one black wire that goes to the - (negative) side of the coil.
That is it on the 49 with points. On the vette, without looking at it, the stiff tan colored resistor wire that would be very hard to bend would go to the positive side of the coil vs the wire from the cerramic resistor....one wiring dia I have on the 69, shows a black/white wire on the pos + side of the coil as my 86 year old mech said from memory.
The purpose of the resistor wire is to keep the POINTS from burning up...my mechanic once had the resistor go out on his hot 40 ford and it split the mufflers...sounded like a bomb goint off.
You are on your own with the E I you have installed...again....I know NOTHING about them other than they give trouble.
12 volt wire on the starter switch in the dash going to one side of the white cerramic resistor (no volts when car is turned to off position).
one wire from the other side of the cerramic resistor going to the + side of the coil.
one wire coming from the starter solinoid that only gets power when you turn the key to start position...it goes to the + side of the coil.
from the distributor, one black wire that goes to the - (negative) side of the coil.
That is it on the 49 with points. On the vette, without looking at it, the stiff tan colored resistor wire that would be very hard to bend would go to the positive side of the coil vs the wire from the cerramic resistor....one wiring dia I have on the 69, shows a black/white wire on the pos + side of the coil as my 86 year old mech said from memory.
The purpose of the resistor wire is to keep the POINTS from burning up...my mechanic once had the resistor go out on his hot 40 ford and it split the mufflers...sounded like a bomb goint off.
You are on your own with the E I you have installed...again....I know NOTHING about them other than they give trouble.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Piedmont Missouri
Finally got down to the timing chain. Here is a picture. I thought I would see a mark on each sprocket that were supposed to line up, but I only see the mark on the bottom one. Also were the original chains double chain like that or has this all already been replaced? One more question, how tight should the chain be? It's pretty loose on left side (left side in photo, passenger side of car), but tight on other side.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 299
From: Midlothian VA
Finally got down to the timing chain. Here is a picture. I thought I would see a mark on each sprocket that were supposed to line up, but I only see the mark on the bottom one. Also were the original chains double chain like that or has this all already been replaced? One more question, how tight should the chain be? It's pretty loose on left side (left side in photo, passenger side of car), but tight on other side.
Button it up an look elsewhere.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 164
Likes: 4
From: Riverside CA
Another stupid question, You said that the original wire was broken on the ing.
When you replaced it, did you check to make sure there was voltage on the main power lead heading into the coil. Maybe there is a blown fuse.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Piedmont Missouri
I agree, turn the crankshaft around one more full turn and the marks should line up. Another stupid question, You said that the original wire was broken on the ing. When you replaced it, did you check to make sure there was voltage on the main power lead heading into the coil. Maybe there is a blown fuse.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I have spark, if the fuse was blown, I would have none at all, right? Also, I thought that if I have number one cylinder at TDC, that the dots on the two sprockets should be right next to each other, is that not right? If I crank over engine to line up dots I won't be at TDC. By the way, I couldn't see the top sprocket mark from above until I looked at the photo. These iPads are handy!
Both dots at the respective tops of their arc is TDC #1 cyl on the compression stroke.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Piedmont Missouri
Ok, good, so it is correct. I'll put it back together and start focusing again on the distributor. I think I'm going to put points and condenser back in it and new plugs and start all over.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,000
Likes: 299
From: New York
DONT turn the motor at all ,, you are on TDC .... The left side will have slack and that is a replacement chain and gear set . Put her back together do not turn the motor ......
Get the dist in using a long screw driver to align the oil pump to the underside of the dist shaft and set her in with rotor pointing at #1 cyl.
Get plugs in , hook up dist and cap . Install plug wires ONE at a time..1 8 4 3 6 5 7 2 .. 1 3 5 7 front to back driver side 2 4 6 8 front to back pass side.
Get the dist in using a long screw driver to align the oil pump to the underside of the dist shaft and set her in with rotor pointing at #1 cyl.
Get plugs in , hook up dist and cap . Install plug wires ONE at a time..1 8 4 3 6 5 7 2 .. 1 3 5 7 front to back driver side 2 4 6 8 front to back pass side.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Piedmont Missouri
DONT turn the motor at all ,, you are on TDC .... The left side will have slack and that is a replacement chain and gear set . Put her back together do not turn the motor ...... Get the dist in using a long screw driver to align the oil pump to the underside of the dist shaft and set her in with rotor pointing at #1 cyl. Get plugs in , hook up dist and cap . Install plug wires ONE at a time..1 8 4 3 6 5 7 2 .. 1 3 5 7 front to back driver side 2 4 6 8 front to back pass side.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Piedmont Missouri
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
ignition problem, and someone that is not knowledgeable on SBC. But this is how you learn. Find someone from a local corvette club that would come over and help you!!!!!! They can teach a ot in a few minutes.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 249
Likes: 4
From: Eastern Ky
Make sure you don't have a "corrected cap". These have internal wiring that makes the left bank come off the left side and the right bank comes off the right side. If you have run it with the current cap it is probably OK. Just a thought .........
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: asheville nc
With the number 1 pistion at the top of the cyl on the compression stroke, the timing marks (dots on the timing chain) will be one on top of the other.....the bottom gear dot will be at the top of the gear....the upper gear will have the dot at the very bottom of the timing gear off the cam....they will be about 1/2 inch or so apart. This will confirm that the valve timing is correct and the timing chain is correct.
Also, the timing marks on the h. bal will be on zero.
You need to turn the engine so that the above is confirmed before you do anything else...if the timing chain is correct, it hurt nothing and changes nothing....
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
When you confirm all I have said at this point, then you are ready to drop in the dist.....turn the slot in the engine of the oil pump to face the #5 spark plug....and also turn the dist bottom fin to the same plug...when you drop it in and it goes home (all the way down on intake manifold) and it should very easy....your rotor should be pointed to the number one plug....then install wires as stated above by others.
If the dist is okay at this point, and I do not think it is as stated earlier, you should be able to crenk it right up.
Also, the timing marks on the h. bal will be on zero.
You need to turn the engine so that the above is confirmed before you do anything else...if the timing chain is correct, it hurt nothing and changes nothing....
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
When you confirm all I have said at this point, then you are ready to drop in the dist.....turn the slot in the engine of the oil pump to face the #5 spark plug....and also turn the dist bottom fin to the same plug...when you drop it in and it goes home (all the way down on intake manifold) and it should very easy....your rotor should be pointed to the number one plug....then install wires as stated above by others.
If the dist is okay at this point, and I do not think it is as stated earlier, you should be able to crenk it right up.
Last edited by 68L79; Jan 21, 2014 at 12:15 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
With the number 1 pistion at the top of the cyl on the compression stroke, the timing marks (dots on the timing chain) will be one on top of the other.....the bottom gear dot will be at the top of the gear....the upper gear will have the dot at the very bottom of the timing gear off the cam...
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 164
Likes: 4
From: Riverside CA
After consulting with my parts guy who used to work on more corvettes then he could count back in the day, he confirmed that when setting up the timing gears, the marks on both of the gears should be at the top of each gear to set it up for TDC #1 cylinder. So the way you have it, it's fine.
I hope you're still going to install a new chain set after doing all this work.
Last edited by Scott's 73; Jan 21, 2014 at 01:38 PM. Reason: mis spelled
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Piedmont Missouri
I wish there was a local corvette club! That's why I'm depending on you guys. And I really appreciate all the help.
Last edited by MMJ; Jan 21, 2014 at 02:52 PM.