No Spark-High Tension Wires or Permatune?

[HarryD]

Hello all,

Today, on the way home from my daughter's soccer game, I went to start my P-car. It cranked, made a weak attempt to catch and died. I cranked some more, but no signs of life.

Standing in the street, I pulled the high tension lead from the coil and pointed it close to a ground, cranked again and no spark.

I could smell fuel by the way. So I decided I have an ignition problem.

I have a permatune, using points as the trigger.

I pulled the three pin connector from the Permatune and using my light bulb, I checked for voltage into the Permatune (it had power). I removed the distributor cap and craked to verify the points were opening and closing (they were ok).

While futzing with the distributor cap, one of the spark plug wires separated from the connector that goes to the cap. The connector has a metal "spear" that seems to go into the conductor of the wire. I firmly pushed the wire back onto the boot. Thinking this may be the problem with my lead from the coil to the dizzy. I removed the wire from my coil to the dizzy and pushed both ends firmly into the connector.

I plugged the wire back into the coil, pointed the other end at a ground, and cranked. Voila! Spark! I reassembled the parts and tried to start the car again. This time it caught and ran just fine.

I think I have a wire problem. What say you experts?

[Steve@Rennsport]

Hiya Harry:

I think you are a "prime" Magnecor candidate.

Install a set of those 8.5m wires and you will fix several things at one shot.

[HarryD]

Steve, Thanks you confirmed what i suspected.