need 1978 small cap distributor parts asap

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Devilmans Hand

TLCA #19517
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Threads
140
Messages
3,476
Location
Commonwealth of N.VA
Website
www.capitallandcruiserclub.org
Hello everyone. My cruiser is stranded in centreville due to something fubar with the distributor. Looks like the cover is melted through and there is corrosion or build up on the rotor. I've got no spark.
Can I still get parts for this new, used, or someone have an extra?
Luckily my buddy is a mechanic, but we've been drinking. Ill try and post a pic from my phone in a bit after we detonate some entertainment.
 
No crank sensor. I have an old points type dizzy you can borrow if you can't find an electronic ignition dizzy. I think you'll also have to use a coil instead of an igniter with points and I believe I have a coil you can borrow.
 
I you need I will be at the shop tomorrow working on my day off.

Just call if you end up needing more parts.

Cam
 
Have you got spark from the coil?
 
Have you got spark from the coil?

I do not remember exactly. I just remember getting no spark at all, which leads me to believe that its the coil. My buddy was checking with a spark tester while i was cranking and got nothing.

I'm gonna pick up a coil a the parts store and drive back out to my friends house in a bit. If that doesn't work i'll start calling people.
 
I have a complete spare dizzy from the '72 we parted. I also have several spare caps and some points, but no spare rotor.

PM me your cell number
 
well, everyone thinks that it is the ignitor. Now i just need to find a good one. Can I borrow a spare from someone this week?
I'm going to try this before swapping out other parts.

Thanks Everyone

I've got the cruiser parked in a safe place, so there is no immediate rush. Luckily i have secondary transpo

*might as well drive back out to where it is and pull the coil and ignitor for further testing...
 
Last edited:
I've got some coils and you can pull parts off the 2f dizzy thats on the frame in the garage to get you going
It's out of a 78
 
I was looking at This post last night. I will probably use this once I'm certain that the problem lies with the ignitor. Has anyone here done this mod? I looked up those GM igniters for a 1980 camaro 6cyl and they're still $50 , at least the ones I found.
Was thinking about using a CPU heatsink.

I'm also going to try and repair the original igniter, if that is the problem. Going to ask a buddy that is an EE to look at it. The board is uber dirty, so ill get the electrical cleaner and alcohol out. Think it was coolerman or trollhole that took one apart and tried to draw a schematic, but didn't figure out all the values on the outside board. There is also a far more complicated board burried under some rtv under a second cover/heat sink.
It would be interesting to know what fails with these parts. Whyi pay $250 or even $10 when it could just be a $0.25 part and a bit of solder. Think Ed talked about doing this once.
Going to have to check all my grounds again too.
 
Sam, I also have an ignitor from a 78. I am in Silver Spring just inside the Beltway. I am packing for CMCC today and running errands but will check back here. The GM module should work fine and they really must have gone up in price since when I got mine.
 
Does anyone know where I'm supposed to ground the distributor and module from? I'm trying to get the GM hei ignition module to work. I've got everything else hooked up. Any advice is appreciated.
 
OK, I took some pics

Here is the melted through cover. I don't know when this happened, but i have not taken the cap off in a year and a half.


the gm ignition module part number


my attempt at wiring up this module mounted up the firewall with some silicone goo


I assume that this is the power from ignition switch to the coil. I forgot my multi-meter at home today and just put some spade connectors on the plugs and connected them to the coil[not shown]


If anyone has used this GM HEI ignition module before in this fashion, then where should i pull the ground from on the distributor? As of now i've just picked an external screw next to the green connector holder. Also, should i ground both the distributor and module directly to the battery? I ran out of ring terminal connectors so I had to use a ground strap to the firewall.

I'm using these posts as reference
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/266672-ignitor-schematic.html#post4138375

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/266672-ignitor-schematic.html#post4139114

Think i'm going to just wait until i can get my hands on a spare stock igniter. Kinda sucks to drive 20miles to fck around with electronics in the dark.
Might just take someone up on borrowing an older type distributor so i can drive it home.
 

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