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Old 06-20-2007, 11:35 PM   #1
71Shark
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She won't fire!

Just picked up a'58 Apache. It has been sitting for 15 years. It will turn over and has power (12 volts) to the coil and on to the distributor when the key is on. when I crank it there is no spark to the plugs. I have removed one and grounded it looking for the arc. Bad Coil? Condensor? Points?
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Old 06-20-2007, 11:51 PM   #2
55dude
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Re: She won't fire!

usually that is bad condenser causing open. pull dizzy cap and withkey on check points by manually opening and closing them with screwdriver or just crank it over and watch points for spark. good luck.

Last edited by 55dude; 06-20-2007 at 11:55 PM.
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Old 06-20-2007, 11:52 PM   #3
dwcsr
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Re: She won't fire!

Bad all of the above. but try the points and condensor first
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Old 06-21-2007, 11:00 AM   #4
71Shark
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Re: She won't fire!

Thanks! I will try it out and post.
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Old 06-21-2007, 12:13 PM   #5
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Re: She won't fire!

i get mine to fire up when i found it, i replaced the coil, distributor cap and rotor, plugs, plug wires, rebuilt the carb, cleaned the gas tank, and put in a new fuel filter.

the points on mine were firing, maybe not with the ideal gap, but enough to get it moving. if you have no spark, you may need to replace the points also if they don't fire
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Old 06-21-2007, 03:18 PM   #6
northerngmc
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Re: She won't fire!

My 59 GMC (Canadian with 235 I6) has a resistor on the firewall. When it goes I do not get spark.

You can test it by simply wiring it directly and then trying it. For a new one just go to a Dodge dealer as they used them with low energy ignition into the 80's.

When mine would go I would hook the two wires directly and then drive over to the Dodge dealer. Two screws and I was driving again.

Good luck.
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Old 06-25-2007, 10:45 AM   #7
71Shark
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Re: She won't fire!

Replaced the coil, points and condensor, poured a little fuel in the carb and she fired right off. She won't run though on what used to be gasoline in the tank. I am planning an alternative setup to run the engine for 10 - 15 minutes to check it out before I tear down the truck for restoration. The P.O. told me the engine ws rebuilt 5-600 miles before he parked it. I will compression test it and if it is OK that will be one less item to build from scratch. I'll just clean it up and paint it before reassmbly.
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Old 06-25-2007, 05:00 PM   #8
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Re: She won't fire!

yeah, you need to dump out that gas. don't kid yourself into thinking you can dilute it with good gas. you need fresh gas in the tank.
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