Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

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!

If you remove the small coil electrical ground wire going from distributor terminal to coil terminal at the distributor and scratch that against the block do you get a spark. If so, look for something shorting or not closing inside the distributor when you readjusted the dwell.

Does a coil fail suddenly in this fashion? Could I have damaged it while setting the dwell?

No, or if it did it would an EXTREMELY rare occourance, and no.

The points opening and closing cause the coil to fire, build up a charge and re-fire over and over and over. More than likely the point gap needs to be checked, and reset if needed. Usually, when something stops working like you describe, go back and check the last thing you worked on. Stuff like this has happened to all of us. Hope this helps.

I'll wager you will find that you somehow got a bit of grease or something on the points and they have oxidized over and are not conducting. File em.

Truth to tell, I don't hardly trust most dwell meters. Set them babies to a snug .016" and you will have ignition happiness.

Thanks to all. I will try all these suggestions when I get some days off from work and cool off from the frustration of dealing with the ignition problems on this car. As soon as I get it squared away I will probably go for a pertronix electronic ignition. PS, in the mean time, I think I may have the incorrect condenser part installed...I suspect that may be part of my rough idle problems too. I have a NAPA Echlin RR175 part number in the 1954 Delco distributor for my L8 and looks like maybe it should be the NAPA Echlin RR174 or the Autozone U1511. I don't know how I got that RR175 part....maybe the sales guy at NAPA conjured it up for me. If anyone can confirm the right condenser for my '54 Delco distributor that would be great. I try to keep getting smarter..it's hard for an old guy.