Car won't start - 66 200 w/ Duraspark 2 and Holley 5200

[Corellian Corvette]

Hello everyone! I haven't posted in a long time as my 66 has been running great. This summer my wife started taking the car out, and now it won't start. I have converted to the Dueaspark 2 and I'm running a Holley 5200 from stovebolt.

I'm not sure if the problem is ignition or Carb. The starter turns over fine, but it doesn't even try to fire. I though it might be flooding - but I used some starter fluid and I get the same problem. I tried replacing the coil with a known good one, and same problem. I'm not familiar with the DS2 module, but I checked the terminals and they all appear to have power.

Anyone know how to diagnose these? Could it be the module in the distributor? The cap and rotor look fine and I don't see anything obvious. Help! I'd like to enjoy the car this summer!

 

[teggy87]

pull all the plugs and see if they spark..

if they spark. put them back in and try to start it.. if it doesnt start, pull the 2 center plugs number 3 and 4, are they wet? then you flooded it.. if they arent wet, diconect your fuel line and bump the cyllinoid, you getting fuel shooting out? if so clean it up and hook the line back up. do you have gas in the car?

this run down should get you pointed in the right direction..

have you tried tapping the gas a little while starting?

 

[Ronbo]

The spark box can just up and die on these. Cost around $20 for another. I always keep a spare in the garage just for that purpose.

 

[Ricardo Velez]

Sounds like no spark indeed.. an old spark plug connected to a wire, just drop it on top of the valve cover, and use a remote switch or screwdriver to bump the starter solenoid to see if there's spark.
either a light tester or an analog or digital meter to test the connections coming into the DS box , or...open the dizzy cap and with power on ,move a screwdriver in front of the pickup coil to fire the box.
DS boxes do die a sudden death, many times without underhood overheating at all.

Ricardo

 

[Corellian Corvette]

Well, I pulled a plug and started the car with a plug out - there WAS spark.

The plus were also wet and smelled like gas!

Now what?

 

[fordconvert]

Clean or replace the plugs.

 

[Ricardo Velez]

Pull all the plugs and clean them, then put a small amount of carb cleaner or similar into the cylinders, and give it a spin with the starter, Ignition OFF.
Let it sit a few minutes, and re-install plugs and give it a try.
Question is, if flooded when trying to start or a carb / float failure...?
Ricardo