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1974 Chevrolet Corvette crank no start

Tiny
1988CORVETTE88
  • MEMBER
  • 1974 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
  • 65,000 MILES
This car has been sitting for 30 years, garage kept. We put a new battery in the car, it cranked but no spark. Then we replaced the spark plugs, and put in a new ignition coil, and still no spark. I was wondering if u guys had any ideas of what it could be?
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Tuesday, September 17th, 2013 AT 6:44 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Have you checked to see if there is power to the coil with the key in the run position?And a flashing ground to the coil while cranking?
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Tuesday, September 17th, 2013 AT 7:34 PM
Tiny
1988CORVETTE88
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Well I am pretty sure that I have hooked the ground cables to the coil up the wrong way. Is the cable coming from the distributer supposed to go to the positive side of the coil? And also there is a 3rd wire coming from a condenser, is it supposed to hook up with the negative, and the positive cables?
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Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 AT 3:21 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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The distributor side should go to the negative side of the coil. The positive side should have battery voltage with the key in the run position. The condenser should be the negative side. You have points on that car?I have seen 1974 gm cars with electronic ignition.
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Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 AT 8:04 AM
Tiny
1988CORVETTE88
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
This is a stock engine, if switching the cables around doesn't work, what would be the next step in the process?
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Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 AT 3:46 PM
Tiny
1988CORVETTE88
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I also put some gas in the carb, and cranked it over, but nothing happened.
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Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 AT 3:47 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
So do you have spark yet?
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Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 AT 5:04 PM
Tiny
1988CORVETTE88
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Still no spark yet, what is the next step?
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Thursday, September 19th, 2013 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Do you have points or electronic ignition?Also do you have a multi meter to do some testing?
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Thursday, September 19th, 2013 AT 1:33 PM
Tiny
1988CORVETTE88
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Its a points system, and yes I have a multi meter.
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Thursday, September 19th, 2013 AT 1:50 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Are the points opening and closing when your cranking the engine over?Also do you have battery voltage to the positive side of the coil with the key in the run position?Also do you have a test light?
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Thursday, September 19th, 2013 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
1988CORVETTE88
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Yes, I have a test light. I don't know is the points are opening and closing, or how to check this. But I am about to check for battery voltage to the positive side of the coil.
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Thursday, September 19th, 2013 AT 2:40 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Let me know if you have battery voltage to the positive side of the coil?Also clip the alligator clip side of the test light to the postive side of the battery. Then touch the tip the of test light to the negative side of the coil. Then crank the engine over the test light should flash?
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Thursday, September 19th, 2013 AT 3:33 PM
Tiny
1988CORVETTE88
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Well the battery is behind the driver side seat, is there anything else I could hook the alligator clip to?
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Thursday, September 19th, 2013 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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If you have battery voltage to the positive side of the coil with the key in the run position? Then hook the alligator clip to the positive side of the coil and check for the flashing test light.
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Thursday, September 19th, 2013 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
1988CORVETTE88
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I checked the positive side of the coil, and the test light did not light up. Did replace the ignition coil. And the condenser on the coil, replaced the points w/ condenser. Sorry it took so long to respond, just got the money to get back to the car.
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Thursday, October 3rd, 2013 AT 6:35 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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You have to. Start with why you don't. Have power to. The positive side of the coil. With the key in. The. Run. Position. Iam trying to. Find a wire diagram. For.A. Car. That old.
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Thursday, October 3rd, 2013 AT 6:58 PM

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