The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Chevy 216 No Spark

Hi all, need some help!

I'm working on my 216 and can't get spark. I've removed the points and installed a Pertronix Ignitor with 40,000 coil. New wires, plugs, cap, and rotor. I'm pretty sure the timing order is right and even tried rotating all the plugs to every one to try it out but no luck. I don't have someone to help do the finger on #1 plug to find TDC, so I thought the trying every possible combination would yield something, but nope. The dizzy was never removed, so that shouldn't be the problem.

I ran a jumper wire from the battery to the ignitor module as I didn't know if the trucks electrical is ok as it was upgraded to a 12V. No luck.

I hooked up a timing light to see if it would flash when the engine is trying to turn over, but there's nothing. I'm at a loss for what it can be.

The only thing that could be possible that I know of is the engine ground, but I would think that would be fine as the other electrical works.

Any thoughts/help would be appreciated.

Put the points and condenser back in it and see if you get a spark. If you do, send the Pertronix back where it came from!
Jerry

Might the new coil be wired backwards?

The old points and condenser were shot. Which is why I got the Pertronix.

The coil is wired with negative to the negative on Pertronix and also negative to a ground on the body. Positive in the coil isn't connectd as the Pertronix manual said to unplug the power to Pertronix from coil and run a jumper to the battery which I did but still didn't work.

Which wiring arrangement in these instructions do you have?

Both leads on the coil have to be connected to something.

If you have the Pertronix 12 coil, I think the middle diagram (Figure 2) should be used?

Here is another Flamethrower wiring illustration.

I have #3, but since it wasn't working I followed the FAQ to remove the hot from the ignitor to the ignition switch side of the ballast and use a jumper to the battery. Should I ditch the ballast? That's one thing I didn't replace.

Do you have the Flamethrower coil? It does not need a ballast resistor.

If you have another coil, and it does not have an internal resistor, you will need a ballast resistor.

Please post a link to the FAQ you refer to.

You must run a lead through the coil, and then run a lead from the coil to the Pertronix unit.

Yes it's the flamethrower coil. I'll bypass the ballast and give it a shot tomorrow. Thanks! The FAQ is on the first link you posted. It's the second question.

So I couldn't wait and went out to try it. Removed the ballast and connected the ignition wire directly to the coil. Ran the ignitor directly to the coil as the diagram showed and no luck. Then tried to bypass ignition switch by connecting directly from the battery to the coil and nothing.

Guess back to the drawing board. I hate electrical gremlins!! It would probably be easier to just get a whole new wiring kit than trace back whatever was previously done.

Your burn up your coil if you bypass you ignition

It was only "on" for 5-10 seconds tops

I'm also running the foot starter... If that has any impact, although I heard it wouldn't.

You should be ok

I don't understand the additional ground from the coil?

I was just trying that to see if it was a ground issue, but didn't help so I took that off. I'm at a total loss on this and past my point of frustration. LOL.

I have a SBC on my '39 with HEI and MSD and it was 1,000 times easier. LOL. I wanted to keep my '49 original for the most part, but now I'm second guessing that. LOL

Do you have a meter?

When you turn the key on do you get voltage at the coil?

I'm using figure 2 in this link now. link

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pertronix.com%2Fsupport%2Fmanuals%2Fpdf%2Fignitor12vneg.pdf&ei=AdUdVaGcIdC1sAToz4CwDA&usg=AFQjCNH_kEbUdAOmrSd-ztFD8kBHs5512w&bvm=bv.89947451,d.cWc

I have a meter so I will check on power to the coil.

If I am reading this correctly the wire to ground on the body is your problem. That is the same thing as keeping the points closed all the time. The Pertronix needs to be the intermittent ground for the coil to get spark.

that is just what i was thinking.. if i read the post right

figure 2 should work
red and black wire to the coil
ignition wire to the + of coil

if your distributor was never removed you should still be in time.



what model number ignitor did you get?
there is a 6v and 12 volt version