81 Project car wont start
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
81 Project car wont start
Really scratching my head on this one. Bought it cheap non-running, PO claimed it ran last yr but wouldnt start this past spring and he's not mechanical. Had 1yr+ gas in the tank. had to winch onto trailer
So i pump the tank empty (14 gals), fill with 5 gals fresh, got it running for 30 sec to back off the trailer, then dies
So i install new filter -- still wont start
So i pull off the fuel line from the EBrock carb, start cranking but no gas coming out, replace the fuel pump -- still wont start
So i pop an in-line spark checker on plug #1, no spark, replace coil/cap/rotor/ICM -- still no spark/wont start
So i pull the BAT feed to the HEI port and test with key "ON", its getting 12.4V
What am i missing ??
So i pump the tank empty (14 gals), fill with 5 gals fresh, got it running for 30 sec to back off the trailer, then dies
So i install new filter -- still wont start
So i pull off the fuel line from the EBrock carb, start cranking but no gas coming out, replace the fuel pump -- still wont start
So i pop an in-line spark checker on plug #1, no spark, replace coil/cap/rotor/ICM -- still no spark/wont start
So i pull the BAT feed to the HEI port and test with key "ON", its getting 12.4V
What am i missing ??
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 597
How's about the "brush" and spring that fits Under HEI coil and connects the coil's bottom terminal thru the brush to the rotor ?
Is there a brush + spring + rubber gasket in it ? All that fits beneath the HEI coil when coil seated into HEI cap.
if coil cannot connect to rotor, there'll never be spark at cap or wires or plugs or spark checker.
Triggers fail as well.
Also, there's a pickup coil aka trigger in the bottom of HEI dist housing bowl. It has two Very fine gage Fragile wires coming from it that connect to module.
To replace, you MUST remove dist from motor, remove dist gear, and pull entire dist shaft from housing. Only then can you R&R trigger.
Is there a brush + spring + rubber gasket in it ? All that fits beneath the HEI coil when coil seated into HEI cap.
if coil cannot connect to rotor, there'll never be spark at cap or wires or plugs or spark checker.
Triggers fail as well.
Also, there's a pickup coil aka trigger in the bottom of HEI dist housing bowl. It has two Very fine gage Fragile wires coming from it that connect to module.
To replace, you MUST remove dist from motor, remove dist gear, and pull entire dist shaft from housing. Only then can you R&R trigger.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
How's about the "brush" and spring that fits Under HEI coil and connects the coil's bottom terminal thru the brush to the rotor ?
Is there a brush + spring + rubber gasket in it ? All that fits beneath the HEI coil when coil seated into HEI cap.
if coil cannot connect to rotor, there'll never be spark at cap or wires or plugs or spark checker.
Triggers fail as well.
Also, there's a pickup coil aka trigger in the bottom of HEI dist housing bowl. It has two Very fine gage Fragile wires coming from it that connect to module.
To replace, you MUST remove dist from motor, remove dist gear, and pull entire dist shaft from housing. Only then can you R&R trigger.
Is there a brush + spring + rubber gasket in it ? All that fits beneath the HEI coil when coil seated into HEI cap.
if coil cannot connect to rotor, there'll never be spark at cap or wires or plugs or spark checker.
Triggers fail as well.
Also, there's a pickup coil aka trigger in the bottom of HEI dist housing bowl. It has two Very fine gage Fragile wires coming from it that connect to module.
To replace, you MUST remove dist from motor, remove dist gear, and pull entire dist shaft from housing. Only then can you R&R trigger.
Brush, spring, and rubber gasket all new with new coil
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,736
Likes: 2,582
I would think the computer is going to throw a code but cannot tell you if it would cause your problem.
Most people replace both components at the same time.
It also will effect the lockup function of the torque converter.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 597
Trigger aka Pickup Coil
But, how about that pickup coil aka trigger (with the Two fine wires) that takes more work to R&R ??
the trigger is the electronic equivalent to, and direct-descendent of "breaker points"
trigger creates the signal that ICM module Amplifies and then sends to coil.
It all begins with trigger. If/when trigger bad, there's No signal
the trigger is the electronic equivalent to, and direct-descendent of "breaker points"
trigger creates the signal that ICM module Amplifies and then sends to coil.
It all begins with trigger. If/when trigger bad, there's No signal
Last edited by Rebelyell; Nov 7, 2025 at 06:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
UPDATE: After replacing almost all of the distributor, i punted and threw in an entirely new HEI dizzy with vac advance, got the rotor in the exact same spot................................STIL L no spark on the in-line checker !!!!
wont even catch with ether down the primaries.
Really stumped here - any other ideas ??
wont even catch with ether down the primaries.
Really stumped here - any other ideas ??
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,736
Likes: 2,582
UPDATE: After replacing almost all of the distributor, i punted and threw in an entirely new HEI dizzy with vac advance, got the rotor in the exact same spot................................STIL L no spark on the in-line checker !!!!
wont even catch with ether down the primaries.
Really stumped here - any other ideas ??
wont even catch with ether down the primaries.
Really stumped here - any other ideas ??