dpstimpert

<Long time listener, first time caller>

Took my 67 (327/300) to Mike Bradley Automotive, because the car was not running on all 8 - won't idle at all. When the mechanic removed the ignition/distributor shield, the car ran great! So, he told me, the car needed wires, as he surmised the wires were arcing against something when the shield was in place. A set of wires later, SAME PROBLEM. Shield on, RUNS LIKE CRAP -- UNDRIVEABLE! Shield off, runs like it should. Thoughts?

Nowhere Man

Does he have the wires routed correctly and right lengths. It seems the wires are shorting out on the shielding

mid-year crisis

Is it the same cylinder again? If so, Did you check the plug that the wire is attached to? You may have a bad plug causing the high resistance. When did the problem start?

dpstimpert

The new set was pre-cut from Eckler's. Same problem as the old set. I assumed a new set would solve the arcing problem.

66jack

Does your shielding have the 'plastic' guard attached on the inside where it touches the wires....

scroll to bottom of page...

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....rt~A2~cadefibB

62Jeff

I'd bet the + wire off the side of the coil is shorting to the shielding, or the shielding has cut through the insulation where that wire comes up to the coil.

Powershift

Possibly in conjunction with a cap that has a slight crack at the top.

Another thing to check is whether the shielding cuts or rubs across one of the lower voltage ignition wires to the coil or the distributor points. This could also cause misfire.

This happened a lot with the fuel injected cars that required a special short distributor cap and 90 degree wire terminals. If the wrong stuff was installed, it also caused shorting and misfire.

Larry

65-StingRay

Agree with 66jack about the plastic shielding under your cover. Easy for arc to occur without it.

65-StingRay

65GGvert

Start it up in a dark room and look for the arc.

Geralds57

Wayne1964

coil grounding had the same issue

myronf

I agree with 62 Jeff as I had that problem also.

MikeM

The top shield shorting to the plug wires and the coil wire are common and known problems. The coil wire can have pretty bad results. If it becomes a dead short, you'll smoke your wire harness all the way to the dash.

65 vette dude

I pinched the blk/pk coil wire under my shielding. Smoke instantly bellowed out from under the hood. Within seconds I had the battery disconnected. It burnt the wire all the way back to the starter, along with several other wires. I vote for the dist. cap, or the plastic cover under the shielding.