Bench test wiring to start engine.

[Mark B]

I want to wire my ignition and starter to test my engine and see if it runs. The engine is in a truck that has sat for 10 years and the wiring is a mess. I am afraid that if I just chuck in a battery and turn the key I risk a short and fire because the wiring is really that bad. And most of it has been cut and bastardized.

How can I simply (and temporarily) wire the starter and power the ignition?

If the engine runs and is in good condition, I am going to pull it out for use in another truck.

The front end is off. Only the radiator remains. Engine is a six.

thanks
Mark

[swamp rat]

Its been years since i did this but if i recall correctly i ran a wire from the plus side of my coil to the battery pos, then used a remote starter button from my battery to the relay side of the starter. Basicly power to the coil for ignition and energise the starter

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/...c2a8064d_o.jpg

[68 IRON]

Swamp rat sound correct. This should give you power provided everything else is in order. Hey on another note could you post a pic of the power steering side of the engine. This is the setup I'm planning on using. It would be a good chinese blueprint! Thanks

[Prathbun]

I would like to continue with this thread because I have the same goals.

OK:

• new coil
• 12v from batt connected.
• points and condenser look new.
• new batt.
• truck turns over easily with compression but no fire at the plug level.
• plugs look almost new.
• wires look like they should work fine.
• I don't have key for ignition

I'm thinking I need to check the point gap. Anything I'm not thinking about??

Gas line is disconnected and I'm using ether just to get a "pop"

Thanks for the help!!!

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Its been years since i did this but if i recall correctly i ran a wire from the plus side of my coil to the battery pos, then used a remote starter button from my battery to the relay side of the starter. Basicly power to the coil for ignition and energise the starter

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/...c2a8064d_o.jpg

Yea this is basically the easiest way and sounds about right. I would get oil pressure built up by turning the motor over without getting it to fire before trying to start it. So its not a complete dry start

[D13]

Do you have the coil wire hooked to the correct side?
Clean the points and regap.
Easy test - hook a spark plug to the coil (in place of the coil to distributor lead). Check for spark that way (should fire 3 times per revolution versus once every other). If you don't have spark there then the problem is before the distributor cap - points, coil, or wires.

[Prathbun]

Originally Posted by D13

Do you have the coil wire hooked to the correct side?
Clean the points and regap.
Easy test - hook a spark plug to the coil (in place of the coil to distributor lead). Check for spark that way (should fire 3 times per revolution versus once every other). If you don't have spark there then the problem is before the distributor cap - points, coil, or wires.

WOW!! Thats a great idea!!

Ultimately, I took 400 grit sandpaper to the points and that did the trick.

It took me three hours, however, and here is what I learned in the process:

1. There is no loss of resistance or flow of current (ohms meter won't move) from the center of the distributor cap to each of the plug wire outlets as the rotor goes by. I thought the rotor actually touched each lug inside the dist. cap but it doesn't. Spent tons of time checking for continuity!!!
2. There should be no resistance to current flow across the points when they are closed. The ohms meter should move way over. If not, clean points or replace.
3. Without the key turned on (or a jumper wire from batt. pos. to pos. of coil), the motor will fire but will not stay running.
4. Don't change anything if it looks like the motor was running at one time with the current setup. (Dist. cap, rotor, condenser, wires, etc.)
5. You can eyeball the point gap measurement and the motor will start.
6. The Dist. cap and the points are not connected in anyway in the distributor but work together to distribute spark from the coil (points are just a ON / OFF switch for the coil).
7. Don't try to figure out condenser, just believe.
8. Make sure the oil pressure gauge is hooked up in the cab to save on clean up

.

Hope this helps someone.

[VetteVet]

Here's a tutorial on the points ignition plus more.
http://abbysenior.com/mechanics/ignition.htm