no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

I did a engine swap in a 1996 chevy k1500
replaced the 4.3 vortec to 5.7 vortec out of a 99 gmc yukon
i got the computer and wiring and fuse box out of the yukon
everything went fine with swap just wont get fire to spark plugs
i changed the spark plugs, wires, distributor, rotor button, coil, coil module, camshaft position sensor and still nothing ?
i am lost on this ? i tested everything and i am getting power where i need and evrything test right ?

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

The title of your post is "no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor"

So that tells me you have spark at the coil but not coming out of the distributor, correct?

I doubt that is correct cause if it were, that's pretty easy. What I think you mean is POWER to the distributor but not spark.

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

yes i have power from the coil to the distributor but nothing out of the distributor
i check and the rotor button is turning
but what i meant when i said i have spark from the coil is
i took the coil wire to the distributor and grounded it to motor and turned key over and got spark there
just nothing out of the distributor

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

The distributor rotor is most likely bad.

Other possibilities:
Bad distributor cap
Very weak spark

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

I had this problem not to long ago, it turned out the rotor button was bad, it only had 100 miles on. So don't rule out those parts just yet.

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

The term is, "Known good".

A new part has not been confirmed to actually work.

An old part had worked...."Known good".

It's a mistake to assume new parts don't fail quickly. Or defective.

I had an MSD stock replacement coil and MSD rotor/cap. They all failed with-in 60 days.

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

i have already put a new cap and rotor button on it
new plugs ,new plug wires
i thought the new cap and rotor button might of came bad
so i put the old one back on and still same problem
i am lost
i changed everything because of doing the motor swap
nothing was bad or need changed
thanks for any ideals or help

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

So right now you have spark if you check a plug connected to the coil but none have spark coming from the distributor? Is that right?

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

yes sir that is correct
what would be the reason for that

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

When you ground the coil wire at the distributor, (or test with a spark tester) what color is it?
Have you tested for spark (with a spark tester) coming out of the distributor cap towers?

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

the spark was more of a white spark but it was blue at a point also but the ground was on a mount on the motor and i wouldnt say it was a good ground because it wasnt a bear ground
but i was just trying to see if i had any spark
also nothing is coming out of the distributor tower at any of the points i tried each one

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

So is the coil wire to the distributor bad??????

I ask because you have probably been using one of the plug wires to check at the coil with a plug connected to it cause you couldn't put a plug on the coil wire. Check it.

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

the coil wire is a new one, with the new plug wires
but all i did was pull the coil wire off the distributor then
put it by a mount on the motor and turned the key and got spark from the wire to the metal on the motor

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

First of all that is not the best way to do that. But for now let's move on. So how did you check each cylinder for spark?

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

try the old coil wire... maybe the new one is defective. are all your ground straps good and connected? Did you try to fire the engine with all of the old plugs wires cap roter and coil first, or did you replace everything before the initial start?

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

i pulled the plug wire off each plug and tried to get spark from the spark plug grounded to the motor no spark
i used a voltage meter also and get good read from the coil, coil wire, the middle ponit inside the distributor
but nothing on the outside of the cap on every cylinder out


but i changed the spark plugs and rotor button before i put the motor in
then i put the cap and wires on after i put the motor in

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

try putting all of the old stuff back on then. maybe the coil is defective and doesn't have enough power to jump the gaps

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

So you checked each cylinder with a plug but checked the coil by placing the wire some distance away from ground.

Use a plug and plug wire at the coil and see what it does.

Either your spark is very weak at the coil, or you're missing something.

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

I agree!

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

k i will try that
could a ground wire cause it (if so which ground ) could cause it
i have the battery to motor
frame to motor
frame to fire wall
fire wall to motor ?
i am really lost

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

well i used a plug wire and plug on the coil
and i got spark at the spark plug
it was a white spark

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

Did you time the distributor when you put it back in by putting 1 at TDC, being sure the timing mark on the damper is aligned and getting the rotor to point at the little "8" on the outer housing once it's seated on the oil pump drive?

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

i never took the distributor out at all ?
but it can only sit in there two ways and will be 180 degrees off if wrong
but wouldnt it still get spark out the distributor even if it was in there wrong ??
the firing order would just be wrong ??

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

No I think the distributor has about 12 teeth on it, not sure but it can be in there 12 different ways.

Why not roll it around and check it. Suppose you are off just enough so when it fires, the rotor is not close to the contact in the cap??????

Or you can go on like you been and beat your head against the wall

Re: no spark to the plugs from the distributor but spark to distributor
 

well it can line up with the cam different ways
but it can only sit on the oil pump drive two ways
but i tried to turn the distributor and turn it over and still dont get a spark
which it will only turn so far because the spider injector case is in the way
but i have tried everything i can think of or try to test ?
i am really just thinking of taking it to a shop lol
but thanks for any help or ideals