need engine run/start help-points distrib
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1972-1976 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1972-1976 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=13261
Printed Date: 26-March-2026 at 3:24PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: need engine run/start help-points distrib
Posted By: tonym9
Subject: need engine run/start help-points distrib
Date Posted: 01-January-2015 at 6:44AM
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Bought a 72 Ranchero from Dallas 2 days ago as a quick flip/save. It's an H code Ranchero but it had a Windsor in it with bad freeze plugs gushing rad fluids. Pulled the Windsor and sold it along with the tranny. I have the original 82000 mile 351C H code and c4 tranny from my White 460 Torino swap. Bolted it up in the Ranchero. Known engine, ran good in the Torino. Went together fast and easy...the curse. It started and ran 2 seconds after using the little prime gas I gave it. Went to get my son to keep his foot on the brake pedal while I primed it to get fuel into the lines. Won't start now. Points distributor. Fully charged battery. I have new fuel. I have spark from coil wire grounded to motor. I have spark to individual wires via an extra spark plug, but it looks a little weak. Good compression via pulling a plug and feeling it. Cap/rotor/points/condenser less than 10 hours run time since I replaced all while the motor was still in the Torino. Coil is warm to touch after an hour of trying to get it to run. I thought I flooded it, let it sit overnight. Same thing this morning. I'm thinking the condenser fried. Or the coil is weak. Autozone coil and condenser. I'm not seeing the forest for the trees... Anything you would check before going to the parts house for a new coil/condenser? I just can't see either of them taking a dump that fast and getting spark to the wires tells me I'm not seeing something simple...even though it does look weak to me. TIA ------------- 72 GTSFB |
Replies:
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 01-January-2015 at 7:00AM
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that would be my guess, either coil or condenser ground wire from engine to the body??? ------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: tonym9
Date Posted: 01-January-2015 at 7:10AM
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good ground just hate to throw parts at it but I keep coming back to coil/condenser too thanks CJ ------------- 72 GTSFB |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 01-January-2015 at 7:15AM
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why so much attention on the coil & condenser but not the points? ask me how I know... yes cooked points will still produce some kind of spark Autozone coil & condenser... I've seen new discount brand tune up parts perform worse than the ultra high mileage yet still dependable parts that were taken off, then put back on to make the car run again until quality parts can be bought I know points & condenser tune parts sounds like the budget way to go but they add up quick. consider your time & inconvenience, possibly specialty tools(these days) like a dwell meter. personally I feel that setting points w/o the meter is a crap shoot, I've set them 'double darn best I could' with the feeler gauge initially then checked with the dwell & they're not even in spec the point hahaha is maybe go for a breaker point eliminator module right off the bat & don't look back? even as a 'flipper' it's a selling point, much improved idle & low end over points what's your voltage at the + side of the coil with the key in Run? ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 01-January-2015 at 7:33AM
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Clean the points, check coil polarity, double check ground Try starting fluid/spray, carb could be pumping crap into engine ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 01-January-2015 at 7:52AM
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I had a heck of a time with water in the tank once new fuel & water still don't run good FWIW check the gasket on the gas cap, I think mine was toast & sitting outside the tank took in water or somebody helped it get in there ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: tonym9
Date Posted: 01-January-2015 at 9:16AM
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condenser...runs now! ------------- 72 GTSFB |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 01-January-2015 at 11:16AM
  ------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: Regul8r
Date Posted: 04-January-2015 at 3:00PM
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I see you got it running just wanted to put this out as it is a good thread to refer to... http://forum.grantorinosport.org/points-ignition-system-info-and-diagnose_topic12939.html" rel="nofollow - http://forum.grantorinosport.org/points-ignition-system-info-and-diagnose_topic12939.html ------------- Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME! 1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae" 97 Suzuki Intruder 1400 US Army Retired |