he got a new module, put 12v to one side of the coil and ground to the other and when i scratch it on the ac it sparks. i put a test light on one side of the coil and it light up i put it on the other side and it didn't pulse, i tested the two wires orange and purple and no continuity. I tested the other wire, and no continuity anywhere. but when i turned the key on the tach jumped to the max. then i dropped my screwdriver down in front of the radiator what a pain. then i dropped a 7/16 socket and had to track it down and retrive it. finally i said the hell with it picked up my tools and went home. i will go back tomarrow. is this the proper way to check the pickup ciol in the dist? is this in the right forum now?

 

I did not read this full post but did your post in the other thread and it sounded like the pickup coil in the distributor is bad.
Jimreble listed hot to test the coil but what I read that sound like the problem.
Dave ----

 

that is what i figured. he is gone for a week.i will check with him when he gets back. it is a nice truck but neglected.

 

The black wire going to the distributor is the sole ground for the entire ignition system.
This should have been tested when you used the "jumper paper clip" across the green and black wires at the DS2 box. When you have the jumper IN the test light on the coil positive should have dimmed, showing current flow to ground. If it didn't dim, there isn't a ground, which is what I think you are saying here ....I tested the other wire, and no continuity anywhere.

It seems odd that all 3 wires going to the distributor are not working as they should.
Are you testing at the ingition module on the inner fender or at the distributor plug? Or both?
Has the 3 wire harness between the distributor and ignition module been eating away by rats?
If your harness is all chewed up, the one wire hookup , GM style coil over cap distributor is the simpler and cheaper way to get it running.
Some will say the $55 Coil of cap HEI distributor (eBay) is a lower quality product ... but cheap guys are probably going to be OK with that. Don't ask me how I know.

As far as troubleshooting ideas, the link that was posted in your other thread is as good as they get. I will add a link to it for those that didn't see it.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post21703776

Good luck, Jim

 

I had another thought...
The ground doesn't need to be inside the distributor.
As the black wire exits the DS2 ingition module, it can ground anywhere.
So scrap a little of the insulation of the black wire, exposing some of the copper wire.

With the key ON , everything connected as it would be on a running engine...

While watching the test light on the coil positive, add a ground to the black wire. If the test light dims, the original ground is not working. If you leave the ground jumper wire on, the coil will start to get warm.

If the original ground was bad, the original DS2 ingition module was probably OK.

When the DS2 ingition module has both... 12 volt in AND a ground, it will pass current flow though it.
Jim