Please help me get my 351 running!!!

[smiley11]

It has an '82 351w. It took a while to get running when I got, all we did was rebuild the carb and adjust the timing. It would idle great, it was running rich though. About 2000rpms when you accelerated it would cut out and backfire, and finally cut off. The last time I ran it, it cut off and hasn't cranked since...What could be this problem??

When you turn my key to turn it over, it doesn't get much fire. When you switch it back to the off position it fires! I replaced the ignition switch yesterday and no huge difference, although my battery ran dead and didn't have time to charge it. It has an electronic ignition conversion, I believe a pertronix. I just read the thread about bypassing the resistor, i didn't know you were supposed to do that. I'm not sure if its done or not.

Any suggestions?? Please ask any more questions necessary!! I'm sure there is something I don't know or didn't mention. I've been working on it forever.

Could it be a bad voltage regulator?

Please help me guys!! Mike

[DanielC]

RE: Please help me get my 351 running!!!

Try to be more specific describing the problem. I do not know if the engine cranks from your post. By cranks, does the engine turn over normally, but not start?
An engine needs only three things to run. Good compression. Proper fuel air ratio. A spark at the right time. Satisfy the three needs, and the engine will run. Millions of running engines have proved that.
If your voltage regulator is bad, a good engine will run and start for a while, until the battery gets run down, at which point it will not crank, or start.
You can get a spark tester at Autozone. You should have a nice thick blue spark with the spark tester. Make sure there is no gas around when you do a spark test, it could start a fire.
Smelling the exhaust right after you crank the engine will tell you if gas is going into the engine, and if it is burning.

[smiley11]

It will turn over, but not start. It doesn't have much spark from the coil while turning over, but when you turn the key off it gives a great spark. Could the wiring be wrong?

Where should I test the spark?

[DanielC]

Test the spark at a spark plug.

[horkn]

also, some pertronix kits say to leave the ballast resistor in, if it had one to begin with. the one I put in my 78 martinique said to leave the resistor in if it had one. That was a 2002 vintage pertronix, although the new ones say to bypass the resistor if it had one.

but yeah, def test the spark.

[smiley11]

I am getting no fire out of my coil. Could it be that the thing in the distributor is bad? (The little condenser type thing)

My resistor is also bypassed.

I think I am going to put points back in it today.

[horkn]

my pertronix ignitor failed after 5 seasons in use.

have you tried the points ignition. again???

[smiley11]

I put a new distributor with points and it now runs great. I am guessing the thing in the distributor was bad. Is that little box called the ingnitor? I will be testing on the water today or tomorrow. Thanks for the help!