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So this one has got me stumped. Last Friday the engine ran just fine, if a little noisy with some rockers.
Pulled the valve cover to check said rockers & started and shut it off repeatedly, with no issues. Soon as I got the valve cover back on, it wont start for nothing. Swapped in multiple distributors, both factory & aftermarket. Multiple known good Duraspark boxes. Msd 6al box. Multiple known good coils. New wires.
If the starter is cranking normally, then there is nothing wrong with your engine ground.
Originally Posted by Fleur de lis 82
Soon as I got the valve cover back on, it wont start for nothing.
What did you check on and around the valve cover? If the last thing you did was put on the cover, what wire(s) could you have dislodged that would keep it from generating a spark?
I know there are these "coincidental failures" but seems like this is something you bumped.
Originally Posted by Fleur de lis 82
Pulled the valve cover to check said rockers & started and shut it off repeatedly, with no issues.
Originally Posted by Fleur de lis 82
Swapped in multiple distributors, both factory & aftermarket. Multiple known good Duraspark boxes. Msd 6al box. Multiple known good coils. New wires.
Originally Posted by Fleur de lis 82
No spark, period. Getting juice to the coil too.
But are you getting juice to the ignition module? What about a trigger signal to the coil? This smacks of a wiring disorder.
Is the power getting to everything? And is it getting to everything with the key in the START position as well?
Did you check the Brown wire on the starter relay?
With all of these known-good components, disconnect any tachometer wires, radio noise suppression wires, and even the Brown "I" wire from the relay/solenoid to make sure they're not shorting out the ignition signal between the distributor, ICM and coil.
Since it's been asked for, here's the 83 Cj7 I'm working on now. Aside from the frame, it ain't all that bad for a late Cj. Got it running (since its basically an undersized 300 six & has a Duraspark ignition system), & it runs good ish. Not particularly sure about the transmission for some odd reason, or the axles! But I've got em at least.
I though you was going to pull it completely off the trailer, and then at the 1/2 to 3/4 way point you stop and yank the trailer out from under it....classic!!! The engine start up was cool, but not as cool as the hanging from the cherry picker V8 start up you did a while back.
I have chained the rear bumper of a complete 2wd 79 F250 truck to a tree and then pulled the trailer out from under it before. Is that your spare frame, how in the world did you get it IN the shed?
Thought about just yanking the trailer out first. But then I'd probably of had to drag the jeep around to get a good position & that would've seriously jacked up what little driveway gravel that hasn't already washed down the hill. And that would make me sad.
Yeah that's the spare frame. As to how I got it in the shed...... much foul language was involved & a little four wheel furniture dolly.
Holy crap at the frame rust!
Them 258's are awesome, I broke a dana 30 260 joint sized styub shaft with 33's on dry ground... Well I guess that not saying much, maybe it was the motorcraaft carb?
Have you had the oppurtunity to play with cartb cheater yet?
We don't speak of the carb cheater. It's a fantastic product & works great, until there's a problem. Then its crickets for customer support. Something fried in it & I've been attempting to contact them for a couple of months now. At this point it's just a $500 phenolic spacer & I'm more than a little upset about it.
258 is a great engine, I fully intend to do the 4.0 / 4.2 mash up with it though. But first thing is rust. Which I am getting dealt with.
Been turning that God awful frame repairs from a previous owner into new frame.
Helper dag!
Good thick copper backer. And burned in hot.
Ran one inside for peace of mind. Bought a crap load of rust converter & weld through primer, for what I hope are obvious reasons.
Cleaned up & beat the rear crossmember back into shape as well. Check out the awesome factory gusset welds that I get to fix.
That was all a couple weeks ago. Spent last weekend fighting with the Bronco & won't get much done this weekend, wife's got an MRI appointment tomorrow & I think something planned Saturday.
oh ****, have you tried to reach out to him on their facebook group? The thunderhead289 fbook group seems to come up alot when I am google searching stuff, seems very active.
Last edited by KubotaOrange76; Jun 11, 2026 at 03:46 PM.
I'm one of those rare people who've never had a Facebook account. Had a MySpace page once if that counts though. Guess I'll have to nag the wife to get on the group & reach out to him. Just frustrating is all.
Once again, many minle in an old truck to take a Jeep home. Because of course you take the almost 50 year old truck to drag the almost 60 year old rig home. It makes perfect sense.
Can't blame this one on me though, it was 100% the wife's doing. She found it & she bought it, her very first Jeep all of her own.
The proud new mama. Ummmm ignore the two finger salute, she's not a huge fan of pictures.
Really dang straight & fairly rust free. There's some to fix, but nothing like Bob.
Has an Amc 327 under the hood & a turbo 400. A J-shift dana 20 T-case & I'm not sure what axles yet. Least this one has axles under her.
Wife gave $1000 for her. I'm quite happy with her purchase.
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, maybe it was the motorcraaft carb?
