I have a 71 cutlass supreme. engine is the 350, 4 barrel, and just recently after fixing the starter solenoid (build up on terminals) a friend of mine and I were doing some carb work on it. It was dark, and we noticed the plug wires were arcing, and so was the distributor wire going to the coil. Also upon going to adjust the timing from adjusting the carb, the distributor cap zapped him. I was told if all the wires and the cap were hot, it might be an issue with the coil. Any help?

Also, could use some help as far as setting the timing goes. After adjusting it to manual specs, engine acts like it wants to die when its in gear, idling. And until I get out of the low end rpms, it has NO power. Pedal to the floor, it will go about 15 mph, then the rest of it kicks in, and it will spin tires from the sudden increase.

 

You need to replace the wires, I doubt the cap was shocking him! I would replace the cap, rotor, points if ya got em, and plugs.

Do you have points?

 

Good God, your wires are shot! You've probably got carbon tracking in the cap, too.

How's it run in the rain? I'd bet it doesn't.

Change your cap, rotor, and wires, and maybe your points and condenser, too (whoever neglected it to this extent, probably neglected those, too), and then see how it runs when it's timed right. Like night and day, I'd bet.

- Eric

 

Actually, when I first got the car in December, I replaced all of those already. And it does run in the rain. Water makes no difference. That's why I was confused by the problems, everything, points included were just replaced not even a year ago.

 

I've never heard of reasonably new spark plug wires putting on a light show.

There isn't any sort of coating or overspray on them that might conduct electricity, is there?

I'd recommend checking the wires and boots carefully for cracks and tiny carbon spots, but if everything looks fine, I'd have to suggest a new set of brand-name wires, and probably a cap. If you changed out the other stuff before, it should still be fine.

- Eric

 

Are they solid core wires, not spiral core but just straight stranded core? They will do this. I use dielectric grease on all my connections, just an idea. If they are solid core ditch them.

 

No coating of any sort. I know the set of wires on there now are what would be considered "cheap". Like $25-$30. What would you suggest as a brand of wires to get? I have heard MSDs are good, but also kind of pricey. And a just as an precaution, should I get a new coil too, just in case? If I'm spending $60 on better wires, I could spare another $$25-$30 for a coil, if that might make a difference. Looking forward to getting it fixed, because I love it, and would love to have it being my daily for a while.

 

Regular old AC Delco wires should be fine unless you've got some modified super high voltage stuff in there.

I see no reason to change the coil in the information you've provided. Why do you want to change it?

- Eric

 

Just because it's part of the whole system that is malfunctioning, and I'd rather go ahead and get everything. It probably hasnt been changed ever, so I might as well.

 

Have you checked the plugs?, too big a gap could also cause your symptoms.
For the cost involved I would invest in a new set.
You don't mention any issues with misfiring, just no power and surging. I think the engine needs a good tune up, dwell, timing, setting the carb correctly and replacing everything that is not working properly.

Roger.