Ignition problems

[Frankken]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently working on my 1960 Corvair trying to get it working again.
The starter was broken but I repaired it and now it's working fine.
My next problem is the ignition. I have narrowed down the problem to the distributor. I cleaned up the contact areas in the distributor but still no sparks.. I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to distributors so if someone who knows a lot about them could tell me how to proceed. :)

Regards
Johan Frants
Finland

[Smitty]

Be sure your coil is good.
Check wires in distributer for connections.
Point gap
Make sure rotor turns when engine is being turned over
Use Corvair manual
Good luck !!!
Let us know

[boatbob2]

remove coil wire from dist center,try to start engine,,hold wire from coil close to where that wire goes,SPARK? if so,pull a plug, ground plug,try to turn over (try to start) if no spark at plug,remove points plate in distributer,and check the wire under the plate,wire is either grounded or broken...

[66vairguy]

On a LM, not sure about an EM, the coil gets power from the ignition switch that goes to the STARTER terminal. Why? because the coil is powered via a ballast (on GM cars a ballast wire) that reduces the voltage when the engine is running, but allows the starter to by-pass the ballast during starting because the battery voltage drops a LOT when the starter is cranking so the ballast drop is not needed - this helps a lot during cold weather starting. Check the starter, you should have three terminal, one is BIG for the starter cable, two are two small terminals, one has a medium sized wire at a terminal usually marked "S" for solenoid. That wire is hot when you key is on "START". The other terminal can have different designation, usually "R". That wire goes to the coil to by-pass the ballast during starting (via a switch inside the solenoid). So go back and check the starter wiring and trace it back to the bulkhead connector. I suspect some connector is unplugged or partially unplugged, or a wire is broken. Not unusual after a starter has been replaced.

[Frankken]

Thank you for your answers! I got the problem solved. It turned out that the point gap that was the problem. The car is running nicely now. I'm waiting for some new tires and when I get them the car should be fit to take for a proper test drive. Will post some updated pictures in time.

[cad-kid]

Thank you for your answers! I got the problem solved. It turned out that the point gap that was the problem. The car is running nicely now.

Well done on getting it working and a big for letting us know the solution.