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| | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 122 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 122 | My brother just had his 54 4100 Chevy delivered yesterday. He hasn't joined the site yet but will be shortly. He's going to be needing alot of help. The truck turns over but wont' start. After only about ten seconds the coil is red hot. My 59's are both 12volt systems so I'm not sure how to tell if his is 6 or 12. The battery is smaller and has 3 caps. The coil does say 6 volt. Could this be a bad ground?
Thanks for your help.
Brian M
59 Chevy Napco's | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | 3 caps = 6v battery Yes, it could be a bad ground but it could also be a variety of other things. Have you checked/set the points and plugs? Has this truck sat idle for a while? If yes, have you drained out the old gas and do the ignition wires (spark plug wires) look good (or are they cracked and brittle)? | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 122 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 122 | Thanks. He has not checked too much. He wanted to clarify that it was a 6 volt system. He was also concerned about the hot coil
We'll start going through the list and check things over the next few days.
He is draining the tank now and just found out it is a tank from a 64 chevy. Looks like he'll be searching the swap meet section. Won't be his last time.
Appreciate the quick response.
Brian M | | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | it may also be a ground that doesn't belong where it is - as in the coil output is shorting - how long are you cranking it? have you checked conditions inside the distributor?
Bill | | | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 295 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 295 | If you turned the coil red hot you destroyed it. Get another.
Get new points and capacitor while you are at it.
Get the wiring diagram for the ignition hookup both primary and secondary and make sure it is wired correctly.
Make sure everything is set per factory (point gap and dwell) vacuum advance etc etc and you should be good to go.
Dan Bentler | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | If the wire to the coil is hot, there is a short somewhere. If the coil is hot, it is no good. There is no possible way to cause a coil to get hot like that with a six volt supply. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 122 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 122 | Thanks. Yesterday he did get it running for about 1 minute by running a wire from the starter to the positive side of the coil? Does this mean there is a wiring problem at the ignition switch?
After he flushed out the old gas he got it running again. It runs tight and smooth while choke is on but quits when choke is off. He plans on getting carb rebuilt. He ordered manual and wiring diagram, should be here in a few days.
Thanks again,
Brian M | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | That is basically how you hotwire one of these trucks. He needs to see if there is power supplied by the ignition switch when the jumper isn't in place. However, for the purpose of running the motor you can use the jumper and leave the switch off. | | |
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