1968 IH C1100 V8 345hp Need Help! (SOLVED)

Recon Strider

New member
New spark plugs (there is spark), new distro cap, new points, new coil, new fuel pump (works 5psi key in on position not running), rebuilt carb, free and clear air system, new fuel filter (not clogged), all electrical plugs and grounds checked okay and the timing is within service manual. Sputters on crank but will not fire up. I'm at a loss, any ideas?
 
Did the engine start and run for you before these items were replaced? Was the distributor removed at all? When the spark plugs were removed, were they done all at once or one at a time? Plug wire routing done correctly? What brand of spark plugs? Are they gapped properly? Points gapped properly? Is the carb float bowl full of fuel? Is the accelerator pump sending squirts of fuel when the throttle linkage is blipped?
 
Recon, you could add your location to your posts and if someone was nearby they might come over to assist you.
I have done just that in my local area in NC.

In your first post here at IHPA you stated that you have a '62 Scout 80.
Now you state that you have a '68 C1100. Is this a Travelall, Travelette or Pickup?

Your Photos are always welcome of your vehicles and the areas you have questions about.
 
Did the engine start and run for you before these items were replaced? Was the distributor removed at all? When the spark plugs were removed, were they done all at once or one at a time? Plug wire routing done correctly? What brand of spark plugs? Are they gapped properly? Points gapped properly? Is the carb float bowl full of fuel? Is the accelerator pump sending squirts of fuel when the throttle linkage is blipped?

Yes the truck did run before replacement, however right after I parked it after a drive she went completely dead. I tried Distro cap movement and troubleshoot after she went dead. Spark plugs (Acdelco) were removed, gapped and replace all together at the same time. Plug wire is correct. Points are within degree limits via service manual. Did complete rebuild on carb with new float and adjusted the flow according to Holley requirements.
 
Recon, you could add your location to your posts and if someone was nearby they might come over to assist you.
I have done just that in my local area in NC.

In your first post here at IHPA you stated that you have a '62 Scout 80.
Now you state that you have a '68 C1100. Is this a Travelall, Travelette or Pickup?

Your Photos are always welcome of your vehicles and the areas you have questions about.

I'm in Montana. It is reflected in my profile. I have several old vehicles, this one is the 68 C1100 pickup, which same engine but different body, also I did state the engine in the topic title so not sure why that would matter. Is there a difference other than the body between the two? I can add pictures later.
 
With the gear driven timing system in these engines, (no chain) you won't encounter a situation where the static ignition timing would adjust itself, aside from catastrophic gear failure, which is a very rare event. So if the timing was close enough to run once before, it was just as close when it failed to re-start, up to the point that a distributor adjustment happened. You replaced a lot of parts all at once. Some, perhaps even most of which were probably still serviceable. People have a tendency to confuse a systematic diagnostic approach with replacing parts in a spray and pray fashion. They are vastly different. One is fairly cheap, but takes some time and a bit of know how to pull off, while the other gets expensive in a hurry and offers lottery like odds of success. Even if you had gotten it re-started after all those replaced items, you wouldn't have the foggiest clue which item was actually at fault. You learn nothing about what condition your condition was in by taking the shotgun approach. The right way to go is perform basic tests in a logical and methodical manner. When you identify a component that has demonstrably failed, only then do you replace that one item. Lather, rinse and repeat until function has been restored.

Let's start at the beginning. Step one is you need a fully charged battery with clean terminals and tight cable connections. Don't guess at the battery state of charge. $6.99 at Hobo Fright Tulz gets you a digital volt meter if you don't already have one. If the battery shows under 12.5v, charge it up before going further. With a verified fully charged battery, switch the key to ON and probe the coil positive terminal to see whether or not you have voltage there. If you do, it will most likely be less than 12v. That's fine. We just want to see something there. Don't forget to switch the key back off after the test. If you have no power there, you just found a problem that has to be remedied before you can go any further. Assuming you have power to the coil, pull any spark plug you wish, install the wire boot back onto it, and place it close to a ground source where a spark can be observed by someone while the starter is cranked. Is there a spark there able to jump a small air gap to ground? Great. Reinstall the plug and the wire. You've verified that your ignition system is making fire. Whether it's happening at the right time remains to be seen. If no spark was observed, then we have to take a step back and find out why. That will involve a closer look inside the distributor and perhaps further testing of the ignition coil. If spark was observed, you can now turn your attention to the fuel delivery system.

I asked you in my first post if the carb float bowl is full of fuel and if the fuel squirters inside the carb are squirting fuel when you hand blip the throttle. You didn't answer either question. Saying the carb has been rebuilt tells me nothing. Why did you all of a sudden feel the need to rebuild it? How do I know it was done correctly or if quality repair parts were used? What we need to know right now is A. is there fuel inside the carb? and B. is fuel making it's way into the combustion chamber via the squirters when you hand blip the throttle? If you have adequate atomized fuel and air reaching the combustion chamber and spark happening anywhere near the right time, the engine should at least pop off. That's pretty much a universal law of internal combustion. So you have some more work to do. This should be plenty to keep you busy for awhile.
 
With the gear driven timing system in these engines, (no chain) you won't encounter a situation where the static ignition timing would adjust itself, aside from catastrophic gear failure, which is a very rare event. So if the timing was close enough to run once before, it was just as close when it failed to re-start, up to the point that a distributor adjustment happened. You replaced a lot of parts all at once. Some, perhaps even most of which were probably still serviceable. People have a tendency to confuse a systematic diagnostic approach with replacing parts in a spray and pray fashion. They are vastly different. One is fairly cheap, but takes some time and a bit of know how to pull off, while the other gets expensive in a hurry and offers lottery like odds of success. Even if you had gotten it re-started after all those replaced items, you wouldn't have the foggiest clue which item was actually at fault. You learn nothing about what condition your condition was in by taking the shotgun approach. The right way to go is perform basic tests in a logical and methodical manner. When you identify a component that has demonstrably failed, only then do you replace that one item. Lather, rinse and repeat until function has been restored.

Let's start at the beginning. Step one is you need a fully charged battery with clean terminals and tight cable connections. Don't guess at the battery state of charge. $6.99 at Hobo Fright Tulz gets you a digital volt meter if you don't already have one. If the battery shows under 12.5v, charge it up before going further. With a verified fully charged battery, switch the key to ON and probe the coil positive terminal to see whether or not you have voltage there. If you do, it will most likely be less than 12v. That's fine. We just want to see something there. Don't forget to switch the key back off after the test. If you have no power there, you just found a problem that has to be remedied before you can go any further. Assuming you have power to the coil, pull any spark plug you wish, install the wire boot back onto it, and place it close to a ground source where a spark can be observed by someone while the starter is cranked. Is there a spark there able to jump a small air gap to ground? Great. Reinstall the plug and the wire. You've verified that your ignition system is making fire. Whether it's happening at the right time remains to be seen. If no spark was observed, then we have to take a step back and find out why. That will involve a closer look inside the distributor and perhaps further testing of the ignition coil. If spark was observed, you can now turn your attention to the fuel delivery system.

I asked you in my first post if the carb float bowl is full of fuel and if the fuel squirters inside the carb are squirting fuel when you hand blip the throttle. You didn't answer either question. Saying the carb has been rebuilt tells me nothing. Why did you all of a sudden feel the need to rebuild it? How do I know it was done correctly or if quality repair parts were used? What we need to know right now is A. is there fuel inside the carb? and B. is fuel making it's way into the combustion chamber via the squirters when you hand blip the throttle? If you have adequate atomized fuel and air reaching the combustion chamber and spark happening anywhere near the right time, the engine should at least pop off. That's pretty much a universal law of internal combustion. So you have some more work to do. This should be plenty to keep you busy for awhile.

(SOLVED)
I found the issues. Was not getting spark after the distributor cap through the plug wire because the condenser was bad. Was not getting proper voltage from the wiring harness attachment at the firewall to the distributor, so I cleaned the attachment and then that was all good. One of the jets was partially plugged (must have been old settlement) so I cleaned that with a sewing needle which cleared it up. The truck is up and running and purring like a kitten now. I will retain a full copy of this form for future reference.

As per the first paragraph, I'm not the type to just start replacing parts if I think they don't work. Everything except the coil ($35.49 oh I'm broke now) was replaced for a reason along the way. I bought this from some guy I never met before, I don't know what he "honestly" did to it prior. For example the voltage regulator. I know that has nothing to do with the ignitions system. I replaced it because there was none there when I got the truck. I was born before the 90's in MONTANA (which is like 30years behind every state). You should reread that paragraph and look at you're word choices. They are actually quite rude and you assumed or grouped (or as I like to say ass-umed because those who do only make themselves look like an a$$) me with "people". You are a moderator and should know better than that and now I am hesitant to even post here again if I'm to be talked to like that. I did not give the entire work history of the truck simply because it was irrelevant as it would have not help with the current problem. If you would like I can give you the history step by step up until that point?
I felt I needed to rebuild the carb because the diaphragm was in really bad shape (ruptured), it was leaking fuel on bottom drivers side mounting bolt which caused damage to the fuel bowel gasket. The float had a small crack on the opposite side which was filling it with fuel slowly and the orange needle on the float and spring assembly was (what looked liked) cut short? Previous owner perhaps, not sure. I did contact Holley on it and they recommended replacement or rebuild kit since the fuel bowel assembly was not damaged. The pump lever assembly would also, at full throttle, compress very slowly down so I made adjustments there.
 
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