BBR's 83GT - 552 BBF version 3.0 (at least)

[SuperBuickGuy]

I'd be interested to hear how a magnetic pickup could be wired backwards. On my Corvette, the pickup wires from the timing wheel I'm using are both black....

[BBR]

I 100% have the magnetic pickup wired backwards.

I was confused yesterday because everything is set up right and it was kinda acting weird. It would act like it wanted to start when cranking, but just wouldn't light off.

That sent me down the path this morning to verify stuff was wired correctly. Then I noticed it.

The Accel's wiring:

PURPLE (+)
ORANGE (-)

Duraspark distributor wiring:

PURPLE (-)
ORANGE (+)

I verified this using the MSD 6AL instructions. It also has the MSD purple (+) wire attaching to the Ford orange wire (+) and their green wire (-) connecting to the Ford purple wire (-).

So today i am going to swap the wires around and see if that improves things.

[BBR]

Got it all buttoned up yesterday. Got a few ka-chuffs and a brief run out of it before I ran out of time. It definitely has spark now. Getting closer.

[BBR]

Distributor tech and a look at the tool I made with my 3d printer.

[DanStokes]

No video this past weekend. I just did a bunch of random stuff. I did a bunch of shop cleaning and stuff like that. Biggest thing I did project-wise was run bigger, brand new battery cables from the battery (+) and (-) just to cover that base. Still waiting on my distributor to arrive.

I did design a new tool to measure the mechanical advance of distributor. It clips onto the top of a distributor in place of the cap with degree marks. You just hold the shaft solid and cycle the rotor and measure the movement in degrees. Double that number and you have crank degrees of advance.

Pics please!

[BBR]

No video this past weekend. I just did a bunch of random stuff. I did a bunch of shop cleaning and stuff like that. Biggest thing I did project-wise was run bigger, brand new battery cables from the battery (+) and (-) just to cover that base. Still waiting on my distributor to arrive.

I did design a new tool to measure the mechanical advance of distributor. It clips onto the top of a distributor in place of the cap with degree marks. You just hold the shaft solid and cycle the rotor and measure the movement in degrees. Double that number and you have crank degrees of advance.

[BBR]

Ignition upgrade continues.

[Captain]

Just something from a old shop instructor....
If something went wrong,
What was the LAST Thing you Changed or Worked On? Even NEW parts can be Defective!!

[DanStokes]

I bench tested the distributor and prove that I'm not going crazy. Then I do the logical thing and begin installing a completely different ignition system.

Not sure that testing the distributor proves that you're not going crazy (hey, we're both doing this car stuff which is not the sign of a healthy mind) but I'm thinking a different ignition seems like a good move.

[BBR]

I bench tested the distributor and prove that I'm not going crazy. Then I do the logical thing and begin installing a completely different ignition system.

[BBR]

Just one of those days. I feel like there is a Limp Bizkit song about this....

[BBR]

Lightning found!

https://youtube.com/shorts/ZaUWgU-q2BM?si=TDXYqBgNuPgmbYvU

[Captain]

From a Previous Post.
Had the Opposite happen.
Had a High Voltage Magneto Coil.
It held so much voltage, if the points didn't discharge it, it would Back Feed to the Solenoid,
Trip It and Spookly turn the Engine Over !!
I had to put a Light Relay in the System to stop it from happening.

[BBR]

Found some sparks.

I set up the current distributor on the bench and nothing.

Did the same with another HEI that Judd got with the Galaxie. Zappo. It worked perfectly.

Poked it in the car and...... Nothing.

Just for tickles I ran the distributor power directly to the battery. Hit the crank button and it tried to start!

Whoo hoo!

My only guess is it has something to do with how I have battery power routed in the car. Currently the (+) cable goes to the starter and then up to the original relay on the fender where everything else also ties in for power. Seemed like a good idea, but I guess the starter sucks enough that either the ignition does not have sufficient voltage or the ignition relay does not have sufficient voltage to stay energized amd cuts off.

Next I will reroute power to the relay module so that it is directly connected to the battery.

I will probably still change the ignition up like I was planning but right now I'm just super happy I found some sparks.

[BBR]

Sooo, like a Duraspark with a welded up (narrowed) advance slot?

Yep. That's what I did on the Galaxie.