Help with Corvette not starting
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Socal
Help with Corvette not starting
Hello. I tried to research this but couldn't find it here. I have a 1972 Corvette with a 350 CID and 4 speed manual trans. I was driving on the freeway and the car shut off. Towed it home. I have some mechanical experience. Car wont start now.
I have an electronic ignition with an external MSD coil. I noticed when I crank the engine I show power going to the negative side? Of the coil, it pulsates. I have spark. If i let the car sit a few minutes i no longer get power there or spark. Fuses test good with test light. What else should I check for the lack of power to the coil. Thanks
I have an electronic ignition with an external MSD coil. I noticed when I crank the engine I show power going to the negative side? Of the coil, it pulsates. I have spark. If i let the car sit a few minutes i no longer get power there or spark. Fuses test good with test light. What else should I check for the lack of power to the coil. Thanks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Socal
Help Corvette not starting.
Hello. I bought the car this way. Not sure of the brand of distributor but it no longer has points. I would call it a HEI with an external coil but not sure after that. I took the distributor cap off so I know it does not have point ignition. Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Can you put up a pic of the distributor so we can try to figure what it might be.
If it's an HEI, my first guess would be the module is gone/going and as soon as it heats up a little it quits completely
Anyway, would help to know what the distributor actually is to start
M
If it's an HEI, my first guess would be the module is gone/going and as soon as it heats up a little it quits completely
Anyway, would help to know what the distributor actually is to start
M
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,923
Likes: 4,495
From: Virginia
HEI with external coil, so perhaps a points to solid-state conversion? Please take a photo under the cap, too. I'm guessing a Pertronix ignitor or equivalent. They can fail abruptly, but are easy to fix/replace.
Last edited by Bikespace; Jun 16, 2019 at 01:54 AM.
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