Cobra now wont start.

[SR427COBRA]

Hi all,
i seem to be getting problems after problems with my SRV8 Cobra, after sorting my steering out, fuel pipe leak to the pump, an a new battery i had it running smoothly,even attended a little local show a couple of weeks back, all without a problem.
Then last weekend i thought with the weather dry i would have a little run out so after pushing the cobra out of the garage i tried to start her and with the engine cranking it just did`nt want to start, so after numerous turns i decided to check if the plugs were getting fuel, which they were.At this point i left it about 10 mins thinking maybe i flooded it, which in the years of owning it i`d never done before, i then returned and one click of the ignition had her started, great.
So a quick run out without a hitch back to my drive, stopped the engine outside my garage, a bit later i started her again in one click as is the norm reversed in the garage, cool down , car cover on ect, great.
So today pushed out of garage onto drive, tried to start , and would`t , so after numerous tries i check a plug again, not soaked in petrol as if flooded but surely enough to fire it up, and with the air filter off and looking at the Edelbrock carb there's petrol squirting down when the throttle linkage is pressed.
It just seems like its not sparking, but i was on my own so could`nt check this out to see if a plug is sparking, in the end i had to push it back in the garage until i can work the problem out, as i `m not sure whats wrong does anyone have any ideas.
Now i have the 420 hp Edelbrock package 350 Chevy, aluminum angle plug heads and never had a problem,i replaced the plugs to Champion RC12YC recently, gap .045, previous plugs were NGK R BKR5E, and the gaps on these when i looked before were slightly larger,but they had been in a while. I dont believe its the new plugs as i have mentioned its been running fine.
I also thought about my immobiliser but that completely cuts the cranking power, when its on so it can`t be that, so i not sure whats wrong, like i say it just seems there's nothing sparking , any ideas would be helpful, ohh, its the HEI Ignition it came with too, and nothings been touched with that ie timing, so its stuck in the garage again until sorted out,any ideas please,
Gary.

[Tommy]

Most American auto parts stores sell an inexpensive spark tester. It's a small open plastic box with electrodes screwed into opposite ends. You attach a spark plug wire to one electrode and connect the other electrode to the plug with a jumper cable. With the electrodes adjusted the proper distance apart, have someone crank over the engine while you observe the tester. If there is enough voltage for the spark to jump from one electrode across the gap to the other, you likely have enough spark to fire the plugs. If not, you have narrowed down the problem.

[Jaydee]

If you want to go cheap. Get an old spark plug, cut through the plug at the top of the threads with a hack saw whilst rotating the plug. So you are left with the electrode sticking out, and hose clamp a large alligator clip and a piece of wire bent over the electrode to make it jump the gap.
Then just clamp it to a bolt on the engine, and connect the HT lead to the plug head. You bend the wire to give you about an inch gap.
That's what we used in the RAA for years. Now we have a professional one with a screw adjusted in a plastic tube.
JD

[Ron61]

Another cheap way to see if you are getting fire to the plug. Get a remote starter, that way you don't have to have someone turn the motor over and I use mine a lot, then take off the easiest plug wire to get to. Make sure the car is in neutral and crank it over while holding the end of the wire that connects to the top of the spark plug near any ground. You should get a good spark that arcs to the ground. It will vary depending on the output of your ignition system, but you will know if your problem is with plugs or back toward the distributor. If you have one of the high energy ignition systems you may want to use an insulated wire holder to hold the wire.

Ron

[SR427COBRA]

Thanks for your replies, and yes i have got to check if the plugs are sparking, which i intend doing some time this week, then i can take it from there,
Gary.

[GT350Mike]

Your discription sounds exactly what I went through a few weeks ago. I cleaned the plugs twice before replacing them, checking the voltage to the coil, checked for spark, and had fuel but it was only firing on a few cylinders. Finally traced the problem down to a bad Pertronix ignition unit (side note....it's being replaced with an Accel system). Based on what I experienced with my ignition issues, I'd suggest taking another look at your HEI and make sure all of your cylinders are getting spark.

[joyridin']

This sounds like what happened on my HEI car also. I replaced the ignition module with a Petronix Flamethrower and all is well again. It even runs a lot better, so I can only assume the problem had been around for a while. My distributor only has about 2000 miles on it and I bought it brand new from Summit Racing, so the modules they use must not be of the highest quality.

[GT350Mike]

Minus the time on the dyno, I've got less than 2 hrs on my Pertronix. My engine builder lost the receipt and the date code has exceeded the 30 month warranty period, so my options are either buy another Pertronix direct at $20 off retail or go with the Accel. I know there are thousands of satisfied customers but unfortunately, I'm not one of them. Sorry for the rant.

Now back to the problem. Gary, I suggest installing an old HEI unit and see if the car will start. If it doesn’t start afterwards, then I’m tapping out on any further guidance……I don’t know Jack about 350s.