Hi FTE Freinds,
It's been a little while since my last visit here. Before I get into the reason for my visit may I say that my Cancer is back and is trying very hard to keep me down again... I refuse to stay down!
So, Wednesday on my way home from picking up Sebastian from school, traveling approximately 35 to 40 MPH when suddenly - without hesitation, pops, backfire or anything, my truck turned off.
I coasted for a few yards until I found a safe place to pull over and prepare to get towed home, again - sigh.
So here's the deal, today I mustered enough energy to look and troubleshoot and discovered the little "nipple" on the underside of the distributor cap in smithereens.
So I go to the parts store and get me a new cap, rotor, module and such - I can't recall what all I got... Anyway, after changing all them parts I still get nothing. Talk about a head scratcher!
It appears I get spark just about EVERYWHERE but at the spark plugs. Short of replacing the distributor, which by the way is an HEI distributor, can you think of anything that I may be overlooking?
Any and all suggestions welcomed.
Kindly,
Paul
PS. The wife says I should sell the truck, but she doesn't mean it - I know.
PSS. 4 Cancer surgeries and one brain aneurysm and this crap still won't leave me alone. No sob stories just facts my friends... Say a little prayer for me.

 

Paul, I can't help you with your spark problem but I can pray for you.... and your truck!

 

Like Abe, I can't really help you with the problems you are having with your truck, but it is good hearing from you again. I will continue to pray for you and your family. During the difficult times you are experiencing, I'm sure God doesn't always feel close and available...But be assured that God is very aware of everything that happens in our lives and promises to provide us with everything we really need to meet and overcome the struggles we face in our earthly existence. Also, amid the pain and suffering we experience in our fallen world, it is good to keep in mind that heaven is our real home, and that at some point we will leave behind all the brokenness we are experiencing for a far better place.

All of our lives are ultimately in God's hands, and come what may, we can always depend on His promises to us. My prayer is that God will grant remission and healing in your case and bless you the faith and peace of mind needed to meet the daily challenges you face.

Jim

 

I have heard that there are many bad brand new condensers floating around,maybe try another new condenser?

did you adjust the points?

 

Thank you Abe!
I will so gladly take them prayers any day!!
Hugs

 

Jim,
Thank you much. Now and then I need a reminder of where my head should be and you just did that. Nothing like being reminded where the real "fun" will be - with our heavenly father!
Thank you for looking out for me.
Paul

 

Hi Wrecker,
I have to admit that this is the first time - that I read this - but the third time someone tells me the same... I'm not certain that HEI's have this unit within them but I will look into it for certain.
Truck still sits... sigh
Paul

 

 

Hi Paul,

My thoughts and Prayers are with you and your loving, supporting family. And Yes you will beat this!

About the HEI Distributor, can you tell us who manufactured it? That way we could look it up in Google images and pick it apart for suggestions. I am betting you may of lost either the 12 volt ignition voltage going into the HEI unit, or the coil inside the HEI distributor (if it's the one I am picturing anyway.) Sorry if you already looked at that stuff.

 

 

Paul, sounds like a coil to me also...... no spark to the plugs? You sure the distributor is rotating? Good luck with fighting your health issues. stay strong! Prayers to you and your family, hope your behind the wheel of your F100 soon!

 

Paul, keep up the positive thoughts and know that everybody here is pulling for you. And good luck with your truck too!

 

Paul,
Enjoy each moment with your truck and especially your family! You have gone through a lot of health issues. Dont ever give up, dont ever back down! Find a local hot shot that can work on your electrical with you!
Regards,
Chris

 

Thank You So Much my FTE Friends
I'm up early this morning - to me at the moment, sleeping is over rated...
Some of you may grin after you read that I got this distributor, a few years back at least, when my original FirePower distributor chewed up the distributor gear. Don't know if you recall that fiasco!
Anyway, I believe it was one of those ebay knockouts... that I thought i'd try before investing in a "real" distributor - for what it's worth, it worked fine for those few years. So, I wonder if I had purchased a million dollar distributor would I still be having this type or scenarios?
Yes, it turns MoeJr - I know... I'm still scratching my head
I get so mad sometimes I just stare... My wife to "cheer me up" states that if only things would get fixed by staring my truck and many other things around the house would be awesome... I know, I won't say my reply to her but afterwards we did laugh hard!
Oh, and just for fun and grins, if anyone would like to share the firing order for the 351W - for verification - that would be nice too. But still there should be spark, correct?
Lets say that I've inadvertently mis-connected any of the spark plug wires to the cap (I didn't but lets say I did) should it still get spark? Is the answer yes but it would run terribly? That's my thought, but I get NADA! Let me go punch Cancer a little bit to cool off... LOL

 

Paul,

Yes you should have spark if the wires were out of order on the cap. Sounds like its before the distributor or in the distributor? No way a electrical whiz here on this end!
Regards,
Chris