<VV> No Luck

[N. Joseph Potts]

Most likely: you haven't adjusted the points gap. Either your points are
open all the time, or they're closed all the time. They must open and close
for each firing of the spark plug. Measuring the "gap" (the distance between
the points) when the points' rubbing block is at a peak of the cam it rides
on is really an indirect way of arranging for the spark plug to fire at the
right time and to stop firing at the right time. It isn't TERRIBLY critical,
but it's got to stop and start (points close and open). Use the
specification for the points gap and adjust the base of the points (the
stationary point) so as to produce that gap when the rubbing block is at a
peak.
     You might review timing, but if the engine was timed right before you
got it (to be assumed), then there's no need to fool with it unless you did
something to disturb it. Replacing points would NOT disturb it.

Joe Potts
Miami, Florida USA
1966 Corsa coupe 140hp 4-speed with A/C

PS  A few years ago, my Corvair had a stablemate in a 1974 VW Karmann-Ghia
coupe (basically very similar to my Corvair). This car was its original
green (Zambesigrun) and was named Froschi, which is German for Froggy. I had
a green frog (actually, a plush one) hanging from the rear view mirror. The
Karmann-Ghia during the years it was made was strongly marketed to women -
you might say it was a chick's "sports car." The quotation marks are very
appropriate, because its 56-horsepower engine left it a VERY poor performer.
That, combined with its tiny size and lack of crashworthiness, is why I
ultimately sold it. It was a beautiful car - I still miss it.

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org]On Behalf Of Frog Princezz
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 1:46 PM
To: virtualvairs@corvair.org
Subject: <VV> No Luck


Hey all,
I tried to get her started yesterday and nothing.  She cranks but still wont
start. I had to remove the old battert terminals and put on new ones and
that made a huge difference but she still wouldn't start.  Put on a new
ignition coil, still wouldn't start.  I don't seem to be getting any spark
and don't know why.  The points are clean, the spark plug wires clean,
distrubitor clean.  Any suggestion?
Putting one a new condenser now that I have the correct part number.

Thanx
Alesia