a cry for help

59poncho · Poncho Master!

RE: a cry for help

59poncho · Poncho Master!

I still cant get it to go....aaahhhh!!! So my understanding is, I take the pink wire going to the fuse block or at the ign. switch and splice into that and then run that wire to the batt spade in the hei. Coil is gone, wires to coil are taped up and tucked away. Now for some reason i turn the key and it cranks, but the voltage drops and no more juiceafter a couple cranks or so. I think i may have used a 14 gauge wire, but should it be a 12? Im getting frustrated as this should be easy. Even if i messed up the spark plug wires order or the rotor is off possition i should still not have the voltage drop?

67Poncho · Uber Guru

59poncho wrote:

I still cant get it to go....aaahhhh!!! So my understanding is, I take the pink wire going to the fuse block or at the ign. switch and splice into that and then run that wire to the batt spade in the hei. Coil is gone, wires to coil are taped up and tucked away. Now for some reason i turn the key and it cranks, but the voltage drops and no more juiceafter a couple cranks or so. I think i may have used a 14 gauge wire, but should it be a 12? Im getting frustrated as this should be easy. Even if i messed up the spark plug wires order or the rotor is off possition i should still not have the voltage drop?

OK, lets see here..... You have power on that pink with the key on and in crank? So, no power to the test lamp on that pink wire after a couple of cranks? But the engine still cranks, yes? 14 gauge is fine. I believe the thing you should do now is to get it running.....
Apply a jumper to the battery, 12volts directly to the dist and get the car running to ensure the dist is dropped in and timed correctly! Can you send me a pic of your fuse block? I will look tomorrow as well to try and find one like yours. I will check out my '61 Pontiac as well to see what it has for a block as well!!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

How about if you put a fused wire directly from the + on the battery to the terminal on the HEI and try it? If that still has no spark you have something wrong in the distributor.

Beaumont4008 · Uber Guru

If I remember on those older cars the voltage drops on cranking and thats why you have the green wire to the R on the solonoid to the ignition coil to avoid this. I thought I read some were you had to connect the green wire to your pink wire going to the HEI so you will not get a voltage drop on start up. If I find that info I will post.

59poncho · Poncho Master!

i will give it a try tomorrow, thanks guys. I think i will "re-drop" the dist. cause i feel that i might have messed that up. Is the easy way too just put your finger, or a cork in #1 plug and crank the engine by hand, and then when you hit TDC, put the dist. in and point the rotor torwards that plug(front left one #1) Ive only done it kinda once 15 or so yrs ago, so i dont really remember. And Carl, what do you mean by a fused wire? One with the actual fuse in it?

59poncho · Poncho Master!

Yeah beamont4008, there is the two wires for that, maybe thats what i have to do. Thanks guys for your help, this car is driven me nuts. Onr day its fine, two hours later its messed up!! I figured that if i put the alt. on then the hei should be easy but i geuss the car gods are frowning on me today!! LOL

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

59poncho wrote:

i will give it a try tomorrow, thanks guys. I think i will "re-drop" the dist. cause i feel that i might have messed that up. Is the easy way too just put your finger, or a cork in #1 plug and crank the engine by hand, and then when you hit TDC, put the dist. in and point the rotor torwards that plug(front left one #1) Ive only done it kinda once 15 or so yrs ago, so i dont really remember. And Carl, what do you mean by a fused wire? One with the actual fuse in it?

Yes, I would do that to find #1 TDC. Easiest is if someone good (quick) on the key can bump it using the key while you block #1 plug hole and feel for the compression.

Yes, to be safe I would put an inline fuse in the live wire off the battery. Can't be too careful. A little "oops" with a live wire could make a mess of things real fast.

59poncho · Poncho Master!

Its alive!!!!!!!!!! I redid the whole dist. thingy, put it to tdc. and all that good stuff, new plugs, and same thing!!! Then... i hooked up that little green wire from the soloniod and voila!! Starts great and thanks to you guys. I now think i can splice wire in my sleep! Thx again, you guys on here are great.

Beaumont4008 · Uber Guru

Good for you

Hope it runs better for you. Keeping my finger's crossed.

59poncho · Poncho Master!

its running great, you can really tell the difference with the elec. ign. Took it for a little drive for a half hour and no hickups what so ever. Idles fine, runs fine and im very happy. Im going to a car show tonight if it stays nice out so we'll see if i make it there and back alright!! Thanks again for your help. I buy the coffee if we ever all meet up.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

That's good news Trevor! Good to hear the beast is running well.

59poncho · Poncho Master!

Ran great there and back, no worries. I'll be at the wortley show tues. and the plunket show on thurs. My brother in law is coming down from jacksons point (keswick, lake Simcoe area) to come to the show on thurs. Hope some of ya's can make it to plunkets.