Dave and Jim,
I purchased a new cap, coil, rotor and module first thing in the morning. I switched the cap out of my old Birchaven just to give it a try and it
worked beautifully. Plenty of spark, but no fuel at that time.
After reading more on the web, I later came back and tapped the injectors with a hard plastic screw driver handle, Unplugged the injector connector
and plugged them back in and continued to crank. After about 3 seconds more with good spark the injectors clearly and visibly started to spray and the
engine started and ran very well. I let it sit for several minutes, several times and restarted the engine. It started each time immediately.
In conclusion, I believe Troy at Howell who within less then 5 min, had a good diagnosis and the coil in the old cap was bad. The coach which I am
rebuilding had 8,000 original miles and was in an auto collection for 30 years, but the previous owner also had another unit which he used much more
often as a tailgate vehicle to go to college football games. I assumed because the cap came from a unit with only 8,000 miles it most likely was in
better shape then the cap in my original unit (I was Wrong). Perhaps the 8,000 mile coach had its cap cannibalized at some point in its life.
It was mostly a matter of switching the old cap and coil, un plugging and plugging connectors back in. I would say the major issue was the coil and
perhaps needed more cranking or pump time. The new EBL, Distributor and EFI Kit worked well. I am happy and very much enjoyed the journey.
I hope this helps.
Take care,
Tom K.
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
I purchased a new cap, coil, rotor and module first thing in the morning. I switched the cap out of my old Birchaven just to give it a try and it
worked beautifully. Plenty of spark, but no fuel at that time.
After reading more on the web, I later came back and tapped the injectors with a hard plastic screw driver handle, Unplugged the injector connector
and plugged them back in and continued to crank. After about 3 seconds more with good spark the injectors clearly and visibly started to spray and the
engine started and ran very well. I let it sit for several minutes, several times and restarted the engine. It started each time immediately.
In conclusion, I believe Troy at Howell who within less then 5 min, had a good diagnosis and the coil in the old cap was bad. The coach which I am
rebuilding had 8,000 original miles and was in an auto collection for 30 years, but the previous owner also had another unit which he used much more
often as a tailgate vehicle to go to college football games. I assumed because the cap came from a unit with only 8,000 miles it most likely was in
better shape then the cap in my original unit (I was Wrong). Perhaps the 8,000 mile coach had its cap cannibalized at some point in its life.
It was mostly a matter of switching the old cap and coil, un plugging and plugging connectors back in. I would say the major issue was the coil and
perhaps needed more cranking or pump time. The new EBL, Distributor and EFI Kit worked well. I am happy and very much enjoyed the journey.
I hope this helps.
Take care,
Tom K.
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.