W. Hall
Precision Fit
I've been all over the internet researching this and have not really come up with any good ideas. It's not even the original Willys wagon engine so I feel kinda bad for posting here but I am at a loss.
My 62 Wagon is running a Chevy 230 inline 6 and it ran top notch after installing a new wiring harness, progressive Weber 2 barrel, Pertronix HEI Billet distributor, and Flame-Thrower 1.5 Ohm canister coil. Drove all summer last year and most of the winter with no problems at all . Then one 15 degree December day, it would crank over but not start. I assumed it was the carb and removed the filter, sprayed it out and it fired right up (probably coincidence). I ran it for a few weeks until one morning it started this again. Assuming it was the carb, I did the same thing but this time it cranked over but still wouldn't start. Let it go till the next morning and it fired right up . Drove to the store and back, also got gas and ran an errand or two, then it stalled at a stop sign and absolutely would not start again. Figured it was the carb so I tore the top end off, sprayed it out, and it still would crank over but not start. The next morning it fired right up . Took it straight home and had to park it for a while.
Up to date: So I went on military orders for a few months and came home last week. Fired it up and drove around the block a few times and let it idle for a while to charge the battery. An hour later I went out to start it and it cranked over and would NOT start again. This time I discovered that I have no power going to the spark plugs (using an inline spark tester). I removed the tach wire and it made no difference. I've confirmed there is 12V at the positive side of the coil. The HEI distributor only has a red and black wire coming off the coil, and the center plug from the top of the coil. Figured the coil was shorting so I replaced the coil with a new one and no change. Not sure where to go from here. Pertronix sent me an e-mail with a few more tests but I need my other half to turn it over while I check ohms and voltage.
One last note: the starter has been acting up since last winter, in very cold weather, it will spin but not engage until the third or fourth try. Hasn't done this since the winter but I can tell that it sounds different now. Not grinding but a very slight "whining" sound when cranking. I plan to replace it in the next few days anyway, but I still need to resolve this no spark issue. I read where a failing starter solenoid could effect an HEI dizzy but I have not been able to find anything to further support this. Until I can perform some of the other voltage checks, any additional advice or help on this would be greatly appreciated.
My 62 Wagon is running a Chevy 230 inline 6 and it ran top notch after installing a new wiring harness, progressive Weber 2 barrel, Pertronix HEI Billet distributor, and Flame-Thrower 1.5 Ohm canister coil. Drove all summer last year and most of the winter with no problems at all . Then one 15 degree December day, it would crank over but not start. I assumed it was the carb and removed the filter, sprayed it out and it fired right up (probably coincidence). I ran it for a few weeks until one morning it started this again. Assuming it was the carb, I did the same thing but this time it cranked over but still wouldn't start. Let it go till the next morning and it fired right up . Drove to the store and back, also got gas and ran an errand or two, then it stalled at a stop sign and absolutely would not start again. Figured it was the carb so I tore the top end off, sprayed it out, and it still would crank over but not start. The next morning it fired right up . Took it straight home and had to park it for a while.
Up to date: So I went on military orders for a few months and came home last week. Fired it up and drove around the block a few times and let it idle for a while to charge the battery. An hour later I went out to start it and it cranked over and would NOT start again. This time I discovered that I have no power going to the spark plugs (using an inline spark tester). I removed the tach wire and it made no difference. I've confirmed there is 12V at the positive side of the coil. The HEI distributor only has a red and black wire coming off the coil, and the center plug from the top of the coil. Figured the coil was shorting so I replaced the coil with a new one and no change. Not sure where to go from here. Pertronix sent me an e-mail with a few more tests but I need my other half to turn it over while I check ohms and voltage.
One last note: the starter has been acting up since last winter, in very cold weather, it will spin but not engage until the third or fourth try. Hasn't done this since the winter but I can tell that it sounds different now. Not grinding but a very slight "whining" sound when cranking. I plan to replace it in the next few days anyway, but I still need to resolve this no spark issue. I read where a failing starter solenoid could effect an HEI dizzy but I have not been able to find anything to further support this. Until I can perform some of the other voltage checks, any additional advice or help on this would be greatly appreciated.