Starting the jeep

Howdy,

I towed my 59 CJ5 from Texas this week.
http://www.jasonthomasfrance.com/photos/vehicles/cj_1959/index.php?image=towing.the.cj5.02.jpg
http://www.jasonthomasfrance.com/photos/vehicles/cj_1959/index.php?image=cj5.in.va.jpg

So I'm trying to start the jeep. I've got gas going into the carb. I've got the engine turning over. But I don't think I have spark. The wiring is pretty simple. So I'm wondering what I am missing. It might be the spark plugs. But I'd like to rule them out before replacing them...

Here's a pic:
http://www.jasonthomasfrance.com/photos/vehicles/cj_1959/index.php?image=engine.bay.02.jpg

All I'm doing is touching the red and blue wires together to get it to turn over. But I don't think I'm getting spark or getting juice to the spark plugs... Any thoughts?

 

i assume you don't have a working ignition switch to turn on ???

You need to run a hot wire to the + side of the coil.

JB

 

Firing order correct? Timing?

Spark plug gap: 0.030 in. (0.762 mm)
Spark plug torque: 25-33 lbs. ft. (34-44 Nm)
Firing order: 1-3-4-2
Distributor rotation: Counterclockwise
Point gap: 0.020 in. (Prestolite)
Dwell angle: 42 degress
Ignition timing: 5 degress BTDC

 

Sounds like you'e only putting power to the starter that way, you have to have power going to the ignition system too.

 

I tried touching the red wire off the coil(?) to the blue and red wire at the same time... But I'll have to look to make sure its connection is good. I'll try it again tomorrow. It's getting too dark to fool around with the engine...

*edit*

Okay, so I ran out there again quick. I put the wire running off the + side coil (next to the engine/dizzy) on the + of the jumper cable. I put the negative side of the jumper on the starter. And I touched the blue and red wires off the ignition(?) together. The engine turned over but when I took a spark plug out I didn't see a spark when the engine was turning over. I should, right? Tomorrow I'll hunt up a multimeter and push it into the plug wire to see if juice is coming through...

 

I know you're eager to get it running, but I'd really suggest you take the time to get the wiring at least halfway right first. At least the ignition circuit. I understand the eagerness to create fire and make smoke, but you don't want to create the wrong kind of fire and smoke, ya know? A little bit of extra work now can save a whole lotta unnecessary and unpleasant (and expensive!) work later. Just my 2 cents.

 

after you get the ignition switch installed, check to see if you have power to the coil when you have the key turned to the on postion, and no power when the key is off. that way you know the switch is right. then check if you have spark out of the coil. if not that could be the problem, OR the condessor in the distributer. I know cause that happened to me last week.

 

Well, my little tester light isn't working and I can't find my multimeter. I ran the wires to a switch. Now it's harder to shock myself.

I'll have to hunt around for my multimeter or go get a little cheap tester tomorrow.

 

Morning everybody!

I got a multimeter and I'm not getting electricity passed the dizzy, but it's getting to the coil(?). Under the dizzy cap the numbers are IAT 1041 on my F134. Is that a points system? If so, should I just purchase a Pertronix or HEI replacement... I'd like to upgrade the whole system...

Quadratrac looks like it has two kits:
http://www.quadratec.com/products/17612_005.htm Pertronix part 1541 from page http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Tech/Ignition.html
- and -
http://www.quadratec.com/products/17612_007.htm (for autolite dizzy) when I look up Pertronix on the Quadratec search page...

Some other posts mention the pertronix ignitor kit# 1548?

I found some good info on: http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25981&page=2&highlight=Pertronix

Am I getting ahead of myself? Should I just keep troubleshooting with the multimeter?

 

The wiring on the jeep is pretty much homegrown, so it stays on the inside of the engine bay. I'll check the wiring from the coil to the dizzy.

If I've got a points system, I'd like to replace it. But I see where you are coming from with making sure the electrical is working before playing swap.

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/CJs/jasonthomasfrance-1959-cj5-engine-electical-setup.jpg

 

Yep. I see what you mean. I thought you meant from the engine bay through the firewall and back. I'll shoot a pic and then check out the grounding.

Cap on
http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/CJs/jasonthomasfrance-1959-cj5-distributor-01.jpg

Cap off
http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/CJs/jasonthomasfrance-1959-cj5-distributor-02.jpg