In summary, changing out the distributor was a snap. What has turned
into a pita is not getting fire through the bloody thing. At this point,
it's conclusive - dead/disconnected/internally-broken coil to
distributor wire - or a dead coil. And I confess - only once in my
entire life have I ever encountered a dead coil - but dead it was - and
on my '68 loaf no less.

I have a parts vans - so Monday I'm going to do a little swappy-swappy.

John

On 12/23/2013 12:14 AM, Scott Daniel wrote:
> was the clamp holding the distributor from rotating loose ?
> The direction the shaft and rotor will try to turn the dist body
> clockwise ..in the direction of retard.
>
> just grab the dist  ( engine off ) with your hands and make sure it's
> clamped down and won't rotate.
> check the rotor is being driven, using a person or a remote starter
> switch ..cap off, see of rotor turns.
>
> I wonder if  you're afraid of it john.
> dig in ...get dirty ...
> find out what is not timed or engaged correctly.
>
> flooded wet spark plugs can look just like no ignition.
> I don't think I've ever found a coil that won't work.
>    I do believe they get old and weak eventually. I have used ones for
> testing and self-rescue.
> worth doing the ohm checks on it ....
> a wire that fell off the coil is more likely than a bad coil.
>
> did you pull a plug  and look at it ?
> did you ground it crank the engine and watch the plug fire ?
> it's very, very hard to fix cars if you can't crank the engine from back
> there with a remote starter switch in some cases.
>
> Some people seem particularily afraid of electrics.   You have to
> respect it for sure ...but neither 12 volts or an ignition will
> particularity hurt you ...jerking because you saw a spark, of got
> shocked off igntion secondary voltage is more of a hazzard than the
> juice itself.
>
>     < I've touched hot voltage many times, or been shocked ...110VAC ,
> ignition secondary circuit out of the coil..
> even 1500 vac 3 phase on a jet interceptor aircraft once ....
> not really that big a deal ...be careful and respectful for sure , but
> no need to be that afraid, IMO anyway. >
>
> Are you careful to not have a sparking plug near an open cyldiner that
> has fuel spraying into it ?  ..a fire is possible that way.
> do you have a fire extinquisher real handy ?
>
> it's basically either ...no igntion, out of time igntion, wet plugs that
> can't fire........so far seems like something in that area.
>
> dig in, get dirty, don't be afraid of it.
>
> I'll tell you ..as far as swapping distributors in engines...waterboxers
> are really nice ...almost hard to screw up if you know what you are
> doing at all.
> did you check the rotor is firmly on the dist shaft ?
> think of new things to check .
>
>
>
>
>
> On 12/22/2013 11:46 AM, JRodgers wrote:
>> Scott, everything is as it should be - not!
>>
>> Here's what has happened:
>>
>> I re-assembled the distributor to the engine, and went by the book. All
>> things correct. Engine started easy, idled on it's own - but due to the
>> lateness of the day, I shut it down, expecting to re-set timing and
>> tweak a bit next day.
>>
>> Next Day:
>> Engine won't start. Won't even fire. I checked fuel - it's there. I went
>> back through the Hall sender test again - and guess what - now no fire
>> from the coil wire to the distributor!!!
>>
>> Next step - test the coil.  Which I have no idea at the moment as I
>> write - as to how to do. Gotta read up.
>>
>> I'm definitely open to suggestions.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> John
>>
>> On 12/21/2013 11:35 PM, Scott Daniel wrote:
>>> the distrubutor may not be seated 'all the way down' and not being
>>> driven  ( did you crank it with a remote starter switch with the dist
>>> cap remvoed to confirm the rotor turns ?? )
>>> that is a 'must do.
>>> also ..
>>> it's possible to get the dist 'sort of 'engaged, but 180 out, thus
>>> firing at the wrong time.
>>>
>>> when you put the dist in the block ..do it with your fingers turning the
>>> rotor..
>>> you'll find that one way feels 'sort of maybe ok' .
>>> bu the other way feels really right ..like down i and right.
>>>
>>> if helps if you know how to tell where the engine is positioned by
>>> observing vavle actuation and movement.
>>> You can tell when it's on # 1 TDC to fire if you know what  to look
>>> for. .
>>>
>>> S.
>>> On 12/21/2013 10:52 AM, JRodgers wrote:
>>>> Volks,
>>>>
>>>> On my '88 GL - I pilled the distributor - and found the Hall Sender
>>>> connector that sticks out - to be broken off. Replaced the Distributor
>>>> with known good one. Set the timing mark on the large pulley to the
>>>> split in the case. Set the distributor finger to the marke on the
>>>> distributor case. Hit the switch and the engine started right up. It
>>>> ran
>>>> a bit rough - I expected that - it had been sitting a while. Valves
>>>> were
>>>> clattering. It was late - so I shut it down and expected to work on it
>>>> later to set the timing. I have never been able to get it to start
>>>> again. Cranks - but absolutely no start.
>>>>
>>>> Today, I rechecked all the settings, made sure all connectors were
>>>> connected. Then performed the Hall sender systems check. All test were
>>>> positive. Spark at the coil wire every time the center connector of the
>>>> hall sender plug is grounded. The injectors pulse audibly, Fuel pump
>>>> turns on, idle stabilizer valve hums - but this baby is as dead as a
>>>> late season Salmon on the river bank!! It turns over plenty good - but
>>>> will not start.
>>>>
>>>> After all the ignition tests were positive - I was sure there is a fuel
>>>> problem - but the pump runs. However - even though I got the FI to
>>>> pulse
>>>> - I never smelled any fuel - and as many times as I pulsed them - I
>>>> would have thought I would smell fuel - but no joy!
>>>>
>>>> Gonna try the ether next - see if I can even get it to fire. After that
>>>> - I'm not sure where to turn -
>>>>
>>>> Anyone have any ideas??
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> John in Alabama - where we are about to be hit by some terrible weather
>>>> - heavy rain, wind, lightening, thunder, and tornadoes. It is so hot I
>>>> am wearing shorts today - and it has been raining off and on - the
>>>> perfect setup for a cold front passage to come through and clobber us
>>>> good with the bad weather as it slides under the warm air and pushes
>>>> all
>>>> that moisture up high. The edge of that frontal band is nowhere to
>>>> be in
>>>> an airplane!! For sure!!
>>>>
>>>
>>
>