Sank the 'ol girl!?!

[Mrzoooom]

Ok so I'll save you all the details...meanwhile she was completely submergered tip to tail. I got her out within an hour. It took me another week to source a new starter. I did inject a few ounces of lubricant into each of the eight cylinders. Anyway, I drained the oil x 2 and disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled my Quadrajet. I cleaned all wiring contacts, etc. I even siphoned out the fuel, (about 3 inches of water below the gas in a 5 gallon Gerry bottle) and poured the gas back into the tank)

Anyway, I cranked off a fresh bottle of fuel, no start...I cranked off the tank, no start...I get it to turn over for a moment from starter fluid... that's it.

So what do I do next???

 

[alldodge]

Start by what motor?

 

[Mrzoooom]

Sorry, 92 5.7, Thunderbolt IV...alpha 1 ...

 

[Scott06]

Sorry, 92 5.7, Thunderbolt IV...alpha 1 ...

Are you getting clean gas to the carb and a strong spark? Was fuel filter changed ? Might be water in the line. Dribble gas down carb someone cranks it should be able to keep it running if u have spark wnd fuel contamination is the issue

 

[Scott Danforth]

Did you change the oil?

 

[nola mike]

Fresh or salt water?

 

[mrzooom]

Yes, changed oil 2x so far. Fresh water only. I will drain fuel and replace with fresh today...can the water corrode or short the ignition module? I will check voltage at the coil as well...

 

[Scott06]

Yes, changed oil 2x so far. Fresh water only. I will drain fuel and replace with fresh today...can the water corrode or short the ignition module? I will check voltage at the coil as well...

Yeah I would pull the distributor cap and look for corrosion. Yes ignition module and sensor in distributor would likely get smoked if they went swimming


The TBV ignition is fantastic until you need the module which is crazy money . I bought a spare on eBay years ago for $200 but don’t see many anymore. Otherwise the Delco est is a great relatively drop in replacement

 

[nola mike]

Yes, changed oil 2x so far. Fresh water only. I will drain fuel and replace with fresh today...can the water corrode or short the ignition module? I will check voltage at the coil as well...

Module is sealed fwiw. I dunked mine in brine, every positive wire corroded. Ign module and sensor still work going on the second summer though.

 

[mrzooom]

Ok, so I do have a back up ignition module... should I replace cap, rotor, sensor and wires and plugs while I'm in here?
Oh, and are coils for the TB IV cross compatible with older non-TB IV system?

 

[alldodge]

Check for spark, see if it's white of blue and will jump over 1/4 inch

 

[mrzooom]

So in re process of elimination, can I swap out the coil for a new one I had lying around for my old 140 (points style)???
I've got spark (yellowish/reddish) and yes it arcs over 1/4 inch....

so on another.note, now I'm wondering if my mechanical fuel pump is somewhat clogged up as was my carb...so today I cleaned and/or replaced fuel lines and valve, etc. At one point it seemed to be fluid so to speak but then after cranking, it did not seem to be sucking nor delivering to the carb suddenly.
I'll try again tomorrow. Thanks for listening!

Scott

 

[Scott Danforth]

Probably crud in tank

 

[alldodge]

The TB coil has internal resistance, points coil uses external resistance. Look at the coils and see if it is printed on it

 

[mrzooom]

I knew there might be a difference...anyway, Yes, It says "external"...so what aftermarket coil can I buy?

 

[Bondo]

I knew there might be a difference...anyway, Yes, It says "external"...so what aftermarket coil can I buy?

Ayuh,..... Yer problem, ain't the coil,......

 

[nola mike]

I've got spark (yellowish/reddish) and yes it arcs over 1/4 inch....

If you decrease the gap does the spark change color?
Do you even know if there's a problem yet? Id be very surprised if the module had a part failure here. If you have 12v to the module and the connection is clean, you're probably good

 

[mrzooom]

I'll verify...and report back...

Thanks for the support.

 

[nola mike]

If you decrease the gap does the spark change color?
Do you even know if there's a problem yet? Id be very surprised if the module had a part failure here. If you have 12v to the module and the connection is clean, you're probably good

Part failure = "partial failure"

 

[mrzooom]

Yeah, now I have fuel but no spark...so Delco est conversion?