ignition problems

[JoltinJoe]

We have it running, it was the condenser. The auto part store said they didn't think you needed a condenser with an electronic ignition control. This is it: do we need one?

That little SOB caused me SO MUCH trouble back in my day.    I went though all the same trouble that you just experience but the car was my daily driver.  I hate them damn things even though I know what their deal is now.

If I could have remembered, I would have chimed in. 

[shadango]

that is what the book says altho I have seen other sources that suggest a bit more.  I have found that some systems may not generate a spark at significantly wider gaps when cranked-particularly if the battery is not fully charged.  The same ones would generate a spark when I connected a spare distributor and spun the shaft.

All my feeler gauges have a .011 brass blade so I set it tight with one of those.

When setting the gap on the pickup, I am finding that I can slightly affect the gap as I turn the shaft a bit....in other words the shaft moves ever so slightly :sideways".....the distributor is a reman and very few miles on it....so I think its fine.  But how do you set an accurate gap with that scenario?

[UKcuda]

just get it as thin as you can without anything touching

[shadango]

Gotcha.

I think I have it set right.  I used .010 feeler but I think its more like  .011 or .012.  The factory manual specifies that you can force the feller to fit and that is NOT the way to do it...so it is to be a loose fit.

I think I have it OK.

Guess I'll find out when I get my harness back.  Fingers crossed. LOL 

[Chryco Psycho]

I set it at .008 minimum

[shadango]

Yeah, I saw your post saying that in another thread....I saw others were saying they go wider, up to .016.  Then others at .12 or so....LOL

The book says .008......but I am not sure I have 100% faith in my feeler-ing skills         so I figured better to go a tad wider and avoid a crash on startup....

Any chance pickups can act funky with heat...ie cut in and out during "run" but work fine during "crank" ?  I figured not, but figured I would throw that out there....

[Chryco Psycho]

Yes I have found a few pickups that quit as they warm up

[shadango]

But they quit working altogether, right? In other words, no spark when cranking.

[Chryco Psycho]

Yeah the engine shuts down & will not restart

[JoltinJoe]

Shut down and drove me mad 20 years ago!

[shadango]

Yeah the engine shuts down & will not restart

Ok....thats why I dont think thats my issue here....it shuts down, but I have spark while cranking...just wont run.

I have  spare on its way anyways from rock auto.....as a backup.  But that'll be my next thing to replace ( replaced the ballast and ecu, and the harness is being gone over).