LUVTruck.com

Hi guys!

I have a 78' Chevy luv, not even sure if it is a 78' or 79'. I got it from my buddy who did a engine swap on it. I have receintly had the truck running. I went and replace the contact points on the distributer since they were so in need of some love. I then started to get the timming set on the beast. Well the Distributor had a lot of play and probably need to be replaced.

I have since got a new distributor and installed it. I now have a problem, I cant get the truck started. I'm not getting a spark from the coil wires. I replaced the rotor and cap, and distibutor and it wont seem to start. I have aligned the engine corectly on the number one cylinder with the distributor and have the contract points set at 1800's. I have also tried getting the distributor in when the engine is at 180 degree turn around, but the distributor will only go in one way. (All wires have been checked coil is working, power to distributor, everything checks out fine)

I first wanted to know if anyone has idea what the problem is, and also how to check to see what year the block is, maybe I have the wrong year of Luv and need to get the correct parts.

Thanks

I just ran into a case of a motor being assembled incorrectly such that the gear that drives the distributor was 180 out. The disti can only go in the right way, but the gear it hooks to can be put in wrong. I solved my problem by hooking the plug wires on 180 degrees turned. Swap wire 1 for 4 and 2 for 3 and you'll have a 180 switch equivalent to putting the disti backwards.

If you aren't getting spark, I'd guess the devil is in the wiring somewhere. You could try jumping from the coil directly to the post on the side of the distributor. Just hook from the disti to the side of the coil that doesn't have the resistor hooked to it. Also check to make sure the post on the side of the dist is not grounded out and that the condensor is hooked on solid.

If you still have it, I'd go back to the old distributor and verify you can get it to fire again. Once you get it going, you can swap points/cap/etc and check all your new parts. It should fire even timed a fair bit off from right, so I'm thinking either a wire is not on right, or some of the new parts are bad.

Oh yeah, on the casting #s. If the new disti fits and it has points in it, it is the right one. The other LUV motor styles either would not fit (72-75 motors) or the disti would have electronic insides.

I don't know of a translation method for finding the motor year, but the number is in the top of the block, passenger side on a tab that sticks out from under the head. Its just forward of the intake and usually covered in dirt/grease. The main number to look for is the model, G180 on the side of the block on the driver's side, just ahead of the motor mount. It could be a G200 (1.9L, slightly bigger motor) but the same disti will work in it.

Hope this helps.