The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1953 gmc 302

New here. I was wondering if someone can help me out. Have 1953 deuce 6x6 302 GMC which has lost it's fire. Bought the truck from a friend that had it for about 30 years. We had a couple of stuck valves, welded a few new teeth on the flywheel, starter was missing. Got the truck running, running good at idle but with hesitation when we started to work it. Then a skip, backfire out exhaust and now no fire at the points. I'm no mechanic but like to frig. Having a guy check out a spare coil for me, just in case. When I remove the distributor I should still have fire at my points when someone turns the truck over without having a wire running to the coil?

If you are having trouble w/ ignition, a modern HEI will bolt right in from any Chevy 6, even fire, no odd fire. Then deal with other items.

This will give me fire even though I have no fire with points? May seem like a stupid question?

Didn't know if this would work for this truck, 24 volt? Or is this 12 volt at this point?

Will this different for this truck being 24 volt?

Might be easier to convert whole truck to 12V, otherwise all 24v stuff will have to be changed out eventually.

May want to check with these folks:

http://www.alfaheaven.com/MilitarySection/M135.html

Nice, Thanks

Put a new coil and have real blue spark at the points. Would try to start, took #3 spark plug off and would have fire sometimes. Is rotor button the next? Took the rotor button to parts and they said they needed a part #, none on rotor button. Are these the same as any 53 6cyl or are they special for the military 302.

Did you replace the plugs, points, condenser, and ignition wires (sounds like you replaced the rotor)?

Replaced plugs, coil, points. Nice spark at the points, seems like no spark at plug wires. Wires are not old. Where can i get a part # for a rotor button?

Replaced plugs, coil, tested condensers, porcelain
resister,now have nice fire at the points but none at plugs. Where can I get a part number for rotor button?

Hy Davegmc, 1953 is a year of change in distributor rotors and caps, Napa lists two different rotors, their p/n MPE RR83SE with distributor 1112305, the other is their p/n MPE RR161SB for other than 1112305 distributor number, hope that helps

Used to be you could buy a cap-n-rotor set,already matched,for it;don't know if that's still the case. I usually buy Borg-Warner tune-up parts with brass contacts,but that's just personal preference.
Ed-I was told that,to use a GM 6 cyl. HEI,I'd need to shorten the shaft something like 3/8 inch (IIRC-I'd have to look it up again to be sure),slide the drive gear up a like amount and re-pin it,grind a new "blade" to drive the oil pump,and shave the mounting flange off the housing so it sets lower in the hole,then use the old distributor clamp, to make it work on the old sixes. ( javascript:void(0) Hope that's wrong,I'd like to use an HEI on my own 302,and that sounds like it requires more exact fitting than I feel capable of. )
Speed

Up date. The 302 is purring. New wires, coil, spark plugs. Had fire on 3 plugs...wow. The older guy I bought the truck from had told me he had put new plugs in it. New to the truck maybe...lol..He even had the boxes, very clean looking plugs, may have put them through the dish washer. Lol. Put new pugs in and wires and runs nice. Now with snow on there seems to be some slippage. First set of rear ends are not spinning. Pulled out the axles and they seem fine. Could their be a problem with the crown or would it be transfer case. The older guy said he had broke and axle, the long axle. He just put another axle but I don't think he checked pinion, when replacing axle.

I've heard that too, about having to modify an HEI ignition, however, I plugged mine in and it worked just fine as is?

Found the problem. Pinion yoke seems to be stripped. Is it as simple as unhooking drive shaft, remove pinion nut and pull out yoke? Has someone had this out before?