So, I bought a nice, mostly stock, 1971 Valiant with a /6 and 1920 Holley carb last week. It started and ran fine (a little touchy until it warmed up). Gave it two taps on the gas and started. A couple of days later, it would turn over fine, but wouldn't start. After checking the carb and other places, I finally pulled two spark plugs, sprayed starter fluid into the holes, replaced, and it started up and I ran 3 or 4 errands the rest of the day with no starting problems.

Now it is a week later and it will not start. The engine turns over easily, battery is strong - but there is no firing. I tried two taps on the pedal, no taps, hold pedal down, and used starter fluid. Nothing! I could smell gas, so I'm sure I flooded it.

I checked the continuity as best I could (using common sense, not experience). There is juice all the way to the plugs. I tried the pulling the coil to distrib. wire and did the "hold close to ground" trick. I saw no arc or spark at all.

I opened the float chamber, which was totally full of gas, and checked the movable parts. I adjusted the float so it didn't rise as far. No changes. No spark.

Trying not to spend big bucks, I've replace the coil and condenser, the ballast resistor, rotor, and distrib cap. The engine still turns over easily and does not fire.

I'm asking myself:
IS IT A FUEL/CARB PROBLEM?
IS IT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM?

Sounds like it could almost be intermitant elec. Replace the fuel filter. Check the fuel pressure from the pump. Track down the problem from where things "flow" from. Could also be the ign. switch itself. If you havn't figured it out yet try this: connect a "hot"wire from the battery pos. to the coil pos. using alligator clips, then try the key. If it starts the prob. might be the switch.

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ifyoubegintothinkyou'relosingcontrol...it'salreadygone

Thanks!
I tried connecting a "hot" wire from the battery pos. to the coil pos. using alligator clips. It turned over but still wouldn't fire or start.

Also tried tracing the circuit from the battery on, but just don't have the expertize to know if I'm doing it right. (Last night I created a short from the alternator housing to a live wire by the coil, through my metal watch band! It melted two little spots on the band and burned the skin on my wrist. ':oops:'Oops! Where did that big shock come from, I asked myself.)

I don't have time to figure it out hit and miss, so I'm looking for a mechanic to do some diagnostics on the electric and the carb and tell me where the problem is.

Still can't figure out why it was running so well, then just won't start.

You should get an arc when coil wire is near ground.

Points or ECU?
DD

It has an ECU.

I did find a mechanic that has been working on cars all his life, especially on older cars like mine. Sometimes his dad, the original owner comes in to lend expertise.

I'm taking the Valiant over Monday morning for him to look at, starting with why there is no spark to the plugs.

So now I just wait.

Craig