Will not start, but almost!!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
Will not start, but almost!!!
Top dead center on compression stroke & rotor lines up w/#1 spark plug wire. New distributor cap & rotor. MSD ignition system. Could the coil or the box be the problem? Please help! Could it be plugs or wires? Both are new.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Is it an MSD cap & rotor? When I put an MSD distributor in my 69, no start. Plenty of spark in, but nothing out. Swapped back to the original cap and rotor and it runs. Been a while back.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
you need #1 spark at the right time, do you have spark ?
after that, you need fuel and air. test for spark at plug wire. carefully !
after that, you need fuel and air. test for spark at plug wire. carefully !
Last edited by 69Vett; May 18, 2017 at 05:49 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 836
Likes: 26
From: Harrisburg Pa
Did your vette come with a points distributor?
Is your new distributor A points style MSD or a Electronic MSD distributor.
If your vette was built with a points dist. and you replaced it with a electronic style then you must NOT use a ballast resister. Check the volts at the dist. you must have 12V or higher. If you only have 7 to 9 volts then you must run a new keyed Ignition wire with 12 volts.
Only points had this low voltage to not burn the points.
Is your new distributor A points style MSD or a Electronic MSD distributor.
If your vette was built with a points dist. and you replaced it with a electronic style then you must NOT use a ballast resister. Check the volts at the dist. you must have 12V or higher. If you only have 7 to 9 volts then you must run a new keyed Ignition wire with 12 volts.
Only points had this low voltage to not burn the points.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
I bought the car (5) yrs. ago just as it is. Ran great. Has MSD pointless ignition w/coil & box. Thought cap & rotor looked bad so I replaced them w/OEM. Did not want to wait to order another MSD. Still the same thing. I am on TDC/0. That may be the problem. Will check tonight. #'s indicate it is a 1982 block in a 1971 Stingray. So I imagine it came originally w/HEI ignition. Good things to check, Thanks to those that replied.
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Race Director
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From: Napa Valley California
Did you make any mods besides the new cap and rotor? If not it sounds like the cap and rotor you installed will not work with the MSD. Purchase an MSD replacement cap and rotor and see if the problem goes away.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
Will not start, but almost!
Do not know what distributor type came w/the motor. It is an 82 clock, car is a 71. As far as swap outs go, I changed distributor cap & rotor after it would not start w/original MSD stuff. Before that I replaced plugs w/NGK plugs & MSD 8.5mm wires. Firing order is correct.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
Will not start. But almost!
Do not know what distributor type came w/the motor. It is an 82 clock, car is a 71. As far as swap outs go, I changed distributor cap & rotor after it would not start w/original MSD stuff. Before that I replaced plugs w/NGK plugs & MSD 8.5mm wires. Firing order is correct.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
Will not start, but almost!!!
Just got the sucker to fire off & start. Think my problem was as Blue 427 suggested, I was @ 0 & needed to be @ 8 degrees BTC. Runs rough, but it is comforting to hear it run. Again, Thanks for all who responded & offered suggestions.