The 'E' Type Forum

Hello from downunder,

I have just made up new 7mm copper core plug leads and fitted my new Champion plug caps and conduit which was previously missing. I thought I had been most careful in noting where each plug lead went to on the distributor cap but she won't fire. I have traced the leads from plugs to distributor and all seems right. Interestingly my distributor vacuum advance unit doesn't sit pointing towards the block, as shown in the factory manual, but is about 45 degrees anti-clockwise from that position. I don't see that timing can be an issue as I haven't touched the distributor other than to remove the dist. cap. The car is fitted with electronic ignition but I'm not sure what brand. I have made certain the rotor and coil wires and lead are in place and the cap can only go on one way so it isn't 180 degrees out. Any ideas?

Cheers
Pete

I am not very knowledgeable about this, but I understand that there are some electronic units which for some reason are not compatible with copper core cables, but require resistor cables instead. Perhaps someone with direct knowledge will comment

Thanks Christopher, I have actually used the same specification wire as was on it previously, they were just a bit too short to run through the conduit.

Hi Peter.....if it worked before and dosent now and all you have done is changed the leads, then thats tbe best place to start......recheck the lead positions on tne dizzy cap......do you have a spark from tbe coil to the cap,......do you have a spark to each plug......make sure the dizzy is not loose, can you twist it.....

Hi Peter,
Assuming you have a spark at the plugs, you may have moved the leads on the distributor cap around one position clockwise or anti clockwise. I would turn the engine to the timing marks and see which lead the distributor rotor is pointing to.

Paul

Good advise thanks. Will have another crack in the morning.

Sounds like the leads may be out of synch as suggested. BTW any notion that certain systems will only work with resistance leads is, I am afraid nonsense. If the coil generates sufficient voltage it will travel to the plug whether copper or carbon cored leads are used.....of course copper cored leads will generate more interference unless a resistance cap is used at the plug.

You do need either suppressed leads, suppressed plug caps or suppressed spark plugs to avoid interference with any electronics, especially electronic ignition. BPR5 plugs are the easiest option. As regards your immediate problem, this may help:

HT leads out of sync will often result in a really loud "bang" from either the carbs or exhaust (been there, done that). If everything is where it's supposed to be, I would try swapping out the distributor rotor. I've spent entire afternoons scratching my head over the same issue, when it turned out to be nothing more than a tracked rotor. The aftermarket units are notoriously prone to tracking failures.

Only rotor arm worth fitting is from Distributor Doctor.

Thanks all, I'm sure it's of my own doing as opposed to a duff rotor or the like.

DON'T PANIC! DON'T PANIC!

All is well again. I pulled all the leads and traced them from each plug, putting them into their respective socket on dist. cap and bingo she started. I can't have cocked it up though as nothing was crossed over out of the lead spacer closest to the distributor.
Go figure

Thanks as always for all replies. It looks much neater with the conduit in place. David, I decided to leave mine red also and am happy with that decision.

Cheers
Pete