Classic/Antique Car Repair: 67 Rambler starting problem, timing gears, test light

Question
I've got electricity to the coil and to the     points, but I don't have electricity coming out of the coil to the distributor. What might be the problem? Thanks, Dana

Answer
The points ground the distributor to coil primary "-" wire whenever the points are closed, which is about 2/3 of the time, so you probably haven't found the problem yet.  If you have a meter or a test light, connect it from that terminal to ground and have someone crank the engine while you watch the meter or test light. The light should blink or the meter should bat back and forth as you crank the engine, and if this happens, there is nothing wrong with your points, ignition system or coil.  

If the car still isn't starting, something else is wrong.  Have you tried putting an ounce or two of liquid gas down the carburetor to see if that will make it start, at least briefly?  (Be sure to put the air cleaner back on after you put the gas in, so that you are not burned by flame if the car backfires)  If this works, but it won't keep going, you're not getting gas to the carburetor, or else the carburetor/choke is screwed up.


If the light doesn't blink, or comes on and stays on (or the meter shows solid ground or 12 volts), either the distributor isn't turning - take the distributor cap off and look while someone cranks the engine - see if the rotor is turning; if it is, there is a problem with the points - either the wire is shorting to ground (probably inside the distributor) or it has come loose or is broken, or possibly the points are way out of adjustment (gap too small).


If the distributor rotor isn't turning, the problem is much more serious.  You may have stripped timing gears/chain or the camshaft may be broken.  If this latter is the case, the cranking may sound odd - and the engine will spin too fast.  If cranking seems normal, but the distributor rotor isn't turning, the distributor drive has failed - you need to remove the distributor and investigate why.

If none of these things seem to be happening,  have a compression test done on the engine and see if all cylinders have compression.  You don't say which engine you have so I can only guess what compression should be, but the cylinders should show at least 100 PSI, and if they do, the car should run.

Tell me what you find out with the above suggestions, I can tell you what to do next.

Dick.