Ignition trouble shooting
 

Can't find my old Hot Rod magazine trouble shooting articles from the '50s so I need some help. Old 60's stock car motor, 59AB in the roadster, no spark.
1st time trying to start it after the winter. 21A distributor, 12V Neg grnd. Test light on coil primary, power to the coil, test light on the distributor terminal from the coil flashes off & on as I crank the engine over. So I assume the points are good. What's next ? Thank you Fordbarners. Anyone have a copy of that old HRM article they can post ?.

Re: Ignition trouble shooting
 

Pull the coil high tension wire out of the top of the distributor cap and hold the end near a ground. Should get a blue/white spark to jump half an inch. If no spark or weak spark the coil is bad. If you get a good spark there, plug the coil wire back into the distributor cap and test the spark at one of the spark plugs. If no spark or weak spark there, check the distributor cap and rotor for broken or burned. Make sure the little thingy in the center of the distributor is in place and that the contact on the rotor reaches up far enough.

Re: Ignition trouble shooting
 

Thank you. Will check the coil.


So to keep track so far;
1. No spark at plugs, checked with visual gap tool.
2. Power to coil, tested ok
3. Power at distributor coil connection, tested ok, off & on as engine turned over.




Will post results, and fix.

Re: Ignition trouble shooting
 

check while cranking!

Re: Ignition trouble shooting
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif Re: Ignition trouble shooting
Thank you. Will check the coil.


So to keep track so far;
1. No spark at plugs, checked with visual gap tool.
2. Power to coil, tested ok
3. Power at distributor coil connection, tested ok, test light off & on as engine turned over.
4. Tested coil secondary high T wire, cranked engine, Ignition on
big white/blue spark to ground.
5. Found some corrosion on condenser, and distributor connection, cleaned.
6. Fired right up as usual.

Thank you Fordbarners.