Flamethrower not working - need help

[CCCC]

This Pertronix Flamethrower distributor came on the SB 327 in my ‘68 Suburban and has worked flawlessly until now. After recently reworking the cylinder heads, I reinstalled the distributor as removed. However, now it does not produce spark.

Checks confirm that it is getting 12+ volts from the switch and good grounding. I have disassembled the dist cap and can find nothing amiss, but am very unfamiliar with this thing and do not know the diagnostic procedure. I have been unable to find such info online – even at Pertronix web sites.

I will appreciate receiving a source for such info or an explanation of the process here if not too consuming of your time. Thanks.

[dmjlambert]

Oh, man, I tuned in because I thought you had a solution for tailgaters you were trying to get going, and I was going to get me one.. .

More on topic, if you can post pictures of your setup it may help. I don't know about Pertronix Flamethrower but there are probably others here who will chime in. Are there separate tach and power connections for the distributor and you've plugged power into the tach terminal? I'm asking because we had somebody post recently here who did that with their HEI distributor, and it took a bit of troubleshooting just to figure out the power was plugged into the wrong spot. Stuff like that can easily happen.

[VetteVet]

Try unplugging the tach if you can. If the tach is grounded it won't fire the distributor.
That is if you have a tach.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by CCCC

This Pertronix Flamethrower distributor came on the SB 327 in my ‘68 Suburban and has worked flawlessly until now. After recently reworking the cylinder heads, I reinstalled the distributor as removed. However, now it does not produce spark.

Checks confirm that it is getting 12+ volts from the switch and good grounding. I have disassembled the dist cap and can find nothing amiss, but am very unfamiliar with this thing and do not know the diagnostic procedure. I have been unable to find such info online – even at Pertronix web sites.

I will appreciate receiving a source for such info or an explanation of the process here if not too consuming of your time. Thanks.

Try www.Pertronix.com/customerservice
I remember there is a test sequence for the coil, a certain resistance in Ohms between the terminals.
Check with the manufacturer. They are particular about using their proprietary coil with their modules.
[Could also be a burned out coil or module.]

Or you could take the opportunity to convert to GM HEI -- which if you had now, a simple trip to the auto parts store would see you with fresh replacement parts anywhere in the USA -- rather than relying on propriety parts available from only one source.

EDIT: Found it, but the diagram is inverted.
Photo: Orange lead is 12VDC from Ignition-Unfused on Fuse block.
White lead is Tach.
Module leads are RED [+] BLACK [-].

[VetteVet]

Originally Posted by '68orangesunshine

try www.pertronix.com/customerservice
i remember there is a test sequence for the coil, a certain resistance in ohms between the terminals.
Check with the manufacturer. They are particular about using their proprietary coil with their modules.
[could also be a burned out coil or module.]

or you could take the opportunity to convert to gm hei -- which if you had now, a simple trip to the auto parts store would see you with fresh replacement parts anywhere in the usa -- rather than relying on propriety parts available from only one source.

Edit: Found it, but the diagram is inverted.
Photo: Orange lead is 12vdc from ignition-unfused on fuse block.
White lead is tach.
Module leads are red [+] black [-].

[crossfire84]

Try this.

[CCCC]

Thanks folks - much appreciated - but the unit here is not the setup where we install Pertronix components in a regular "points' dist - but rather a complete dist sold by Pert.

Their coil is in the cap - I find zero resistance between the red and yellow leads at the -plug - also zero between coil ground connection and the button output to rotor. Makes me think coil is dead - not cheap - need to figure out whether there aer other problems before I jump up and buy a coil. Still can't figure why it wold have suddenly died upon removal.

I have a few older GM HEI dists here - have installed them in some of my other Chevs - maybe will go that route.

Thanks again.