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Starting the jeep

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by jasonthomasfrance, Jul 8, 2006.

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  1. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    To check for spark at the points with the key in the run position pull the points open to see if it sparks across them. Won't take much, just separate them to make the spark jump across.
     
    Glenn, Jul 14, 2006
    #21
  2. jasonthomasfrance

    jasonthomasfrance New Member

    jasonthomasfrance, Jul 14, 2006
    #22
  3. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Did you check to see if the points are sparking like Glenn suggested? If they're not I'd check for grounding, or more likely gap. Maybe a bad condensor.

    Use a feeler gauge to set the gap to 0.020" use a dwell meter to set the dwell to 23* I think.

    That's off the top of my head. A FSM is useful here to get actual values and see how to do stuff. ;)
     
    sparky, Jul 14, 2006
    #23
  4. jasonthomasfrance

    jasonthomasfrance New Member

    But if it is the points all jacked up, then I could just get a hei or pertronix and skip dealing with it, right? I'll be upgrading more stuff over the course of the next 6 months anyways (go to 11" drums, gas tank under bed, new gauges, etc...).

    Do I still have to deal with dwell and gapping on a hei/pertronixs?
     
    jasonthomasfrance, Jul 14, 2006
    #24
  5. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    HEI isn't an option at this point. It's Pertronix or what you have now.

    It's your Jeep. I just prefer to know what's wrong before replacing parts.

    Pertronix is a magnetic trigger system, no point gapping.

    Points systems are pretty simple to work on. It shouldn't be a problem to get it running with that first. Part of my reasoning is that if you can't fix this putting something in that more specialized isn't a wise idea, JMO.
     
    sparky, Jul 14, 2006
    #25
  6. Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    If you have power to the points and they and the condensor are working check the coil. This was Steve's problem at Windrock.
     
    Mcruff, Jul 14, 2006
    #26
  7. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    On the coil by the terminals there is a - sign and a + sign. The hot wire should be connected to the +, and the - should go to the distributor. Is it hooked up that way?
     
    Glenn, Jul 14, 2006
    #27
  8. jasonthomasfrance

    jasonthomasfrance New Member

    It's raining now... So I can't work on the jeep. I'll run to the autoparts store and pickup a feeler guage and a dwell meter... I think I have the Jeep Bible/Manual in storage. I should run over and dig that out too...

    The coil is to the left of the dizzy in the pics, right? The coil wires look like they are hooked up correctly.
     
    jasonthomasfrance, Jul 14, 2006
    #28
  9. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Sounds like a plan, and yup, that's the coil. If it's bad, they're cheap.
     
    sparky, Jul 14, 2006
    #29
  10. jasonthomasfrance

    jasonthomasfrance New Member

    I was searching for spark plugs on the board and saw a thread about Champion J8C plugs? I might as well get plugs at the auto store.
     
    jasonthomasfrance, Jul 14, 2006
    #30
  11. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Yup.
     
    sparky, Jul 14, 2006
    #31
  12. jasonthomasfrance

    jasonthomasfrance New Member

    Advance Auto said they didn't have a dwell meter. But I picked up a feeler guage, spark plugs, and a new coil. I also ordered a new set of plug wires...
     
    jasonthomasfrance, Jul 14, 2006
    #32
  13. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Gap will get you close enough.

    At tach/dwell/voltmeter will do more than just dwell, infinitely useful for setting idle speed, etc. So it's not a bad idea to have one even if you do put Pertronix in.
     
    sparky, Jul 14, 2006
    #33
  14. kiowamtp

    kiowamtp Member


    You should really really really (can not emphasize enough) get your JEEP running with points correctly first. Then a Petronix is a simple drop in and go. If not then you will be starting all over from step 1.
     
    kiowamtp, Jul 15, 2006
    #34
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