63 L84 distributor problem

[Michael G.]

Four of the eight plug wires on my engine are getting no spark from the distributor. These are the four consectutive teminals on the rear of the distributor. Is this most likely a cap, rotor, or distributor problem?

Thanks, Mike

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

Michael;

Looks like you need to do some troubleshooting. You'll have to pull the cap to check it and the rotor, but most likely it would be the plug wires. You didn't say what system you have so I assume it still has points and condensor so you'll want to check them as well. No spark on 4 of 8 wires (where did you check?) is more likely the wires or, in severe cases, you could have electrical paths to ground. Look for red carbon tracks inside the cap.

Stu Fox

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

We checked all wires, they are good. We replaced the rotor with one I know works, then tested output from each terminal on the cap, using a good plug wire. No spark from those four terminals, still. The cap is a new repro, it may be defective.

Mike

[John H.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

Are they one side of motor,(left side,right side),in fireing order, or just random.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

We checked all wires, they are good. We replaced the rotor with one I know works, then tested output from each terminal on the cap, using a good plug wire. No spark from those four terminals, still. The cap is a new repro, it may be defective.

Mike

If the point gap/dwell is off, a lot, it's possible that they're opening just enough on some of the cyl's to fire the coil, but not others. Almost all distributor main shafts/point cams run untrue enough to cause a dwell variation, enough to create this problem. It's actually a somewhat common issue.

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

Thanks guys. I threw an old set of points in and the problem went away.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

Thanks guys. I threw an old set of points in and the problem went away.

Mikey gets a gold star for that one.

[John D.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

Mikey gets a gold star for that one.

Yeah that was really a hard one to figure out MH.

Get rid of the foreign made Delco points as typically they sure won't let you rev much over 4 grand and that's giving them the benefit of the doubt. Hurry and stock up on some NAPA points while you can still get them. The good Perforated (P) points are history. Discontinued like everything else. JD

[Larry M.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

Yeah that was really a hard one to figure out MH.

Get rid of the foreign made Delco points as typically they sure won't let you rev much over 4 grand and that's giving them the benefit of the doubt. Hurry and stock up on some NAPA points while you can still get them. The good Perforated (P) points are history. Discontinued like everything else. JD

John and others:

ACCEL still manufacturers high performance points for the Delco distributors (and their own ACCEL version of such). These are excellent points and in my opinion equal to or better than the Delco D-112 high performance points. Price was still resonable last time I looked.

Part # 110128 for points alone and #8104 for points and condenser. These will rev to 6500-7000 RPM redline without issue.

Larry

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

Well, you guys win on that one. It's been many years since I worked with points and condensors, and it will be forever before I will again. I like my redline at will car.

Stu Fox

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

Yeah that was really a hard one to figure out MH.

Get rid of the foreign made Delco points as typically they sure won't let you rev much over 4 grand and that's giving them the benefit of the doubt. Hurry and stock up on some NAPA points while you can still get them. The good Perforated (P) points are history. Discontinued like everything else. JD

If it was so easy, how come YOU didn't answer the mans question? Oh, wait, I know. You had boo coo (did I spell that incorrectly, like you do?) work to do and didn't have time?

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 L84 distributor problem

Well, I'm glad I'm having problems that you guys have seen before. I'm desperately hoping not to find one that nobody's ever heard of...

Thanks, again,

Mike