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No Start After no Issues

69SatelliteGuy

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Move this thread if it’s in the wrong spot. Anyway, I’ve got a 1969 Plymouth with a 318. Carter two barrel and stock distributor. The car ran fantastic, on Sunday I drove 100+ miles round trip to Rhode Island. Got home and decided I’d replace the motor mounts. Did that and the car was fine still. Went to work and came home decided to check points because I have issues with those normally. Put the cap back on and no start. I have spark, but it won’t fire. So I replaced all of the plugs and a new set of points. Set timing and nothing. I can move the distributor all around and I’ve got nothing. I did get one puff out of the car no real firing. I replaced the timing chain in May, so doubt I jumped, but when I put it TDC the rotor points straight at the fan so I’m not sure. Any thoughts? I’m at a loss here.
 
Move this thread if it’s in the wrong spot. Anyway, I’ve got a 1969 Plymouth with a 318. Carter two barrel and stock distributor. The car ran fantastic, on Sunday I drove 100+ miles round trip to Rhode Island. Got home and decided I’d replace the motor mounts. Did that and the car was fine still. Went to work and came home decided to check points because I have issues with those normally. Put the cap back on and no start. I have spark, but it won’t fire. So I replaced all of the plugs and a new set of points. Set timing and nothing. I can move the distributor all around and I’ve got nothing. I did get one puff out of the car no real firing. I replaced the timing chain in May, so doubt I jumped, but when I put it TDC the rotor points straight at the fan so I’m not sure. Any thoughts? I’m at a loss here.
Check your ballast resistor.
 
Check the inside of the dist cap. Make sure you didn't lose the graphite ball in the center. Ask me how I know. ruffcut
 
You have spark where? At the spark plug?
Focus on the stuff you touched, particularly the activities before the initial "it doesnt start"
 
Spark, gas and air... which are you missing?
At a guess...the timing is all mucked up.
Facts
1. The car ran fantastic so you decided to break it. Sounds like something I used to do when I was younger.
2. Checked the points when the car was running fine, then it wouldn't start.
3. Put new set of plugs in (?) and new points and it still won't start.
4. Rotor is not pointing at No.1 spark plug at TDC.
5. Talk of a jumped timing chain, coincidentally just around the time you decided to "check" the points.

Go back to point 2. The car was running fine 100+ mile round trip, then you checked the points / changed the points. This is the problem. Not the plugs (although a new set probably won't hurt). Not the timing chain.

Start over. Check the plug leads are all in the right order and "plugged" on to the spark plugs properly. Get the timing close. Set the points gap. Fire her up and adjust.

Good luck brother.
 
It's alive! It was indeed the timing that was mucked up. I had spark at the points and at the plugs. I put new plugs in because I was doing a basic tune up, didn't think it would help the situation really. As it turns out, my distributor was 180* out. I must've spun it around when I pulled it out to replace/check the points. No I shouldn't have to take it out but the distributor on a small block sucks to get at. It always seems to be the most basic of things that I overlook.
 
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At least you remembered to put the rotor back in. Don't ask me who's done that...
 
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One of those moments we all have had. Glad you found it. Now have fun driving it again. :thumbsup:
 
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