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73 corvette 454 starting problems

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Old May 4, 2006 | 08:58 PM
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Default 73 corvette 454 starting problems

Hey i am new to the forum as well as this is my long awaited first corvette,i rebuilt the motor and trans,my problem is all the vacuum hoses were disconnected i bought the chilton book but it skips 73-75 vacuum diagrams,also there is a vacuum advance solenoid that i can't find that also connects to a 20 second delay relay.the problem is when i try to start the car it has excessive cranking and then it will fire then die.i am wondering if it has to do with the solenoid or delay relay.if anybody has any advice i would greatly appreciate it.i was told by a corvette shop that they rewire the system to bypass it but that was all the help i could get from them for under 500.00,i live in arizona bet you can't geuss what shop it was.
thanks azkid
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Old May 4, 2006 | 09:38 PM
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I would seal it up (plug all vacuum holes) and hook up your vacuum advance.

The solenoid and relay have no effect on starting the car. They were smog stuff that most people unhooked.

After you get it running we can give you vacuum hookups to get the lights to work.

Hope this helps.
Terry
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Old May 4, 2006 | 10:36 PM
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Here's a couple pics that might help.



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Old May 5, 2006 | 08:57 AM
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Default starting 73

Hi thanks for the pics that does help alot. i was working on it yesterday and found that when i hook up a voltage meter to the coil there is no voltage in the on position which should be 6-8 volts,when you crank the engine over he voltage climbs and then the carstarts when the voltage is reached,is there a resistor or somthing that could have gone bad.
thanks azkid
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Old May 5, 2006 | 01:51 PM
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You should get extra voltage to the coil while cranking,..it comes from a wire that's attached from the starter solenoid to the coil,..brown I believe.

Then when the key is moved from "start" to the "on" position voltage is brought to the coil from the white, cloth insulated, resistor wire. I think this is where you're dead.

Check voltage on this wire with the ignition key in the "on' position.

Let us know.
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Old May 7, 2006 | 05:32 PM
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Default 73 454 starting problem

I checked the voltage to the wires the black wire goes from positive side of coil to ignition i am getting 15.28 volts to this wire the book says it is supposed to be between 6-8 the battery has 15 volts at the source.the yellow braided wire goes to the starter and when i crank the motor i am getting 12 volts this is normal but is there a resistor on the black wire somewhere or is the wire the resistor itself. it says resistor wire on the wire,if anyone can help i would appreciate it i am dying to drive.
thanks
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Old May 7, 2006 | 11:37 PM
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Tell me what wires are connectd to which side of the coil. Do you not have a white cotton insulated resistor wire to the coil?..it comes from the juction block below the master cylindar (or pwr booster).
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Old May 8, 2006 | 06:54 PM
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Default 73 starting problem

there are two wires connected from factory that go to the positive side of the coil one wire is black and it has resistance stamped on it the other wire is the cotton braided covered wire (yellow) that goes to the starter.i split the two wires and the yellow gets 12 volts when cranking and the black wire is getting 15 volts when ignition is in the on position,when you connect the wires to the coil i get the cranking volts but i do not get the 6-8 volts in the on position.
thanks for your help
azkid
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