| |
Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,014 Posts1,055,328 Members48,419 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 35 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 35 | Hi, I have 54' chevy 6400 with a 261 6v system. I have sooo much trouble getting it to start. I changed the cap and rotor and spark plugs, squirted some starting fluid in her and she started and ran pretty good. Ever since I have been having problems again. So I checked the ohms and I'm wondering if there is a problem here. The Positive "ignition" wire that goes to the Positive end on the coil reads -2 or -3 where as the Neg terminal to the negative on the distributor reads +4 or +5. the light on my test light is very dim going from the coil to the distributor. So I'm wondering if the "resistor" or whatever that is in the distributor could be bad. Any ideas would be very helpful, I'm new to hole point style system. thanks | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 | Your readings don't even make good nonsense. Checking resistance must be done with the wiring disconnected, and no voltage applied. If you disconnect the wire from the coil (-) terminal and turn the engine until the points close, there should be virtually no resistance from that wire to ground, less than one ohm. I have no idea what the coil primary resistance should be, fro the coil + terminal to - with wires disconnected from both terminals. These checks just aren't something that's done routinely. If you're getting enough voltage at the - terminal with the ignition on and points closed to make a test light burn at all, the points have way too much resistance. Change 'em!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 283 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 283 | 99,
Please verify the condition of your fuel.If the starting fluid woke it up until it was again cooled down, I would be very suspicious that the fuel is old or mostly not fresh.
Draw a little in a pan and see if it has a strong, paint thinner like smell or isn't colored like gasoline.Jerry says pour it on the ground and ignite it to see how easily it lights although it would be a bit hard to compare for modern people who didn't grow up using pyrotechnics as entertainment like me and Jerry.
Not at all unusual to have the gas go "stale" in a old vehicle lightly used and stored with a small amount in a large tank.
Pour a little fresh gas down the carb and see if it starts up like it did with the starting fluid.
Bob Taylor
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 | "Pyrotechnics as entertainment"! LOL! How did you know I mix my own Tannerite binary rifle targets?
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 | Jerry says pour it on the ground and ignite it to see how easily it lights although it would be a bit hard to compare for modern people who didn't grow up using pyrotechnics as entertainment like me and Jerry. Preferably AWAY from the your truck.  | | |
|
|
| |
