Jereld Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 I recently purchased a 1956 Buick Special all original. It's currently in the process of getting painted, but i really want to get it running before i paint it. While doing a little diagnosing I found out the engine didn't have any spark. Not knowing too much about points ignition I replaced the coil, spark plugs, wires, condenser, and bought a new set of points. I gapped the points accordingly but still no spark. Did some more research and found an article about the wiring to the coil and distributor. To make a longer story short my distributor is actually shorting to ground and causing the issue. Im not sure where to go from here, is the distributor bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudbone Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 Take some photos of your dist. with the cap and rotor off. Maybe we can help. Mud 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jereld Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 Ok ill swing by the shop tomorrow and snap some photos. I wired everything how I took it apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 While there, check the wires inside the distributor. They may be original wires where the insulation is dry and breaking off, causing the wires to short to the plate the points are attached to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rztrike Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 Where are you checking for spark? At the points or at the spark plugs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jereld Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 I was checking spark coming from the coil before I figured out it was shorting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 Looks like the points are ckosed when on the high point of the cam. Should be open at that point. .017 gap I believe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jereld Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 @JohnD1956 the points were properly gapped before I removed the distributor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 1 hour ago, Jereld said: @JohnD1956 the points were properly gapped before I removed the distributor. How does removing the distributor realign the points? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 (edited) Jereld, I agree with John. It`s plain to see the rubbing block of the points is not touching the high point of the cam. While the dist. is removed, turn the shaft, are the points opening/closing? It won`t trigger the coil if points are staying closed. Correctly set the points, with rubbing block of the points on the high point of the cam, gap the points at .017, then reinstall. Also check the shaft for any sideways movement(like a bad bushing)this could affect the point setting. Also when tightening the set screw of the points, it will sometimes "move", altering the gap setting. Edited March 9, 2019 by pont35cpe (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Jereld, where did you measure the gap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56 Buick Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Agreed re turning the shaft to see if the points are opening and closing. If there is no opening and closing as the shaft turns then there will be no spark. The next step after will be to check how it is wired up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 Concur, does not appear the points system is riding the cam at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLYER15015 Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 Try a new set of points ! Looks like the "rubbing block" is a bit worn, so the cam cannot lift the breaker points. Mike in Colorado Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jereld Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 I agree with all of you guys about the points not touching the cam. when i removed the distributor i removed everything out of the distributor examining wires and things (even took out the breaker plate) thats why the points are like that. I am in the process of reinstalling the distributor because at this point i don't think the distributor itself is the issue, maybe the new set of points i bought are bad or maybe the insulation block is bad im not sure. Ill get with you guys and let you know what i figure out. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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