Electronic Spark Module (Need Help)

[Justin Fleming]

Ok, back to basics. Three things required for engine to run, Air, Fuel, Spark.
Air, usally isn't a problem. That leaves fuel and spark. You sure there's gas to the carb? (After trying many time to crank, you should be able to smell it quite easily anywhere near the carb).
Check for spark,basic poor mans test is to remove a spark plug, put it in it's boot, ground it to the frame and have a helper crank the motor. This is HEI, it should make you almost drop the thing,the HEI spark should be that strong. If no spark,or a weak spark (weak defined in this case as you can hold the boot in your hand with the plug end grounded with the engine cranking), then you have a distributor problem.
There are tests for the ignition coil and the pickup coil.
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/11/43/ad/0900823d801143ad.jsp
You need an ohm meter to perform the tests, very basic.
Module can be tested at most autoparts stores.
I'm pretty close to you, if you can't get something out of the tests, I may be able to help you out, but not until Monday sometime, mabey Sunday night.
If I were to guess, at this point, I'd guess ignition coil. They are cheap at the store, like $20 for a normal one, $50 for a good one. Might be worth the $20 just for a trial and error. Check for spark first though....
Does it even hint at wanting to start? Does is cough or anything?

Hello

thanks for the reply. I have deffinetly coverd all the basics and the truck just has no spark. I have replaced the coil and still no good. I conducted a few test last night and based on some of my findings it is pointing at what they refer to as a "bad Pole" I beleive that they are referring to the pickup. But I just replaced that so I am not totaly sold on that yet. The test had me check voltage across two terminals on the ingnition controll under the dash while cranking. It measured .10 volts and the paperwork stated les than .2volts is a bad pole.....

 

[mouse]

I have seen "new" reman distributors with iffy clearances on the pickups. Don't totally discount the distributor because its new. Keep a level-headed approach and you will find the problem. It sounds to me like it should be the distributor at this point.

Do you have any friends with a spare dizzy, or a junkyard near by? You could probably get a swap-in dizzy for pretty cheap to test the theory of the new one being bad.