Initial Engine Fires but won't take..68 442

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 09:22 PM
  #1  
rlang's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 17
Initial Engine Fires but won't take..68 442

Final steps of complete restoration of 68 442. New dash harness, console harness, refurbished engine, front, and rear harnesses (all connections cleaned with ohm tests for wire breaks). Engine fires on initial start then falls flat...just cranks like no gas or spark. Wired around engine harness with a generic ignition switch (just connections to battery, coil + elect. fuel pump, and purple starter solenoid wire)...fired and kept on going....that left out the fuel issue.

My horse sense tells me I must not be getting any juice to keep going after the initial coil hit from the "R" terminal on the starter solenoid but then I don't know that much about the finer points of electrical systems or how to check the right things out to determine cause and effect.

Any help really appeciated....this car needs to be on the road before summer is out....it's been 6 years.

Thanks
Russ
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 10:06 PM
  #2  
brddg's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 421
Is this a totally stock restoration? My first guess would be that the resistor wire is not conducting anything. Does it have points or an electronic conversion?
Old Aug 22, 2013 | 06:57 AM
  #3  
oldcutlass's Avatar
Administrator
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 42,496
From: Poteau, Ok
Your horse sense and brddg is correct your missing your run circuit to the coil.
Old Aug 22, 2013 | 07:26 AM
  #4  
Sampson's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,605
From: Fuquay Varina NC
This is a phenomenom that I used to notice when i was working on these cars for a living and they were our daily drivers. Like problems would come in groups. One week would be starter week, the next water pump week and so on. Same thing seems to still be happening. 3rd thread this week on no fire to the run side. I hope you can get this tracked down quickly and take that baby out for a ride. 6 years is a Long time
Old Aug 22, 2013 | 12:48 PM
  #5  
rlang's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 17
Totally stock restoration except that a Pertronix system was used instead of points. This baby was all in pieces when I got it and did not have a resistor block....doesn't mean it didn't have one or need one for that matter. I'm wondering if it might be worthwhile to just rob the piggy bank and get a replacement engine harness....40+ years on engine wiring might be a culprit??

Anyway, I did wire around everything and use a generic ignition switch to at least get the rascal down to the local muffler shop......technically it's now on the road even though only 1/2 mile!
Old Aug 22, 2013 | 03:00 PM
  #6  
oldcutlass's Avatar
Administrator
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 42,496
From: Poteau, Ok
The Pertronix requires a full battery voltage so therefore does not run off the original resistor wire. All you need is a keyed source with a 14-12 gauge wire and your good. There is no need to replace the whole harness to correct this.
Old Aug 23, 2013 | 09:35 AM
  #7  
rlang's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 17
Thanks oldcutlass....
Old Aug 23, 2013 | 05:55 PM
  #8  
brddg's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 421
What I have done on cars I want to keep the stock apperance on is to remove the resistor wire from the bulkhead connector and replace it with a regular white wire (you can buy new ones if you can find a shop that does this regularly).
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Miles71
General Discussion
15
May 12, 2014 03:19 PM
midrange
Big Blocks
8
Aug 18, 2013 08:17 AM
russell-t
Small Blocks
1
May 14, 2012 09:01 AM
67Olds442X2
Big Blocks
8
Apr 15, 2011 01:35 PM
citcapp
General Discussion
46
Aug 11, 2010 03:51 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:40 AM.