No spark

[73cudakid]

Whats up everyone.

Ive just installed my 340 in my 73 cuda and have a slight problem. Last week i had problems getting the starter to crank by using the key so in the mean time i jumped it from the starter relay just to make sure it worked and i had good oil pressure etc. Now that i have it ready to fire the key still wont activate the starter. So i figured I'd just jump it again to get it running and break in the cam. Only problem is that i have no juice to the distributer, ecu, aleternator, coil, or balast. Would the ignition stich be holding these back from getting power from the battery or does it sould like i have a bigger problem? Oh and i checked for continuity on all of them and they all have it.

[rr74cuda]

Does it crank? Do your lights still work.?

[MEK-Dangerfield]

The ignition switch is my guess if the battery is fully charged. That switch will supply power to the starter, and the ballast resistor if it is working properly.

  Mike

[moparman33952]

  had this happen to mine after a lot of hair pulling and reading wiring diagrams and testing narrowed it down to bad ign switch don't forget to double check all your ground connections as well 

[Chryco Psycho]

check the contacts in the plugs at the base of the column & the firewall bulkhead plug

[73cudakid]

It cranks over when i jump it from the starter relay. As for the lights, not sure cause its just the shell and drive train right now. Im gonna try the balast resistor from the neighbors duster that runs hopefully tonight. If its not that then I'm going the route Chryco said then try a new ignition switch. Just going that route since its the cheapest. Just bought a new house and sadly the first expenses to cut are to the cuda. I guess i gotta grow up a little bit sometime since im 25 now. But trust me come hell or high water the cudas not getting sold to help with house payments. Thanks for the help guys. I might be posting again next week if none of the reccomendations work.

Thanks,
Dave

[Bullitt-]

Dave, If you have a multimeter or even a test light you should be able to see if power is getting to the ballast resistor, the 1st item in the ignition circuit, before replacing the switch.
The two issuses may or may not be related.