85 Chevy Elcamino, will not spark from the distributor…Why? Any suggestions?
February 25th, 2010 | 
Author: 
Browse the site to learn more about how to buy a used truck, trucks sell, used trucks for sale, antique fire trucks and more
I have an 1985 Chevy Elcamino with an 87 chevy elcamino small block 305 in it. I replaced the intake manifold and also the carburetor. The engine ran before in the 87 but it was totaled so now it is in a 85 but now I can't get the engine to fire. It turns over but I have no spark from the distributor to the motor. I have replaced the distributor, cap, rotor, coil, module. Everything is new, it still didn’t work. I made sure the ground to the coil is in place and that the dist. Even went as far to ground the dist. manually. I bought a whole distributor (accel) new battery, new plugs and wires, and the battery wire to the distributor reads 12+ volts. But a test light(which I made sure works) from the cap also says the cap isn’t spitting out power. The rotor is pointing at #1 and engine is at TDC. I tried to cut out the whole system to test it, cutting out the wiring but jumping it straight from the battery…nothing. What else could be keeping it from firing and how do I fix it?
It is assembled, ready to run…..just will not spark.
Serious Answers only please!
Turns out the Parts store gave me a distributor for a chevy van and when I took it back, they gave me a better brand of the same one. The module had 3 prongs which let to another pigtail. This was not for my application and the power was going out and couldn't complete a circuit. I made sure it was the right one, they said yes, so calling the manufacturer, they gave me the right part number. Turned the Key.....automatically started....after the engine sitting for 3 years...gotta love a chevy!. It cut off, has to be timed and adjusted. Problem SOLVED!!!
Thank you all for your help!
US $11,100.00
Posted in Used Fire Engine | 
Tags: 12 volts, 3 years, carburetor, chevy elcamino, chevy van, distributor cap, intake manifold, pigtail, prongs, rotor coil, tdc, test light
Sounds like the distributor is not turning,take the cap off and
turn the motor over while watching the rotor,if it is not turning
the roll pin in the dist.gear may be sheared or the timing chain
has problems.
I have also seen this happen when an engine had a broken
camshaft,but check timing chain first,do a compression check.
I don’t know how you use a test light to test for high voltage spark at the spark plugs or at the center post of the distributor that goes to the high voltage side of the ignition coil. You can use a vise grip pliers to clamp an old spark plug to the top of the engine and hook a spark plug wire from the distributor to it or hook it directly to the ignition coil output. Then crank the engine and watch for spark. I’m sure you’ve already done this, but to make sure, I’ll give you what I know about it. I wouldn’t crank the engine without the ignition coil spark output properly terminated in the spark tester because it’s possible you could damage the ignition coil or even the ignition module.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=BK&PartNumber=7002456&Description=Electronic+Ignition+Spark+Tester
what about the pick-up in the distributor? on the older GM they sometimes burn off the wire that goes to the pick-up. i know i had a 78 bonneville once and it let me sitting and that was what my problem was. you can see it if you pull the cap off. there,s a wire that goes on the pick-up and it burns off. you will have to pull the distributor and seperate the shaft to put it in. the new 1 is already factory adjusted so you won,t have to fool with that.
i had a 305 in a malabu . pull the dis cap and make sure that the rottor button is making contact the cap