Getting no fire from the distributor

[cormay1230]

I have a 1977 c-10 350 4bbl that will not crank. I know its getting gas but not firing.  i have pulled a plug to check for fire and there is none. It turns over reallygood and fast like normal and i know everything inside disrtibutor is turning. I have relaced the coil and the module but that did not fix it. the only thing else I know to change is the pick up coil and the cap and rotor button but I'm getting tired of changing parts. It was running perfect when i pulled up at a store and turned it off.  when i came back out in about an hour and tried to crank it wouldnt. thats when i checked for fuel and fire and descovered it was not firing. any help or ideas would be great.

thanks
corey

[Irish_Alley]

are you getting power to the red wire on the cap with the key on?

[cormay1230]

yes I am getting power at the red wire when the key is on.

[rwhit57]

I would have started with the cheaper parts first. A bad rotor will do this, I think at this point replace the cap and rotor and see what happens. You can always use the new parts later. 

[Lt.Del]

So you are certain the rotor/distributor is turning?  That would rule out timing chain.
Perhaps the module you put on is defective.  To get volts to the distr w/ key on and not get spark at the plugs means it is something in that distributor that is malfunctions, but, they are quite simple devices. 

I've mentioned this many times, but, you can go to a salvage yard and get an entire distributor, module, coil, rotor, cap, p/u coil---the whole nine yards for about $20 probably.  I keep an extra HEI in my garage at all times. No spark? take 15 mins and switch distributors.  All sbc HEI's are interchangeable; 305, 350, 400.

[cormay1230]

well at this point i have now relaced everything but the pickup coil. it still will not crank and yes i did make sure it is turning when you turn the engine over. so do wa all agree that the pickup coil should be the problem.  i just replace rotor and cap today.

[Lt.Del]

be carefull when you say it won't crank...that usually means the battery won't turn the engine over, or starter problems. I gather it does crank, just won't fire. No spark is no spark or fire at the plugs.

It could still be a faulty module--just because it came out of the box doesn't necessarily mean it is good---Quality Assurance isn't perfect, as we all have stories of bad new parts. 

[DnStClr]

That's a good point Andy. It wouldn't be the first time a 'new" module was faulty. I just saw your avatar of the young Ty Cobb- Awesome! I remember when he was born. Now you're plannin his big league career..

[cormay1230]

ok so i was told they can test a module at the part store, is that true?  If it is good could it be the pickup coil keeping it from getting fire?

[Irish_Alley]

they can test it all, when i worked at autozone they could only test the mod and ignition but not the pick up now its reported they can test the pick up