Big block chevy instantly shut off on me

[g356gear]

Hi guys,
Was coming home today from a car show, driving down the street, when the car shut off instantly and coasted to a stop. I tried to re-fire the car and it touched a couple times and then nothing so I got it flat decked home. It looks like I have no spark when I pull a spark plug lead at the distributor. The car is still on stock coil and points. Any ideas on where to start? Thanks for the input.

[Che70velle]

Pull the cap and spin the engine over with the starter, to see if the rotor is spinning. If so, are the points firing? You may need to clean them. If rotor isn’t turning, you have a timing set, or camshaft problem. Double check your electrical connections at the coil, and distributor. It’s a simple setup, there can’t but a couple of possible issues for no spark.
Personally, I’d go with a new electronic distributor and eliminate the chances of the points crapping out on you.

[g356gear]

Thanks for the input. I was actually thinking about making the change over to electronic ignition in the spring, but never had the time. My concern was that this was an instant off type of scenario, so thought maybe a coil issue. It’s always run perfectly before this.

[ULTM8Z]

yeah, instant off is most likely ignition. check the primary voltage to the coil.

[g356gear]

So I pulled the coil, and I had upgraded it from stock several years ago to a Pertronix coil. I was told the 0.6 ohm Flamethrower 2 was the model to use with stock points. Apparently I should have been given a 1.5 ohm Flamethrower 1, and this may be the reason the coil failed.

[69hugger]

Originally Posted by g356gear

So I pulled the coil, and I had upgraded it from stock several years ago to a Pertronix coil. I was told the 0.6 ohm Flamethrower 2 was the model to use with stock points. Apparently I should have been given a 1.5 ohm Flamethrower 1, and this may be the reason the coil failed.

Since you mentioned wanting to update to electronic ignition, I thought I would point out IF you decide on a Mallory Unilite conversion or distributor, they require a the use of a ballast resistor OR a 3 ohm coil. I learned this because I recently blew out 2 Unilite modules instantly by connecting a "regular" (low impedance) coil.
MSD does not offer a 3 ohm coil, but Pertronix does, which works perfectly with my Unilite.
Just FYI.

[Che70velle]

Originally Posted by 69hugger

Since you mentioned wanting to update to electronic ignition, I thought I would point out IF you decide on a Mallory Unilite conversion or distributor, they require a the use of a ballast resistor OR a 3 ohm coil. I learned this because I recently blew out 2 Unilite modules instantly by connecting a "regular" (low impedance) coil.
MSD does not offer a 3 ohm coil, but Pertronix does, which works perfectly with my Unilite.
Just FYI.

True. I have both a Unilite, and an MSD. I like the MSD better. I lost a Unilite module once as well, even with the correct resistor wired in.

[g356gear]

Dropped in a new coil today and it fired right up. Problem solved!

[Che70velle]

Originally Posted by g356gear

Dropped in a new coil today and it fired right up. Problem solved!

Good for you! Not too often a coil fails, but glad you figured it out, and it was a simple fix.