The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop starting my 228 gmc

Hi everyone i recently purchased a chassis that came with what i believe to be a 228 gmc engine, 3 speed transmission, and stock rear end. Im trying to start the engine but i dont think its wired correctly. What i did was i connected the positive side cable from the battery to the starter. then i connected the negative side of the battery to the chassis. the cable from the the positive side of the battery also came with a small wire that i connected to the positve side of the coil. from the negative side of the coil i connected a wire to the distributor. now i dont have an ignition switch so i thought for some reason i can bypass it. I dont get any spark from the distributor. can anyone help me with my problem. im just a novice mechanic.

GMC is a positive ground system, unlike Chevy. You may have damaged your regulator by hooking it up the way you did. The posti. cable goes to your frame. The neg cable to the starter. That small wire goes to the neg side of the coil. The positive side of the coil goes to the distributor. The gen on your regulator goes to the arm on your generator. The fld on the regulator goes to the fld on the generator. The neg wire from your voltmeter goes to the bat on your regulator. You should get a ign switch and a GMC Maintenance Manual. Save you a lot of headaches. Cecil.........

can i start the engine without a voltage regulator? or ignition switch? thanks for the help

My bad, I assumed you had a GMC when I saw the 228 engine. It may indeed be negitive ground. I sent you an e-mail to further investigate the ground. In the meantime if anyone else wants to jump in, be my guest. Cecil...........

Well...if it is a 228 GMC the serial no. stamped on the pad behind the distributor will start 228. Right? Do you know anything else about the chassis, model year, 1/2-ton/3/4-ton, enclosed (torque-tube) drive shaft, wheelbase, wheel size, no. of lug bolts? This might help us ID it for you. Good luck.

the chassis is from a 52 1/2 ton chevy and it has a 1952 228 gmc engine. the starter actually turns the way i have it wired. but i dont get any spark from the plug wires.

If you have power at the coil terminals, it should start. Check your points, they may have a coating of oxidation from setting unused. Then it is just a matter of tracing primary power to and from the coil. Be sure to set the points. With the points open, you should see power at the moveable arm. If not just back track the wiring until you find an open. If you have power at that point, making contact between the moving arm and the stationary contact should create a spark from the coil. Check this directly from the coil, not a plug wire. If not check the condensor and coil. If you have spark there, take a look at the rotor and cap. Post back and we will take it from there.