need help

[87454westernhauler]

i have an old 87 350 TBI c10 custom 4 speed that was my dad's old one that i had just got running for the first time in about 10 years. i have just put new fuel pump, tank, fuel injectors, and a few other things in it and it was running great  until yesterday. went to go start it and it only fired on about half the cylinders and had to floor it to get it to run that way. then it died and will not spark now. its getting fuel. i took the distributor off and cleaned the contacts with news paper as to not wear them down, but it still wont fire at all.  do not want to spend big $ on this old girl but if any one knows any thing that can help me please and thank you!!!

[VileZambonie]

Judging from your symptoms it sounds like a faulty ignition module.

[Lt.Del]

i had the same problem with my sub....I concur with Vile, which is always a smart thing to do.

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=15628.0

[Irish_Alley]

x3 just cause viles' right 

[87454westernhauler]

i git it to run last night. took distributor apart and cleaned all the carrosion and dust out of it and it fired up, but now all the oil, temp and voltage gages are not working and the alternator is not charging the batery. checked fuses already, and I replased most of the batery cables and it has a good battery because i will put it on a charge for 15 minutes and it will start right up, untill it runs the batery dead and then it dies. what would you guys recommend?

[Lt.Del]

put a volt meter on the battery terminals when she is running.. the alternator should be putting out at least 14 volts.  If not, I'd look at replacing the alternator.  On GM vehicles the regulator is part of the alt, so you can replace two items at once.

You can take the alternator to autozone or some place and they can check the alt output.

[87454westernhauler]

im just going to replace the alternator and see what happens, what do you think might be wrong with the gages?

[87454westernhauler]

i replaced the alternator last night and it is putting out the right volts and is charging now, but none of the volt, temp, or oil gages are working. i already checked the fuses and pulled the dash bezels off down to just the gage  and wiggled them around, still nothing.  you guys have any idea, kind of stumped

[Lt.Del]

if none of the guages work, i'd be inclined to beleive your ignition switch could be a culprit--since the key must be at least half on to operate guages.  If the contacts in it are wearing out, when your key is on, it isn't sending a signal to the guages....just a guess though.   You have to look at what the common thread is with all guages.  You say you check the instrument cluster and the fuse.

Is everything else working like blinkers and lights in instrument cluster? wipers? radio?

also, check that your temp. wire is hooked to the sensor, which is between spark plug wires 1 and 3 (first two on drivers side)
check to ensure oil sender wire is hooked too---which is near your distributor (b/w that and the firewall)

[87454westernhauler]

i know that the temp wire is hooked up, and if i turn the gage needle when it is off the oil and temp gage will move to zero when i turn the switch on. i have not checked the oil pressure wire yet, will tonight or tomorrow.
if any one else has any comments please help. thanks sam

[Irish_Alley]

Check the connection at the fire wall kind of sound like a bad connection bad ground do funny things