Hello. the 49 chevy with a 65 impala 235 rebuilt in it, ran great.... then just died. It is getting fuel, air and there is current 11.56 to the coil. I noticed that the negative lead to the distributor is arcing on the outside. didn't have the tools to check for spark but will. I know a screwdriver in the plug cap will work, but didn't want to be reminded of my childhood (knife in wall socket) HA. All new wires, coil, cap, rotor, points, and condenser. But its a 65 distributor, I know they have a history of the bushing going out. any idea's, Going to get new points, and condenser... i've had problems with condensers on this one before. is anything made in America anymore? .... will keep you posted. and any help will be appreciated
Check the primary wire. (The little thin one, usually black, at the underside of the distributor, not the fatboy from the coil.) They can develop breaks in continuity anywhere inside the insulation of the wire or the connectors on these older distributors.
65 Impala didn't come with a 235 is the distributor in the middle of the side of the engine or close to the front.? If the lead from the coil to the distributor is shorting out that is probably your problem. Old wire bad insulation = short if it gets in contact with metal.
Had two times the 235 in my '37 Chevy just stopped in 30-years of driving it. First time there was a thin coat of corrosion on the distributor rotor. Just installed a new cap & rotor which I always carry with me, and kept on driving. The 2nd time, the big wire from the coil to the distributor, just fell out. Opened the hood, saw it had come out, re-inserted it and kept on my way.
Ballast resistor or lack thereof? If your coil doesn't have an internal resistor you need the one that mounts on your firewall or the points get cooked. I believe they were meant to drop the voltage to about 1.5 volts so points don't burn but were bypassed when cranking the starter.
its closer to the front....... will have to check the numbers on the block to see what year it is... Thanks it has an internal. the external was dropping the voltage so low it wouldn't start. took off the external and she fired. will check the little black wire and see if dist. turns.... thanks to everyone. outside eyes or minds always makes me slow down....
BAM! There it is! The later I-6 distributors were in fact prone to bushing wear though you usually got a little warning in that they didn't want to idle but they still seemed to go down the road OK. They used a single longer bushing in the middle of the distributor housing bore instead of two shorter bushings at both the top and bottom of the distributor.
The Jalopy Journal
