Wife's 65 Wagon ignition

HALIFAXHOPS said:

Sounds like the ballast resistor is grounding check both terminals to ground WITH THE WIRES OFF, any thing it is probably rubbing the paint of the body on the back. If so get a sealed resistor.

Click to expand...

I will try this.

Frank Mopar said:

You have a big voltage drop going to the ballast

Get yourself a relay and do this.

Hook the RUN wire of the ballast to a relay pin 86. Ground pin 85. Now the key runs just the relay.

Run a wire from the stud on starter to relay pin 30. Now a wire from relay pin 87 to the ballast.

Now you have full battery voltage to the run circuit of the ballast

Click to expand...

I did put in a new relay while doing all the other stuff. I figured for the few $$ I might as well make sure everything is new.

I am going to try a few of these ideas. I'll post results.

That's a huge voltage drop. Also if it is good use a load light and see if the wire (hot) is good with the voltage, will take any guessing out of the wiring connections. Any decent sized 12V light will work, I use a old headlight.

Ok a little update. I was messing around with it this weekend. Tried to start it and no spark again. This time I messed around with the wires. I pulled the plug off the orange box, put it back on and wiggled it around. Started right up. I think it's the plug from the harness. I had trouble with it because it looks like the molding was off and the plug would not go on very easy previously. I am going to order a new harness from Mancini.

My buddy also suggested changing the plugs because they are probably fouled with all the trial and error we've been doing. Cheap and easy way to eliminate one problem. Well I pulled out the plugs and they were short thread plugs. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't they for big blocks and the long thread plugs for small blocks? I put in the correct plugs and it starts and idles a lot better.

Hopefully the problem is solved.

Would the spark plugs make a big difference?

Update. After getting a new electronic ignition box and wire harness it seems like that was the issue. The car starts no problem now. I've been driving it everywhere even during the heatwave we had. No starting issues so I think it's all set.

Now the headlights decided to stop working. Next problem.