Resolved. - Dead in the field. Ignition module ?

[RobTwin]

Thanks Morgan. So are you still persisting with the orange box set-up?

[morgan]

Since chasing the other faults the final orange box is still there. Mounted it away from bulkhead to cool it a little, earth needs to be good too.

By the time wa thinking of daves kind HEI module i had sorted the rest. Figured that if it goes pop again then i will change. But i see pictures of engine bays with orange boxes rusted apart and they still run -so if they can last 30 odd years clearly i had something else wrong.

Thats my theory anyhow...

[Dave999]

yeah the 30 year old ones were made by 65 year old americans who took a bit of pride in what they were doing
and the components cost more than the box and heat sink

the new ones are made by small children in china using only their teeth and ingenuity
and the most expenive part is the box and the heat sink....no warranty claims likley to come in on a 40 year old car so no problem for mopar if they are a bit rubbish

my theory...possibly not an ounce of truth

but given consistency and quality in decrete electronic components should be better now than then the failures have to be down to either cheap rubbish components, and there is no reason to use unbranded tat given the minute price differential, or poor quality control in manufacture

that and the fact that the new part has to put up with being fed by a load of 40 year old parts

strange how the two igntion system that have not changed much at all since thier design in the late 60s i.e still descrete components

Mopar boxes and Analogue MSD 6s are slowy getting a reputation for being a bit tempermental

yet stuff based on more modern and current technicques i.e plastic packaged silicon chips

stay or more less the same...i.e fragile stuff still fails good stuff still works and you are more likley to see a failure on unbranded kit

the HEI stuff has gone the other way...when new considered great when they worked but had a reputation for failing due to thermal breakdown or failing to deliver up to designed RPM

now even the cheap ones work well and last a reasonable amount of time unless truly abused....

Dave

[RobTwin]

Dave.... anyone?

Do you know if that GM HEI module is readily available from any UK suppliers, or only US/Aus suppliers?

Fancy getting hold of one asap...

Ta

[Dave999]

US automotive had them i believe

I have a spare
Kev the blaster/scaffolder/guardian of chickens/omlette king with the silver corvette has a spare via JohnR

if you want one i can bring one to work tomorrow
just order me a new one for before the HRDs

Unit 1 wolesley Buiness park Tolpits lane watford WD189RN

this is the cheapest, branded with English instructions, on ebay at the mo.
and is the same brand as mine

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E-TRON-D1906- ... 5ae2ce2e7c


here is your ebay search string for checking in future

(AC DELCO,Wells,petronix,car quest,Napa, niehoff,Borg Warner,GM,Mallory,jegs,moroso) (DM 1906,D1906,ACC35361,aCC35367,D2000,21040,ECH TP45, Dr400 ,CBe4,cbe22,10482820,607,555-40600,97857) (module,hei,)


run them with no ballast and a 12 volt coil i.e blaster, lucas 12 volt any magnetti marelli or Bosch 12 volter off a 6 or 8 cylinder mid 80s car or the stand alone original HEI coil off a late 70s 6 cylinder chevy truck not the coil in cap one off the corvette and other swish cars it has no spur connector for the king lead due to the rotor button connecting direct into a port in the coil when it is mounted in the cap

Dave

[RobTwin]

Thanks for the offer Dave

Normally, I might take you up on that and come meet you in Watford (i work near J4 of the M1) but I'm on hols next week and Stu the next, so I wouldnt be able to get it to him for a while, so.... I'll see if he can get one from US Automotive as it's up his way (well, nearer him than me).

We'll try and get one of the resin filled MSD Blaster 2 coils that you can mount laying down. Theyre black too; a bit more in keeping with the stock look

[Dave999]

no probs


Thus

[RobTwin]

Yes, looks simples

Mind you, so did the FBO kit

[morgan]

Bang. Dead again.

Used this morning good as gold. Went to start her up for return journey - dead as a dodo.

Not checked anything yet - returned home to get spare voltage reg. hoping thats it otherwise she is spending the night outside somewhere strange
As I said, not checked yet but 10:1 thats it. I am currently in a foul mood.

Anyone got an orange box i can borrow for a couple of hours ?
Failing that its a morning off work and some furious ringing round.

[Adrian Worman]

I still got the spare you used before, pop over to MK if you're desperate mate

[morgan]

Thanks ade. Just retrieved spare vol reg, heading down to car to try that.
Otherwise, will call and pop over.

If it IS this again its all going in the bin. All in one new 12v system. I'm done with it... !

Speak later. Thanks dude.

[morgan]

Home safe. Oh the shame. All fine. Vapourized fuel not ignition. Oh and owner paranoia. More later . What a knob.

Update -
Right, here is the whole gory story, posted mainly for the amusement of all and the embarressment of me. Hey - not too proud...

Scorching day, fired her up, headed down to mummy house for a visit. Went to head home again, car simply wouldnt start. Nothing - not even trying. In short all the symptoms that I had during the horrible period last year where I could sort the ignition module problem. (which I was pretty sure was cured).

Rather than flatten the battery I elected to cut my losses, sort out a way to get home, dump the car and try go find parts. Furious rage, much cursing etc etc. I was *sure* it was the same thing. Yes, I should have checked for a spark first, but it was like 30deg and standing in the open wasnt holding much appeal. I decided to head off, get parts, come down and confirm diagnosis when it was cooler...

Before I went I removed voltage reg and took it home to check (the last one I fried lost continuity). I knew I had a spare one so it would be worth a go if the ignition module had survived.

Off I plod. Post on board, rummage through garage, kind offer by Ade "hero" Worman to borrow ECU if I needed it. This was great, as it meant I would be able to get car home if that was problem.

Checked voltage reg on bench, seemed OK (at least it had connectivity). Few hours later - Took spare back down to car anyway, lashed up some connections and tried her.
Car started right up. Ahha ! I think. That was it. Very happy.
Decided to confirm diagnosis by installing original voltage reg. Car fired right up. What the ?!?!?

Then it dawns on me.
Very VERY hot day. very VERY hot engine bay. When I tried to start he she was spinning really fast and not even trying to fire (as you would with just air). No fuel.... guess the heat was evaporating in the pipe/bowl and the fuel pump couldnt purge the air until it cooled or something.

Either way, here are the lessons I have learned -
1) Hot hot hot can mean evaporation. Always check the obvious (i.e. fuel) before stomping off in a huff.
2) Even though it was absolutely fine clearly I have been psychologically damaged through last years ECU probs. I instantly assumed this was it AGAIN. I must ensure I carry a spare at all times for my own sanity even though I will probably never use it.
3) Voltage regulators are more use in the boot than in the garage miles away.

So - hot, bothered but ultimately car is fine. Red face and cross wife for me wasting sunday.

Final shout to Ade Worman. The man is a legend. Thanks bud.

[RobTwin]

Feel your pain Morgan

Stu's ordered one of the GM HEI thingys and an MSD gel-filled coil to replace our FBO black box & FBO std coil so I'll let you know how we get on when the new set-up is on and tried'n'tested

Ash (68 GTX ) recommended an MSD ign module so that will be the next step if we still have trouble, but I'm hoping the GM module will be sufficient to make a reliable set-up

[Charger]

Hot hot hot can mean evaporation

easily done chap, glad you got it sorted

have you got the exhaust crossover passage thro the intake manifold open??

I had starting problems everytime I left the car for 10 mins when it was hot, blocked off the exhaust crossover passage a couple of years back and not had any trouble since

[Adrian Worman]

Just something brand new to throw in the mix and consider.....
Made a huge hp increase on an RB in one of Mopar Muscles dunk tech articles

http://www.thertgarage.com/products.html

Good website too check out all their other Bananarama!