not sure which forum to ask, but hope this is it, I'm wanting to know if I can use a brain box for a 351M on a 360, my 360 has no spark and I already changed the coil, pickup coil and rotor, I already tried this, and still no spark, but should there be?, would it work okay?, thanks

 

Yes, you can use the ignition module, AS long as the wire grommet is the same color, prolly blue. I assume you are talking about the square module on the inner fender.

 

yes, the one on the fender well, I figured it would work, but it didn't correct my problem, I drove my truck to work a couple of weeks ago, and it sat for about a week before I needed it again, won't start, always has been really hard to get started, ( only had it a month or so), I have no spark to my plugs, already changed the plugs, different coil, new pickup coil, new solonoid,a known good brain box, still won't start, pulled a plug, stuck it in the wire and layed it on the manifold, no spark at all, I have voltage to the coil, what am I missing?, really at a loss now, oh sorry, it's a 76 f250, 360V8

 

If you have a multimeter, check your wires for high resistance or opens. Also, sounds like you haven't checked the dizzy. I'd doublecheck the cap and rotor. If everything looks good there then I'd start looking at the points. Maybe they've finally given up the ghost.

 

It's possible the ignition module is not getting power when the key is on - did you check all the fuses? If you can get a multi-meter (or a test-light) and know how to check for 12 volts, I (and lots of other people here) should be able to tell you what color wire to check at the module to see if the box is getting power.

Here's a really good question: Did you check to see if the dizzy spins when you crank the motor over?

Also, pull the coil wire from the distributor cap and put it 1/2" away from the engine block and crank to check for spark there.

At least it'll run better when you finally get it started after the complete tuneup !

 

if you want a easy way to have a good reliable truck put in a points style dizzy i just had all the problems you have described with my 75 and switched to a points distributer simple one wire hookup just run the wire to the neg side of your coil and it works very well

 

thank all of you for the advice, yes I made sure the rotor was turning, no fire from the coil, haven't checked for power to the module, will try that in the morning, also considered changing the dizzy, but I thought that since I just put in a new pickup coil it should be fine, tried a new coil and cap today with no luck, if I have voltage to the coil, wouldn't the module have to be working?

 

Nope, voltage to the coil is always on with the key on.

The ignition module basically grounds the coil for each spark.

 

thanks ctrlatdl, okay then, I have 2 wires from the firewall, with key on, there is power from one of them, it's blue with red stripe, the other, which I think was all red, has no power from it, should both of these be hot with key on?

 

If you turn the key all the way to start, you should get power to the red wire as well.

 

great, thanks rcook18, too late too try tonight but first thing in the mornin'
'

 

In my Motor's, the Duraspark has a red and white wire - red is "run", white is "start". On all years, up to '79, apparently, the red/white relationship stays the same.

I'm talking about wire colors at the module, not what's coming through the firewall.

 

alright, got her goin' and with many thanks to all of you, it turned out to be the module after all, the one i tried was from a 79 bronco with a 351, i know it is good, but won't work on this 360, found another out in the barn from a 75f100 with a 360, it fired right up, so i went and got a new one to be safe, Putt, you were correct about the grommet color, the one for the 351 was black, the 360 is blue, i honestly figured since they were both v8s it would work okay, now i know better, once again, thank you all for the input

 

My Motor's shows like four different configurations for different years - '73-'74, '75, '76, and Duraspark I ('77?) and II ('78/79?) - that makes FIVE different combos. All the same wiring colors, but could be the pinout of the connectors was different or even the magnetic pickup in the dizzy.

Anyway, it all worked out, have fun!

 

I just totaly rebuilt my 78 351m and was frustrated that it would not start. The book I have does not have any information to check the module. This string saved my day. I thought I checked all of the wiring but did not. I found one of the wires to the module quick connect bad.


THANK YOU ALL.


BIG T