Engine to chassis ground

[DGG]

Haven't had time to do anything yet. Possibly after work tonight. I'll report back after that.

[DGG]

Engine to chassis ground UPDATE

So it's been a while since I have messed around with trying to fix the distributor. I've been spending most of my time painting body panels and parts while the weather is nice.

I replaced the points, condenser, rotor,and low tension lead. Still not getting 12v where they need to be. I discovered that with the ignition on, I can get 12v to the points if I lift up the base plate with a screw driver. Any significance to that? Thanks.

[SafeAirOne]

So it's been a while since I have messed around with trying to fix the distributor. I've been spending most of my time painting body panels and parts while the weather is nice.

I replaced the points, condenser, rotor,and low tension lead. Still not getting 12v where they need to be. I discovered that with the ignition on, I can get 12v to the points if I lift up the base plate with a screw driver. Any significance to that? Thanks.

Yes. You are on the right track. Either a short, an open exists where it shouldn't in that area.

[stomper]

I believe I've read somewhere about a fiber insulation washer that is supposed to go on the screw that holds the points into the distributor. If you mix up the placement of the washer, it can ground out the points.

Someone else can confirm this, but it may be your issue.

[DGG]

I believe I figured out what is wrong. I took everything apart again to see why when I pry up the moveable base plate, I get 12v at the points. When I took the two base plates off, I noticed that the plate that moves has a metal contact that is supposed to touch the fixed plate. Well, the contact on mine was not touching the fixed base plate. This explains why when I pried the moveable plate up I got power, I was making the metal tab hit the fixed baseplate. I simply just bent the tab so it would make contact. I have everything apart and cleaning it up. I will get everything back together in the next couple of days and update.

[DGG]

Ok, so I have nothing figured out at this point. Haven't messed with the distributor in a while because I was doing other things on the truck like pulling the transmission out.

Revisited the distributor today, and have some more information.

When the points are open, I have 12v at the points.
When the points are closed, I do not have 12v at the points or anywhere else.
When the points are closed and I lift up the moveable part of the base plate, I get 12v at the points.

I never get 12v on the fixed side of the points, just the moving side.

So is something shorting out at the base plate? I don't know where to even look. Help!!