'77 GTB 2 Pertronix Units in one dizzy. Started the car after a long down time (belts, hoses, fuel lines, new AC system, etc...). Ran fine and idles ~800 RPM, but the timing was not right as I'd just set the posts on the rear dizzy at PM1_4 and front dizzy at PM5_8. The exhaust was facing INTO the garage so I did not want to suffocate myself. Finally got around to getting most of the last pieces done, aired up the tires and put it on the ground. Turn engine over, it winds for about 2-seconds and bonk...it stops. Almost sounds like a mechanical sound but not really. For a second I thought I'd left a wrench on the flywheel when I was turning it over....nope. Battery? Nope, I charged it that day and it said 13.5V. In gear, nope, car will roll in the garage back/forth just fine. Hit the starter again and the starter just goes clunk (engages but won't turn the engine). Clutch stuck to flywheel...nope, again - it rolls fine and it turned over and started a few weeks ago. Took the RR off and I can turn it over by hand. Started checking electrical and found that one coil +12V connection to the Pertronix was lose. Tightened it up and it started. Pulled it out and turned the car around. Had to close up shop and did not get to set the timing. Went to set the timing today and it would not start at all. Turns over, caughs, spits gas, sputters and wants to start, but will not catch. Pump is running, and I'm 99% sure it's getting spark but it's possible it's not (12V at the coil when I put the key in the start position). The looked into the carbs and fuel was flowing when I pushed the throttle into both passenge side carbs (could see it squirt out that little 90° bend) but NOT the driver side carbs at all. Why would gas suddenly stop flowing out only one side? How can I verify that I'm getting spark? B/C it sure seems like that it's not getting spark (gas spitting out the carbs). Both dizzy's are tight so they can't be rolling around screwing up the timing. My next step is going to be to take off the RR, roll the engine over and verify that both dizzy's are at TDC. Then pull the jets out and make sure they are clear. Need some help here and I'm not 100% where to go after that.
Timing. Double checked everthing, locked down tensioners before I buttoned everything up. It's frustrating b/c it ran fine 1-month ago. I think it's spark b/c I have gas, just no ignition.
Back to basics. Are you getting a good, FAT spark from the king leads (coil to distributor)? -you need someone to turn the engine over while you hold the lead (with rubber gloves) close to an earth point. Also, have a good look at the rotor arms to see if there is any tracking there. An old trick. Try turning over the engine in the dark to see if the current is going where it shoudn't.
Did you check the plugs? Could they be fouled? What's with the starter motor is the engine cranking now?
Firstly you say that yoiu installed 2 Pertronix? If so that is the only distributor to set timing. I set that bank at TDC with the rotor pointed to the red line as a start, It should be close. Are you sure the advance weights are free? I had one that started then advanced and stuck, needed to r&r to clean and free up, then things went fine, had to rotate one spline at the cam dissie drive to retard enough to allow setting at 10deg BTDC idling. definitely a timing issue on yours. I am about to do a third car next week, twin pick ups, magnecor wires, delco coils, NGK plugs. I am normally able to set idle at 800 with a 6% mixture, pulls great through full range.
It was timing. It was off just enough that it would not start. Got it going, set the timing at 7-deg BTDC and it runs fine now... http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=298721
