Swapped Thunderbolt IV for Delco EST

[craig newton]

I replaced my thunderbolt IV ignition system with a Delco EST due to a lack of spark. With the tach and the shift interrupter switch disconnected for the first start up attempt it showed the no spark problem was fixed as there were bursts of flames shooting out of my Rochester 4 barrel carb about 4-5 inches. No backfiring. It acts like it would start if I kept cranking it. Would being off setting TDC cause this? I used the finger in the spark plug hole setting it and I may have been off some. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

 

[stresspoint]

if you haven't swapped any leads around then yes , you have not aligned TDC , compression stroke on #1 cylinder .
if you have room you may be able to crank the dizzy around enough to get it to run.it sounds as if you may have ignition retarded , but try both ways about 1/2 an inch either direction.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Your dizzy is 180 degrees out. You installed on "pft" not on "PPPFFFFTTT" with your finger over the hole

 

[Scott06]

Yeah probably set it on tdc on exhaust nit compression stroke.
verify firing order then check where it is on tdc on compression stroke. Both valves closed in number one…

 

[Lou C]

Yep that job is easier to do if you have the valve cover on the port side off so you can watch the valves...Both valves closed and the rotor in the distributor pointing to #1 terminal....

 

[craig newton]

Thank you everyone. I did in fact install the distributor 180 degrees off.

 

[Scott06]

Thank you everyone. I did in fact install the distributor 180 degrees off.

We all knew that because we have done the same … many times ..,

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thank you everyone. I did in fact install the distributor 180 degrees off.

We all knew that because we have done the same … many times ..,

BTDT

 

[stresspoint]

We all knew that because we have done the same … many times ..,

nah never .