Unable to Start Engine

Posted by steve828 On 2011/6/5 12:10:47

Well, here it goes again on the 1954 Packard Clipper Super!

Set the dwell angle to 28deg with a dwell meter car ran ok but a tiny bit rough (L8 327ci 165hp engine).

Checked the timing with a timing light..a tiny bit off after setting the dwell, so I went to adjust it a tiny bit.

After loosening the set screw and moving the distributor a tiny bit, could not get the car to start. Tried several adjustments of the distributor to get the timing to where the car would start..no luck.

A neighbor came over to help me push the car into the garage..he did a cursory check of disconnecting the coil wire from the top of the distributor cap. He held the wire against a grounded part of the engine compartment while I cranked the starter...no spark produced. Seems to indicate the coil isn't putting out a spark.

Does a coil fail suddenly in this fashion? Could I have damaged it while setting the dwell? (I bumped the distributor cam with the ignition switch quite a few times to get high point of the cam lobe in the correct spot).
Thanks Again!