spring tune up

You're welcome Phil,

Glad I could help. These guys have helped me out a ton over the past 2 years, so I'm glad I could give back in my own small way.

Have fun.

Joe

What distributor do you have. You can use the vintage performance website to find out which pertronix you have and go from there.

If you have the prestolite with clip down cap you have the #1581 kit.

Joe

Thanks Phil,

I emailed Vintage... here is the what they said.

***
I purchased a Pertronix EI Conversion Kit #1581from
you last spring. I'm planning a tune-up this spring and
need another rotor. I assume I'll need a similar rotor
that came in the kit. Can I buy one from you guys?

If so... please provide part#, price and ordering info.

Ford 351W Marine with Prestolite Clip Down Distributor.
***

Their response...

***
Joe,

Is there a problem with your existing rotor? I'd be very surprised if
there is after just one season. I'd suggest just inspecting it. At
worst there might be a little discoloring at the electrode or just a
hint of corrosion which could be readily scraped off.

Yes, we do offer a replacement rotor, p/n 1581R, $7.50, free shipping,
if you really need one.

Carl
Retro Rockets
***

Hope that helps.

Joe

thanks, going to order one now..... sucks i have to take that thing apart again, kind of a pain, but now i know.

Sherwood R/W Pump Gasket

no skiing yet, only the boat launch area is thawed. the rest of the lake is all slush... but hopefully next weekend we should be good. i live in wisconsin near milwaukee.

ok, water pump...
just leaking a little bit doesn't seem to be leaking by the o-ring.

it's a sherwood. i replaced the rubber o-ring, but between the plate and the actuall pump there was a paper gasket, it was all jacked up so i didn't put that back. make sense?

if i make it any tighter i think i'll strip the bolt head.

7 just because i had one plug out so i could see the spark....

i just brought her to the lake and let it run for a few minutes, seems to be running good.. started right up and seemed to be very responsive. i did have a little water leak where i put the raw water pump back together after replacing the impeller, maybe i need to make it a little tighter?

simple and overlooked, good to hear you got it going, good call Joed

hey,

the rotor did look a little bit different then the one i took out.....


i'll try and re-swap the old one back in. i'll report back again..

thanks gents.

Phil,

Which distributor do you have?

If you have the prestolite with clip-down cap... the rotor may be the issue. I have that distributor and when I upgraded to Pertronix, the kit included a rotor as well. I don't have the documentation handy but something about the "stock" rotor might not work for some reason.

If this is the case try putting your old rotor back in and see if it solves the no-fire problem.

Let us know. I know how frustrating this can be, but bear with this group. You'll get it figured out.

Good luck!

Joe

i had to run out and buy a battery charger but when i got home and checked out the manual it says "not recommended for delco voyager" and i have a AC delco voyager 720mca. my battery has a little eye on it and it's still green, and cranking.. i can't believe it's still cranking. at any rate i'll try tomorrow. i've been working on the boat pretty much all day and night and am very frustrated.


could the ignition coil just go bad over winter? i don't think it's all that old, it's a petronix flame thrower.

boat dr, that language is chinese to me. breaking? i did replace both belts today too...

my boat has been converted to electronic ignition too, in case that helps.

Well that's the first thing... make sure your battery is good and charged.

Maybe this will help...

Ignition Coil Test

   1. Disconnect the ignition coil output wire at the distributor cap.
   2. Connect a spark plug to the end of the ignition coil output wire which you just disconnected.
   3. Connect a ground wire to the threaded portion of the spark plug.
   4. Disconnect the ignition coil ground wire from the negative terminal on the coil .
   5. Connect one end of a ground wire to the ignition coil negative terminal.
   6. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
   7. Tap the other end of the ignition coil ground wire jumper on an good grounding point and look for sparks at the spark plug that correspond to the frequency of your tapping of the ground wire.
   8. If you have a good spark at the spark plug, the ignition coil is good.
   9. If you don't get a good spark, check for approximately 12 VDC from the coil positive terminal to ground with the ignition switch in the ON position. You should also get approximately 12 VDC from the coil negative terminal to ground

sorry, bout that. okay, going to go hook a spark plug into the coil. i'll report back in 3 minutes.