1966 Riviera GS Crank No start. Suggestions needed.

Discussion in 'Classic Buicks' started by ArnoldsMind, Aug 24, 2020.

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Page 9 of 15
  1. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    I have confirmed spark. Im also getting sparks through the carb. Had a couple of carb fires as well.

     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #161
  2. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    That's very weak and inconsistent spark.
     
    LARRY70GS, Oct 3, 2020
    #162
  3. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    Yikes. That made me sad. I three the old one away. I think I still have the coil. I'll need to get wires too.
     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #163
  4. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    I have been attributing it to the slow crank. The lack of rotation is resulting in an inconsistent spin/spark from the rotor.
     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #164
  5. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    I'm not familiar with the nailhead but the oil pump shaft should be able to be turned with a screwdriver to line up with the blade on the distributor. I don't think there is a need to pull the valley pan. Try starting it with the rotor with it 180 from where it is. It should only take a minute.
     
    12lives, Oct 3, 2020
    #165
  6. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Are you in Los Angeles? Surely someone nearby has a nailhead distributor you can borrow!
     
    12lives, Oct 3, 2020
    #166
  7. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    That has nothing to do with it. The HEI should give a consistent strong blue spark with minimal distributor rotation.
     
    LARRY70GS, Oct 3, 2020
    #167
  8. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    Yeh, I'm in Inglewood.
     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #168
  9. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    You could post a "Need to borrow Nailhead Distributor near LA": thread...
     
    12lives, Oct 3, 2020
    #169
  10. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    It's just hard to put eyes on the oil pump pin with the drill in the Distro hole. I will turn it the other way and see what happens.
     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #170
  11. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    Here goes nothing.
     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #171
  12. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    Ok. So you think it's a bad coil?
     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #172
  13. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    At this point, I would try another distributor. I am not a fan of the big cap GM HEI distributor. Original equipment GM ones were pretty good. Aftermarket ones are total crap IMHO. You are wasting your time trying to start that engine with spark like that. Get a good points distributor and go from there. I don't know what the problem is with that distributor you are using. The pick up coil should signal the coil to produce a spark for every cylinder in succession with minimal rotation. You were checking spark from the underside of the cap, not from a single plug wire. With the amount you cranked the engine checking it, you should have seen 10 good sparks or more. What I saw was pitiful.:). The engine isn't going to run like that.
     
    LARRY70GS, Oct 3, 2020
    #173
    GSX 554 likes this.
  14. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    I was confirming the spark from the Ignition Control module with the cap off. Its a solid 95 degrees today, I might be sitting this weekend out. I'll get after it during the week. I have a Group 79 battery on the way as well. I might buy a new coil while I wait on the points distro to get here. It's $30 dollars and I'll be able to rule that out.
     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #174
  15. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Every one of these points in the pick up coil should produce a spark when triggered. It doesn't take very much rotation to produce a spark.

    HEIPickUpCoil.jpg
    Again, you were getting very inconsistent weak spark with lots of cranking.
     
    LARRY70GS, Oct 3, 2020
    #175
  16. Max Damage

    Max Damage I'm working on it!

    When you hooked up the HEI, you didn't use the existing power wire to feed it did you? That is probably a resistor wire, which steps down the voltage to preserve the points.

    Just a thought. Sad you threw the old distributor away...
     
    Max Damage, Oct 3, 2020
    #176
    6769RIV likes this.
  17. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    I'll make a video of the rotor spinning, so you can see how slow the rotor is going
     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #177
  18. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Doesn't matter, it's completely irrelevant how slow the rotor is spinning. The reluctor moving past the pick up coil points trigger the module to produce a spark from the coil. Your HEI doesn't work. Arnold's mind is very stubborn when it isn't being told what it wants to hear.:D
     
    LARRY70GS, Oct 3, 2020
    #178
    GSX 554 likes this.
  19. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    Yeh, it was the same wire connected to the Points coil. I have had it wired directly to the battery since I pulled the heads
     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #179
    Max Damage likes this.
  20. ArnoldsMind

    ArnoldsMind Well-Known Member

    Worth a shot, doesn't compute tho. I thought the rotor triggers the spark to the individual wires/cylinders. The point style distro is on the way.
     
    ArnoldsMind, Oct 3, 2020
    #180
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