I have this posted under help from above because I want to make the Puyallup show!! Summary The car hasn't been running right, down on power etc. It didn't want to run right unless I had the timing advanced to 10 whereas the book calls 2 1/2 with the 10.25 compression. I also couldn't get it to run right without octane booster. The points were old, so I figured that was part of the problem. I also want to get rid of the need for octane booster, it's expensive and I shouldn't need it. I have no octane booster in the tank right now, plugs with probably about 1000 miles on them, and I just installed Pertronix ignitor 2, with the flamethrower 2 coil, new cap, rotor and wires last night. It still wanted the timing at about 7 to 7 1/2, so a little advanced, but not as bad. Took her to work this morning for the shakedown cruise and she idles a little rough in neutral and wants to die at an idle in gear. I got some pinging when I get on it too. I know my timing is advanced beyond what it's suppose to be so I figured that I would try and tune it a little better and get it to run with the timing set closer to factory spec's. I messed with the idle and mixture and got it timed to about 2 1/2 or a little better. It's running better and not wanting to die in neutral, but not right. I messed with the choke and noticed that it's a little too open when at an idle, so I have that a little better. It's taking a little cranking to get it started, but things are better. I messed with the choke a little more and it's not starting, so I go open the choke and make sure it stays open, then go to start it. Nothing. Not so much as a click. I turn the key off and give it a minute, nothing. I mess with the gear selector and nothing. (it's an automatic). At this point I'm sure that I just dumped the neutral safety switch. My chiltons is all cars, like 64 - 71 and it's section on neutral safety switches is non Buick specific and is about a paragraph and tries to generically tell you where all the various makes throughout the year range of the book put the switch. I went back out and it started right up! Will the solenoid get warm and shut down? I've never had it do that on any car before, except when the neutral safety switch went out. I didn't crank it long enough to have caused excess heat either. Any ideas? I'm not sure that I'm going up to the big city to the Buick show with an issue like this. I wasn't sure I would if I couldn't get the tunning any better, but this could be a much bigger problem, especially since my co pilot will be my four year old daughter.
I would check and make sure your battery cables are clean. I have a 66 Nova SS that did the same exact thing. I cleaned the cables and have not had the problem again...I have had multiple issues with stock starters, I have blown them to bits with too much timing. I just bought a gear reduction starter and hope it will last for a while..:Comp:
Got her running and off to the show! Not sure with the thing not wanting to crank the one time. Cables were just off and clean when I put the Pertronix in. As for throwing it out, I've heard a ton of guys that have had it on for years with no trouble, and I've heard of a few who had trouble with them. I wanted to get rid of the points. They are not cheap like when I was a kid, and they are high maintenance, especially around here in a car that sits 5 or 6 months a year. Very wet climate around here. I remember over 3 feet of rain in one month not too long back. Wet even for here, but not way out of line for a November, couple that with the ocean air and it's not good. Even rigs that are stored in a garage and not run will develop issues with electronics. It was the best option that I could come up with. I do still have all my points stuff and the tools in the trunk though, just in case.
