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Dizzy problem with a SBC

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 48ford, May 1, 2012.

  1. 48ford
    Joined: Dec 15, 2001
    Posts: 461

    48ford
    Member

    Please help, I'm pulling my hair out and I don't have any!
    I have a 400 small block in my ford(Easy guys)
    It has original G.M. electronic distributor in it.
    Well The car just quit! no spark,
    I replaced the electronic module.
    It fires right up,and as long as the RPMs are up it runs fine,but let it idle and it starts to stumble and you can't get the rpm back up. Shut it off and restart it and it runs great untill i let it come down to idle.
    Could it be the condenser thats in there?
    or (i'm chasing my tail here,that i'm looseing the ground?

    Please guys i'm in trouble here,any ideas on what i missed.
    The distributor was not moved and the wires are on the correct terminals.
    This thing rad great before I changed the module,any chance it could be bad?
    thanks russ&Irene
     
  2. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,462

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    If you are dizzy stop standing up so fast and then don't drink so much beer. :D

    Sorry I couldn't help it.

    Could be a bad module, even new ones can be bad.
     
  3. Take the module out and have it checked at the parts store?? Seen them bad out of the box.
     
  4. HE'S RIGHT dIZZY IS A CONDITION,DISTRIBUTOR IS YOUR TROUBLE RIGHT?
    seriously tho you have a "base coil" or hall effect trigger whatever its called that fits around the distributor shaft UNDER the plate your module mouts on out of sight,That may be bad and need replacing...
    take off your module plate and see what I meant.....a star looking wheel and a pickup coil.....
     

  5. 48ford
    Joined: Dec 15, 2001
    Posts: 461

    48ford
    Member

    I fixed it!
    Turns out it was the condenser went bad.
    that may have wiped out the module,I don't know,but it's fixed
    later Russ
     
  6. henry's57bbwagon
    Joined: Sep 12, 2008
    Posts: 680

    henry's57bbwagon
    Member

    When you say "electronic dist" are you referring to an HEI? HEI's do not require a condenser as they need full 12V to operate correctly.
     
  7. More info please - Condenser and Electronic Ignition don't generally co habitate
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2012
  8. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,624

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Like to know just what 'condenser' he replaced....
     
  9. outlaw256
    Joined: Jun 26, 2008
    Posts: 2,022

    outlaw256
    Member

    find that guy! i want to know about that condensor in the dist.
     
  10. Yup!

    Dizzy is what this thread will get ya'!
     
  11. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,943

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    It was probably pissed off because you called it a frigging dizzy instead of it's proper name HEI distributor.

    There is a capacitor/condenser in one though.

    Usually it's the module, coil or pickup coil wiring that goes bad on one of these though. The wires on the pickup coil tend to give out right next to the pickup coil due to the movement of the advance plate.
     
  12. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,775

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    Dizzy should be a term only used in the Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Australia and possibly India. Seeing it a post that uses the term ground rather than earth is distrurbing in so many ways.
     
  13. 48ford
    Joined: Dec 15, 2001
    Posts: 461

    48ford
    Member

    You will find the condenser to the left of the module,next to the vaccume advance.
    I'm 63 years old and had a problem i could not get a handle on.
    sorry i ask
     
  14. 63???

    Hey 48 I don't mean no disrespect but I would expect "dizzy" from someone 23 not 63.

    I'm 55 and always called it a distributor.
     
  15. davidbistolas
    Joined: May 21, 2010
    Posts: 960

    davidbistolas
    Member

    All the kids today are calling it a distyshizzy-mo-nizzy anyway, so "dizzy" is passé.
     
  16. propwash
    Joined: Jul 25, 2005
    Posts: 3,857

    propwash
    Member
    from Las Vegas

    geez...don't have a fit. You don't get to whine about the use of the word DIZZY for distributor unless you've NEVER said cam instead of camshaft, crank instead of crankshaft, carb instead of carburetor, trips instead of tri-power, dual quads instead of two four-barrels, tranny instead of transmission, diff instead of differential, mags instead of magnesium wheels, Chev or Chevy instead of Chevrolet, Jimmy instead of GMC....ad infinitum, ad nauseam.
     
  17. Whoa boys!
    He got the problem fixed and the spelling police didnt even show up!
     
  18. henry's57bbwagon
    Joined: Sep 12, 2008
    Posts: 680

    henry's57bbwagon
    Member

    Russ(48ford) I have to apologize to you on my comment about the condenser, I was brain dead(in my 63rd year) thinking it was a ballast resistor you were talking about. Great that you were able to sort out the problem.

    pasadenahotrod, dizzy is not a phrase used in Canada, neither is earth, so don't generalize when making comments.

    And how did CONDENSER turn into CONDENSOR???
     
  19. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,462

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    A totally wrong form of logic. All those short form terms are accepted, have been for years. Dizzy however is not. It is a form of lazy slang and just does not fit.

    Very true, it helps to know a little of what you are referring to before making a comment.
     
  20. Dizzy, for distributer is from the Aussie and kiwi nations .
    It's actually quite a fitting nickname for that rascal.

    Please note my use of Aussie instead of Australian and kiwi instead of New Zealand. I hope it gets very deep under the skin of some anal opinionated self proclaimed expert.
     
  21. Thats funny! :)
     

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