Newest project - 87 K5 trying to start

[Engineered Vintage]

I picked up this little jewel a few months back for a song - now I'm finally trying to get it running.

I got new battery, cap & rotor, plug wires, and plugs.

Siphoned the old gas as best I could - put in new gas - now trying to start it - and there is no spark - it turns over strong and you can smell the gas from the throttle body.

The coil is unbolted from the manifold - and there are two plugs coming from the coil that go to the distributor cap - one of the plugs has a white wire with a plug that dead ends - that is hot with the key on.

Is this wire significant - or do I just have a bad coil - or do I need to bolt this down to ground it (obviously it should be bolted down eventually - but just trying to get it running right now)

The PO hacked the crap out of the wiring installing a Jacobs ignition system - I pulled all that out and attempting to just get it running.

Any suggestions?

Thank you

 

[bigblock72]

Is the second plug at the coil connected to the ignition module on the distributor?

The dead ended white wire is just a lead to connect a tach to.

The coil bracket should be grounded for best results.

If you still don't have spark try installing a new ignition module.

 

[dyeager535]

Not to be condescending, but you are SURE there is no spark?

Just mentioning because if you aren't positive there is spark to the plugs, it could be lack of fuel being injected.

 

[Engineered Vintage]

My buddy was helping me - I was turning it over - and he said there was no spark - we checked it with a test light - I think that box (is it a coil or ignition module - or is that the same thing) is bad.

 

[dyeager535]

Well if nothing from the coil, could be a couple of things in the distributor...module, pickup coil, wiring.

Should be pretty simple to torubleshoot, just don't waste a lot of money guessing at the problem.

 

[Engineered Vintage]

Okay - it's not the coil - pretty sure it's in distributor now - I have power to the distributor with the key on - but no sparky out of coil.

Also - there is a crap load of dusty rust around the coil in the distributor -

Thoughts?

 

[dyeager535]

I think that dust/rust is pretty common depending on where the vehicle was driven.

From what I've seen, the wiring tends to get pretty nasty for the pickup coil.

 

[Col_Sanders]

Pull the ignition module and have it tested at whatever parts store you have around. Those damn things go bad quite often and can kill your spark and/or fuel.