Father-Son 1974 Duster Project

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Do you have a good ground wire on the module?
 
Could be in your ignition itself. Isolate all the external stuff first. I had the same problem on my red Swinger and on the Demon believe it or not. The actual ignition was bad in both cases. Kinda aggravating since I tore my column in the Demon down just like you. The Swinger column was mint so I never touched it. Just a pain in the ***. The wiring on these cars is fairly simple, but just not very reliable in my opinion. 50 years of jostling down the road just a pain. For the cost and time and piece of mind I am considering an aftermarket harness on future builds.
 
As a test I powered the circuit from the battery. No spark. I think it's the cheap module I bought. I never learn. Off to the store
 
I made new harness just for the HEI circuit. With the Flame Thrower module and it's matching coil I have spark like lighting!

Lokar throttle cable is on and very nice!

When I had the car at my buddy's shop, one of his guys set up my dizzy and it turns out it was 180* off. I used my compression gauge on #1 and got it to TDC and lined up the timing mark. She sputtered so I tried to advance then retard the timing but I think the carb adjustments are off. I set the float levels but I don't want to keep cranking the motor till I get some help. It's well primed and has good oil pressure but I'll get some help and get her going. Still no where near drivable anyway.
Live to fight another day....

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Pour a little gas down the carb.
I bet the carb is not primed yet.
 
I use a squirt bottle to fill the card bowls with a little bit of gas before a new fire up. You can also get it back to TDC with the timing mark lined up, and then make a pointer out of a coat hanger to mark exactly where the rotor button is pointing....and then line the #1 plug wire up with the pointer once you snap the cap back down. That should have it close enough to fire up. I always like to have an extra set of experienced eyes and hands around, so waiting until you get some help is a good idea. Good luck.....first fire up is an exciting, but anxious time! :) :eek:
 
I am going to get a 1-1/4 socket to turn the motor to line up timing mark. I had my son tapping the starter and got it close but always went past the mark. I like the idea of the coat hangar pointer.
Carb was done by someone who knows their stuff for sure.
My friend says the mixture screws should be 1-1/2 turns out.
I set the float levels as according to the how to video on Holley's web site.
I have a fuel Pressure gage and its steady at 7 psi. There is fuel in both bowls.

One question I have is it normal that #1 on the cap is 2 spaces away from the snaps? The guy at my friends place with the lift says #1 is usually next to the snap. Then again he put the thing 180* out of whack...
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Use a drinking straw instead of a coat hanger, no chance to damage anything.
 
The Mrs is away on a business trip so I am going to a cook out at the outlaws with my kids. I think I'll pick up the socket and take another stab at the timing when we get back home this evening.
I was so sure I would have her going this weekend.....
 
Another thing. What's the best way to get at the hold down bolt and tighten it?
A regular 1/2 wrench is kinda tough and the vacuum Advance plus the coil and the throttle cable make it kinda crazy the get in there. What's a good way to go about it?
 
DD do you remember the old school angled timing wrenches. They are L shaped. It's tough to squeeze in there.
 
I'll bet they have one at Sears. I'll most likely be their only customer today
:D
 
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I got this distributor wrench back in 83/84. Cant remember where or read any markings on it.

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It doesn't really matter where the #1 plug wire lands on the cap, as long as the wires are hooked up in the proper rotation, and 18436572. As long as it's where you can move the distributor to set the timing, and not have the vacuum advance hitting the coil...it should be ok. If you need to move things around, you can just pull the distributor out, and adjust the slot it fits into by rotating the oil pump shaft whichever way you need to. If I remember right, with the timing mark at TDC on the firing stroke....the slot is supposed to be pointed towards the #1 cylinder. You can use a long screwdriver to turn it one tooth at a time until it lines up. Use an L shaped stiff wire or something to hook under the oil pump shaft to pull up on it, then turn it with the screwdriver. The oil pump doesn't care how the shaft is turned, as long as it's seated back in when it drops in place. My distributer wrench looks just like Rd2's. Sometimes you can get to the hold down bolt with a half inch wobble socket on a long extension. Hang in there....you'll get it! :thumbsup:
 
Thanks JD
We went out and advanced the dizzy as far as it would go. She fired up and ran rough the backed off thru the carb again. My friend AlV told me the backfire thru carb is a sign retarded timing. Be fore you posted I figured I could move all the plug wires advanced 1 position and get her timed right. The distributor slot has to be mis oriented. If it's no big deal to leave it I'll leave it and address it a some point in the future.
She's a loud girl with just the down pipes and no mufflers!
I'm Going to get me a big boy distributor wrench
BTW being a carpenter I used a shim as a pointer!

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Everything is looking good. DD, I have a how to rebuild your small block mopar book, and I use it whenever I need to look at proper timing set up. It has pictues with great info.
 
Thanks JD. You and AlV got me on the right track to figure out the timing. I have 2 tiny leaks that I need to take care of. After banging away on this car that I paid $200 for 6 years years ago makes me feel good.
 
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DusterDaddy said:
Thanks JD. You and AlV got me on the right track. I have 2 tiny leaks that I need to take care of. After banging away on this car that I paid $200 for 6 years years ago makes me feel good.
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DD, read your entire build, LOVE the attention to detail but, most of all love the fact that you've stayed with the build. Far too often we see people move on from a build. Currently laid up for a few months, so seeing your build and the fact you took your time with it doesn't get me all depressed seeing my parts showing up to the house knowing they are going to collect dust for awhile. Keep it coming DD
 
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