Strange 1971 Dodge 440 electrical problem fixed.

[mbc0724]

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions on my 71 440 4 speed electrical issue in April and May. Car would start up and run perfectly as it has for many years. Then, after driving it for 15 minutes and turning it off, it would not start again for several hours. At that point, it would start right up perfectly and run fine and repeat the cycle. There was fuel but no spark. Changed the ECU, coil, cap, rotor, ballast and double checked all connections. No change through April and May. Many good suggestions from this forum. A couple of people suggested the magnetic pickup in the electronic ignition distributor. Found an entire new distributor online for $103 and just changed it out this weekend. Problem solved. Works fine now. Thanks again for all the suggestions everyone. Now, if I could just figure out how to remove the number 6 plug from above...

 

[493 Mike]

May I add a story to this thread? OK. I will: In 1971 I was working in a Dodge dealership in Muskegon MI. They had sent me to Detroit for school on the new electronic ignition system, when I returned home, I had a message from the Dodge dealer in my hometown (I did start my professional life there). Seems the mechanic there had spent his entire day trying to repair a new Dodge with no spark. I went to check it out and found the problem in less than 10 minutes-pick up coil bad. Then I asked my old boss if he had saved any money by not sending his mechanic to the same school I had spent the day attending. He admitted it was a mistake!
Ahh, the memories!
Mike

 

[padam]

My dad bought a new 71 or 72 Charger. He only kept it for a few years, but one thing I remember is that the electronic ignition went out on it, I’m pretty sure it was repaired under warranty.