The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Ignition switch or bad wires - HELP Please

Hi there,

I am very new to working on trucks and am in the process of restoring a 1954 Chevy 3100. The 12 volt conversion seems to have been done and my battery is good, however when I turn the ignition and push down on the foot starter nothing happens. My horn works but no lights or blinkers.

Any thoughts out there from the experts? I am considering "re-converting" everything myself to make sure it is done right.

thanks,

Carlos

Hey Carlos,

Don't start over. Do you still have the original, foot-activated, starter? Send me a PM - I'm right next door in Santa Clara

moto hack maybe you can help me also
I'm in monterey and trying to get top dead cente to install the stovebolt mini hei and holley 2 barrel carb with fenton duals on my 54... same problem wiring looks good but has a few cracks in the wiring nothing major but I need to change afew things like no ballast resistor when I add the new hei and add a electric choke wire
- question is do I need to rewire or just fix what needs to be fixed?already converted to 12 volt...
as well as finding top dead center to get it fired up. is there an easy way on the 235 to find TDC? thanks for any help you can give....

The simplest, most effective way to find TDC is to remove the valve cover and watch the valves as they operate. The piston will come to the top of its stroke twice in a 4-stroke cycle, once on the compression stroke with both valves closed, which is when the spark needs to happen, and again one turn of the crankshaft later, at the top of the exhaust stroke. Both valves will be slightly open then, with the exhaust valve closing and the intake beginning to open.

With all the spark plugs removed you should be able to turn the engine over by hand by turning the fan. Turn the engine clockwise from the front until the last valve near the firewall (#6 exhaust) begins to open. Continue turning until it starts closing and the one next to it (#6 intake) starts to open. At that point, both #1 and #6 pistons will be at TDC, with the #1 cylinder ready to fire the spark plug. The timing ball should be visible through the hole above the starter, and it should be very nearly aligned with the pointer in that hole. Install the distributor with the rotor pointed toward the #1 spark plug wire in the distributor cap, and arrange the firing order clockwise to be 1-5-3-6-2-4. Crank up and go!
Jerry

Hi Marlon,

I sent you an email via the address in your profile. For me, electrical issues are easy. I spent over 20 years as an engineer on Airborne Electronic Warfare systems. I'd see what you've done with your truck.

I hooked up my fully-charged up battery, tested it by honking the horn (which worked). I turned the ignition, stepped on the foot-starter and........nothing! Whatever happened, it drained my battery or shorted it out or something. My horn wouldn't work after that.

Does this sound like a wiring, ignition, or battery cable problem or something else?

Carlos

Sounds like a cable problem to me.

Thanks for the tip, I was considering changing out the positive cables. I have already changed out the negative ones.

Carlos,
My 6v was acting just as you describe - that is until I swapped out all cables.

The battery cables or the entire harness?!

Carlos - sorry I haven't checked in. 3 battery cables - 1 pos + 2 ground