No Start Loss of Spark

Name: Jonathan W Morrisey, Lieut.
Crittenden KY Fire-Rescue


1975/76 International 100 Pickup
VIN F0330EHB15872
Build Date 20 Sept 1975
345 V-8 w/ electronic ignition (Holley Distributor)

I have a No-Start condition w/ spark loss and tests I've been able to run indicate a failed pick-up coil in the distributor. Plus, if I arc across the terminals in the pick-up coil connector back to the ignition module, I get a nice fat spark from the ignition coil.

What are the resistance specifications for the pick-up coil? I've got a resistance of 3.8 ohms. I remember from my days as a Chrysler tech that the pick-up coil resistance for their original electronic ignition (similar vintage) was 150-900 ohms. Does the International system run a similar resistance value?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

1st I have to say how unwise it is to post full names,addresses,ph.#'s & e-mail addy's on an open forum.

Now to the truck...

10 to 1 the problem is the "Gold Box" on the firewall,when they fail so does the spark.
Sold 100's in my day and pulled this from memory
451565C2 Control (IH pn)

Here are 2 aftermarket replacements;
http://ecatalog.smpcorp.com/STD/#/vehic ... 5C2?type=s

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Catal ... 0460823231

Here's something you may find useful,the IH service manual that covers the '74-'75 light trucks.
https://archive.org/search.php?query=su ... TS-2306%22

It's in 6 parts in the link and is free to download.

I agree that I shouldn't have given out that much info. It happens when you copy/paste from the original contact w/ the site moderator w/o rereading the post.

I would agree with you that the control box had failed if arcing across the wiring harness connector hadn't produced a nice fat spark. This was verified in the service manuals I downloaded from your link.

Thanks again for the info.

However, I still need a resistance spec for the dist pickup coil and a part number.

The sensor is NOT checked for resistance.
It will be damaged with a current exceeding 40 milliamps (.040).

Well,here's the IH pn for the sensor...
473536C1, CONTROL DISTRIBUTOR SENSOR

Bad news is It seems to be NLA in any shape or form. Google search hits are few,mostly for "Military Surplus" sites.They sell to the public and might be the only source(?).

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=47 ... ol&start=0

Here's a good thread on dizzy's by a guy that knows his stuff.
http://www.ihpartsamerica.com/forums/ig ... ation.html

You might find your answer?

I may have to replace the distributor with a points-type distributor then.

I did the test in the FSM Book 1 Sect. FF, Pg. 5 , Step 5 and the result was a nice fat spark from the coil wire, indicating that the "gold box" on the cowl is still functioning.

My days under the hood (1974-87) was in Mopar stores. Huntsville did the electronics back in those days and we were given ohmmeter checks for the distributor sensor.

There is an alternative to replacing the distributor,the same thing the author of the thread I linked uses and I would too. Uses the stock cap,rotor and trigger wheel.

http://www.pertronix.com/prod/ig/ignitor/default.aspx

http://www.pertronix.com/prod/ig/ignitor3/default.aspx

There are 2 choices depending on what you want to spend...
HO-181 Ignitor
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=HO-181+ignitor

7HO-181 Ignitor III
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=7HO-181+ignitor

The only other thing you may need to do is eliminate the resistor wire from the key switch which IH used instead of a ballast resistor.

They work just fine with the stock coil,plus I read a couple places their FlameThrower coils don't last long,no surprise for something made in China.

Some of what I mentioned are in this thread;
http://www.ihpartsamerica.com/forums/ig ... ailed.html

With a little luck and skill you should be able to fit a Chry or Ford pick-up to fire the gold box. most electronics just need a pulse to tell them when to fire,and are not too piticular on what that pulse comes from
If it will not trigger the gold box you could trigger whatever the mfg of the pick up you choose. I haven't tried on an IHC but have had good luck on others. All you want is a pulse at the right time, how you get to that end is up to you. The Holley/IHC trigger wheel looks an awful lot like the ones in both Ford and Chry dist, so I can not see a problem, there has to be enough steel in the wheel and the pick-up needs to be in close, both the above mentioned pick-ups have a magnet in them to induce flux in the trigger wheel for the pick-up to signal on.

IMHO why monkey around with trying to make something else work when there's a ready made replacement (with a warranty) that's proven to work? The "gold box" system was never very reliable in the first place,better off to do away with it. If Igintors are good for Mike Maybem and the other SV8 guru's on that forum and Binder Planet they must do the job well without going to the high dollar performance distributors.

I forgot about there being an IH service manual section on the Holley Model 1530,it can be found here;
https://app.box.com/shared/otkihx6yoa/1/37788558

It may be the same as in the service manual I linked to before,maybe not?

Because I don't like anything that puts semiconductors under the dist cap. Worked on far too many to find that a reliable mix. With a little work you can have something that is better then both, the gold box and the Pertronix, and since he was around Chry products he should feel right at home, Ford isn't much different.