Update: replaced condenser. Car started right up. I am pretty sure that this is the first dead in the water condenser I have ever had. Appreciate all the input and suggestions

Where are points and condenser available for a 53 288? Is there an NAPA listing? Thanks

Ok, I disconnected the positive lead from the distributor. Pulled coil wire from rotor cap. Turned key to on position. Touched coil wire to block. Nothing. Decided to check continuity of coil wire…5-10 ohm! Not what I expected to read, but I haven’t ever measured that wire before. Thoughts?

Howard, I appreciate your help but honestly I’m not sure what you are telling me to do.

1. Disconnect distributor power wire. This is the same wire connected to positive side of coil.

2. Pull coil wire from distributor cap

3. Touch end of coil wire to block.

4. When I pull coil wire from block it should spark.

Is that correct?

Do I crank motor?

Do I just turn key to on position?

Good thought on the wires. I rechecked them today. Just pulled plug and cranked motor. No spark

Voltage on distributor dropped to .01 when cranked. Voltage on negative side of coil about 6 volts. Is that correctly operating?

I will check and report what I find

All,

I have pulled the distributor out and adjusted the gap to .017. I have retired motor to be sure I am about 7 degrees before TDC. I have tested all wires in distributor and to the unit for continuity. All check good. I have 6+ volts on the positive side of the coil and to the distributor.


Cranked car…not firing.

Gas is spraying in carb

Tried starting fluid. Not firing

Background - changed distributor with exact same distributor from MM. car ran well. Decided to change plugs, coil, cap and rotor. Car started and then stopped. That was last fall. Quick investigation found rotor hit cap or radio filter popped out and hit cap. Ordered new cap and rotor. Car sat all winter and this spring started on it again. Has not fired since. Changed to old coil and back . Nothing. I don’t think I’m getting spark from distributor.

What am I missing?

The starter is turning slower than what I usually expect. What voltage is required to jump the plug gap? I suspect a dead cell.

All,

I have a 53 Packard with a 288. I had to replace the distributor back in the winter. Installed and it cranked right up and ran perfectly. Came back to it a few weeks later and it wouldn’t start. No spark. Found that rotor button was broken. The brass had popped out between the center and the outside contact. Ordered and it will not start. I’ve had several people help me with this problem that are not Packard peeps. Wondering if the wiring on the coil could have been incorrectly installed. Should the positive side of the coil connect to distributor or should the negative side? I put a meter on the coil with power and I get a bit over 6 volts on both sides of the coil. I have checked the point gap and have it at .017. Timing is at 6 btdc. Carb is spraying gas into cyl. Need some help