Tonight, the 2.8 let me down...

[ford4wd08]

Well actually it was Monday on the way to work.

Quick summary. I was driving to work like I have for the past 5 years with the BII. Went to take off from a stop light and the engine stalled. Tried to crank and restart and got nothing, I could have flooded it trying to get it to run, but I killed the battery trying to get it going.

I Fred Flintstoned it out of the busiest highway in town to the intersection with a median to get out of traffic. Called the wife and asked her to bring me my jump pack.

Got the jump pack on it and got the Bronco fired up and headed the mile to work. As I was pulling into the work parking lot and turning into a spot, died again.

Battery was weak and was 7 years old, so I decided to go to lunch with a buddy and pick up a replacement. New battery did not get the Bronco to start.

I could tell I wasn't getting any spark. So I tired swapping a new HEI module and a new coil just as a hail mary to try and get it out of the parking lot. Neither fixed it.

Threw in the towel and got it towed home today from my work parking lot.

Did some initial testing tonight and confirmed with Key On I've got 12V to the hot side of the ignition coil. I hooked up my timing light and turned the engine over, I never got a flash, so I don't believe any cylinder is getting spark.

So, just a refresher, I've got a Duraspark Distributor with a GM HEI module and I'm running the stock TFI coil.

Guess I need to read up on how to test a HEI module, but I tried a new one as well and no dice.

I'm suspecting the distributor at this point. Any tips on how to test it? I did confirm the rotor is turning when cranking the engine. The contacts have some carbon on them, but nothing crazy. The cap and button has been replaced in the last couple of years.

 

[bobbywalter]

did you pop the cap off an confirm the rotor is turning?


condition of all ignition componants

 

[ford4wd08]

did you pop the cap off an confirm the rotor is turning?


condition of all ignition componants

Yes, rotor is turning. They have slight carbon build up, but cap and rotor are about a year old. I would expect some spark, not zero.

I'm leaning towards a wiring or magnetic pickup issue in the distributor.

Just saw where Jim had made a detailed HEI conversion page. I'll check my voltages at the HEI tomorrow with a meter.

 

[bobbywalter]

then i would suspect the pickup coil

 

[Jim Oaks]

Keep us posted.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Don't forget the actual coil either.

It could have cooled down and decided to work again for a bit before laying down for good.

 

[bobbywalter]

yeah....they do that for sure.

 

[ford4wd08]

Don't forget the actual coil either.

It could have cooled down and decided to work again for a bit before laying down for good.

I swapped a brand new one onto it. No dice.

I was willing to try a couple new part quick swaps in the parking lot at work - HEI Module and New Coil, neither made a difference.

I threw in the towel and had it towed home. I can't work on anything in a parking lot much, always needing something that is at home that I don't have with me plus 150 degree blacktop. It's at least in the shade now.