Try to keep the points gap setting on the low side of the range. As the rubbing block on the points wears down against the distributor cam the gap will change.
So put the engine on TDC and installed the distributor with the gaps adjusted and when I hooked the points up to the negative side and powered up the coil nothing happened. Still no spark. I wander if I fried the coil perhaps.
Could be. You're were applying 12 volts right through the coil primary winding with a solid ground connection. Coils have a duty cycle. Also make sure the distributor body has a good clean bare metal connection to the engine block. That's how the points get grounded.
I tried a new coil didnt work Im going to try to wire brush the area where the distributor goes hopefully that does something
Yes, I have a few laying around I took off the distributor again and I I saw there was some surface rust. I wire brushed it clean for a good few minutes just to be sure and I hooked everything back up and still no spark. Frustrating.
I figured it out, it was drawing ground from another wire that I had hooked up I have spark now. Its spits and sputters I need to get it into proper time now. I had a question when I drop the distributor in some say to face the rotor to the number 1 cylinder and some say to point it to the back of 8 I wasnt to sure on that. Also I couldnt figure out where I should stick the hanger to get a proper reading on the harmonic balancer, but im getting closer
The rotor will be between the #8 and #1 terminals for advanced timing. Now you need to either get a stock pointer or find TDC on #1 cylinder to use a hanger wire. Getting closer!
With an in line spark plug tester, I got everthing all set up and the rotor pointed at number 1 but now I just need to figure out how to get a good reading on my harmonic balancer. I have a 1980 302 so im not sure where the harmonic balancer pointer originally went.
I got it running! I guestemated the timing with a brake line and it runs pretty good thanks for all your help and advice! I will try to get some videos when I can, I need to get it more dialed in ill go ahead and order that part you sent me, once again thank you so much
Glad to hear the effort is progressing, I stayed out till now, as I feel too many cooks spoil the broth. I'm guessing timing pointer is same as late '70s, covers changed in early '80s when dipstick moved to left side of block.
