I have not driven my '71 Supreme in a month, and trying to figure out what is wrong is really bugging me! Okay, it started out with hard starting, cranking and cranking to get it to fire, had one day where I started it on three different occassions with no problems, but, went downhill from there. Carb is getting gas...it was rebuilt by the Carb Shop last spring. I replaced the points, condensor, rotor, cap and the coil. Finally drained the battery cranking so much. Recharged the battery. Pulled #1 plug wire and put it up to the alternator bracket this evening, shut off the garage light and cranked it, nothing, no spark of any kind. HELP!

 

Verify there is around 9V to the + terminal of the coil with key in RUN and about 12V when key is in CRANK position.
Also make sure the plug wires are installed correctly in the Olds pattern - not the Chevy pattern.

If this is all okay, open up the disty again and double check the installation on the ponts and condenser. It is easy to get something installed just wrong enough to where it won't work but look right.

 

Remove the distributor cap and crank the engine. If the gap is between .016" and .020" or so and points do not open and close, there will be no spark.

If still no spark, check the "12v" coil input. If none the problem is not in the ignition system.

If there is voltage, crank the engine and check for "12v" at the other terminal, as the points open and close. If none, the coil is the problem.

If not, check for "12v" at the hot side of the points. If none, verify that the hot side is not grounded and the ground side is.

If everything checks OK, change the condenser.

Norm

 

You can bypass all the ignition wiring by using a jumper wire from the positive side of the battery to the coil post not connected to the distributor. If the car starts work your wiring back to the ignition to find the bad connection.