Weird electrical issue? Two bad distributors?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 1
From: Potomac Falls VA
Weird electrical issue? Two bad distributors?
This is a long story so I am going to give cliff notes:
1)Rebuilt top end of 383 this winter and when done car started right up but had a weird timing issue. Eliminated all other possibilities (so did a prof mech) and we got a new dist which solved all issues and car ran great.
One week later
2) Drive car out to restaurant, came out and would not start. Plenty of juice (did try a jump as last resort), verified air, fuel and 12V to dist, tried an extra coil but nothing. Had car towed home
3) Next day put in old carquest dist I had laying around and car fired up.
4) Returned MSD to Jegs for a new one (figuring I just got unlucky and got one with a bad module).
5) Put new dist in and car will not start. Charged battery, verified 12V to dist and even tried the carquest dist again but car will not start.
Some additional info
The dist is an MSD Pro Billet HEI 8365
I have verified good ground from dist to engine to chassis.
I did notice that when cranking the engine, the 12V to the dist drops to about 10V but I am assuming that is normal due to draw from the starter motor.
Plugs and wires are new and I have verified firing order as well as verified my TDC on compression stroke.
The 12V wire is the same I used before the rebuild and worked fine for years. I also tried a new one installed off the ign terminal on the fusebox.
Any help is appreciated.
Shane
1)Rebuilt top end of 383 this winter and when done car started right up but had a weird timing issue. Eliminated all other possibilities (so did a prof mech) and we got a new dist which solved all issues and car ran great.
One week later
2) Drive car out to restaurant, came out and would not start. Plenty of juice (did try a jump as last resort), verified air, fuel and 12V to dist, tried an extra coil but nothing. Had car towed home
3) Next day put in old carquest dist I had laying around and car fired up.
4) Returned MSD to Jegs for a new one (figuring I just got unlucky and got one with a bad module).
5) Put new dist in and car will not start. Charged battery, verified 12V to dist and even tried the carquest dist again but car will not start.
Some additional info
The dist is an MSD Pro Billet HEI 8365
I have verified good ground from dist to engine to chassis.
I did notice that when cranking the engine, the 12V to the dist drops to about 10V but I am assuming that is normal due to draw from the starter motor.
Plugs and wires are new and I have verified firing order as well as verified my TDC on compression stroke.
The 12V wire is the same I used before the rebuild and worked fine for years. I also tried a new one installed off the ign terminal on the fusebox.
Any help is appreciated.
Shane
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Quick and dirty test- hook a 12v testlight between the TACH terminal on the distributor and a ground (unplug the tach lead) and crank it. If the testlight flashes, it's telling you the module and pickup coil are both good. Look at the rotor, center contact from the coil to the rotor.
FWIW: I put a new MSD dizzy (8572?) in my 69 and no start- turned out the cap/rotor were funky from MSD. Put the old cap and rotor back on the new dizzy and it's fine.
FWIW: I put a new MSD dizzy (8572?) in my 69 and no start- turned out the cap/rotor were funky from MSD. Put the old cap and rotor back on the new dizzy and it's fine.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 1
From: Potomac Falls VA
Quick and dirty test- hook a 12v testlight between the TACH terminal on the distributor and a ground (unplug the tach lead) and crank it. If the testlight flashes, it's telling you the module and pickup coil are both good. Look at the rotor, center contact from the coil to the rotor.
FWIW: I put a new MSD dizzy (8572?) in my 69 and no start- turned out the cap/rotor were funky from MSD. Put the old cap and rotor back on the new dizzy and it's fine.
FWIW: I put a new MSD dizzy (8572?) in my 69 and no start- turned out the cap/rotor were funky from MSD. Put the old cap and rotor back on the new dizzy and it's fine.
I know MSD had a lot of issues with the ignition boxes (6AL) and I am starting to wonder about their HEIs as well. I might just send this back and get something altogether different.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I used the terminal on the HEI cap right next to the Power 12+ feed. That tach terminal is the same one GM uses to feed the tach, so it shouldn't see much over 12v if that much. All I'm looking for is the light to blink anyway.
I have an MSD dizzy, but run it with a Summit digital box. (re-branded Mallory) SO far, it's been fine. I still have the original K-66 TI amp and wiring in place so if the box goes TU I can swap a couple wires and hopefully drive home.
I have an MSD dizzy, but run it with a Summit digital box. (re-branded Mallory) SO far, it's been fine. I still have the original K-66 TI amp and wiring in place so if the box goes TU I can swap a couple wires and hopefully drive home.
