I don't understand why this thing won't start. I fixed some minor leaks today by replacing the valve cover gasket and the distributor o-ring. I also replaced a coolant hose.

When I finished everything I made sure that the single vacuum hose and the only wire connector that I had disconnected were reconnected.

I cleaned up the dizzy cap and reinstalled it, stuffed the wires onto the plugs and then.....nothing. The engine turns but not a single cylinder fired. I do get a faint smell of gasoline from the intake side of the head, but other than that I have no clues as to the problem.

I even checked to see if something was wrong with the coil spring. Nothing there.

Anyone have an idea? Please help if you can.....I just lost my job of seven years and this is the only car I have.

 

Pull a plug out and see if you have a spark

If no then take the cap off and make sure everything is still plugged in and assembled correctly.

If yes are your wires connected in the right firing order?

 

Agreed, check the firing order to make sure the wires are correct, and also did you put your rotor facing the same way as when you took it out? i had this happen before where it was pointing up instead of down and it made backwards and not fire lol

 

Thanks for speaking up. I know that the wires are in the right order.....you can't really screw that up due to their specific lengths.

I did as you suggested and watched for spark and there was none. But there isn't anything wrong with the way the dizzy is hooked up. The only thing that I can think of that could screw the dizzy up is if when I inserted it in the the cam notch that I let the rotor spin 180°. However, I don't think that would matter.

Any more thoughts?

 

Just saw this.....I think this may be it. In addition to that, perhaps the coil or the cap happened to go bad coincidentally?

 

 

[QUOTE=redrkt01;47551761]I inserted it in the the cam notch that I let the rotor spin 180°. However, I don't think that would matter.

[QUOTE]

this DOES matter pull it out and turn it 180

look at the slot in the end of the cam it is just off centre
now look at the dizzy the drive is also just off center
match them up and it will work

 

[QUOTE=MRGRIM;47551833][QUOTE=redrkt01;47551761]I inserted it in the the cam notch that I let the rotor spin 180°. However, I don't think that would matter.

Deduced that from the guy^ who flipped it and had a no-start. Gonna give that a go in the morning. But that wouldn't account for no spark at the plug.....so what do you think is going on there?

 

[QUOTE=redrkt01;47551951][QUOTE=MRGRIM;47551833]This may be a long shot but check your engine bay + dash fuses. Most of the time its something simple holding up the show.

 

[QUOTE=EJ8_Man;47552095][QUOTE=redrkt01;47551951]^I know it has to be something simple like you say. I barely touched the car compared the swaps I've done and such.....it pisses me off that I can do extensive work and have everything go without a switch and then when I change the proverbial light bulb all hell breaks loose.

It is 105°F in STL right now so I'm not going to try and fix this ATM.....I'll wait for the sun to set and then head out there. Details to come this evening.