68 Corvette Ignition Trouble ??

Yesterday while on a nice drive my 68, 427, started running rough and within a mile quit running. It will try to start but won't stay running. When I check the voltage at the coil it is a very constant 7.29 volts with the ignition on but the car not running. Any ideas....seems it should be 12v or nothing....the 7.29 is unusual. This is why it will try to start but the

7volts isn't enough to make it stay running when you give it a little gas....the spark requirement is more than the coil and produce with this voltage. Any ideas???? Thanks for looking and hopefully someone has had a similiar problem. The timing and dwell is right. Thanks, Mike in Morgantown, PA
Reply to
alvamike
Loading thread data ...

Sounds like an aging ballast resistor or 'resistive link' in the hot side of the coil wiring.

I don't have the diagram for that engine but that vintage of cars used a ballast resistor in series with the coil. Identify this by two wires going to the 'hot' side of the coil. One comes from the starter solenoid. ItThat wire provides 12 volts to the coil for a hotter spark while the engine cranks. The other wire goes to the ballast resistor and it provides something between 6 and 8 volts after you quit cranking.

The ballast resistors were originally in a white ceramic housing on the firewall. Sometime around the late '60s and early 70s they saved money by putting a 'resistive link' in the harness. Might be near fuse block.

Reply to
PJ

Reply to
alvamike

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.