RE my son's truck: He was driving when the truck just stopped running. It set for a month or so before we started working on it. Not sure what caused it, we started with the ignitions system. Replaced everything except the distributor itself; cap, rotor, ignition module; pick up module; still the truck would not fire. We replaced plugs and wires - still nothing. We replaced the starter and solenoid; still nothing. It seems that we can't even get a spark from the plug wires. We have no idea what to do next. So before we tow to a shop, does any one have any ideas that we might be missing?

My son checked electrical continuity and it seems that we get power to the distributor and all the electrical connections seem to be good. So we're stumped. :banghead:

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

'83 with how many miles?
also when you say: not starting, does this mean not cranking...
it is cranking right? just no spark.
...is the distributor rotor spinning?
distrib.gear fell off, or timing chain jump/break?

If dist rotor is turning and no spark--try running a hot wire from the battery to the hot terminal on the dist and see if it runs. if it runs like this then maybe bad ign. switch or open somewhere in the circut

The truck has over 100k. But is in good shape and the engine was running fine before this particular incident. Although the stalling had happened one time before, but after sitting a while had started again and ran fine until it stopped the second time and then refused to start again.

Yes, it does crank, but just won't fire.

The roter does turn both manually when attempting to find top dead center and when bumping it with the ignition key.

Hadn't thought about the timing chain falling off or braking. Guess that's something to check. Also the "hot wire" to the distributor, but since the rotor turns with the ignition key, I would think it's not the ignition. But I may be misunderstanding the concept there.

Thanks, and thanks for the links listed.

Have you looked at the coil to see what it looks like 83 good chance its worn if timing chain is broken dist wont turn when turning crank duh the dist runs off the cam

Reason for hot wire is to bypass all of the switches and fuses and possible problems with them to see if they are the problem. If it fires with the hot wire then you know there is an electrical problem, not a mechanical problem. The rotor turning only indicates that the timing chain is still on, but not if it has jumped a tooth or two. With 100 K it probably is stretched enough to easily jump a tooth. Also 1983 trucks used an aluminium cam gear with plastic covered teeth that can break off.

i had the same problem with my 83 1/2ton. the thermal wire on the fire wall up top next to the wipers. there are 2 wires coming in from the starter and 2-3 coming out of this 2 prong connector. gently grab the wires and pull if it brakes take YOUR truck to autozone and get a new roll. remember the thermal wire needs to be 4 times smaller than the wire your protecting ex: its a 16gauge wire, you need 20gauge thermal wire.

So wait a sec so i wouldnt bother looking at the timing chain its not the chain the chances of jumoing a tooth on a timing chain and havingyour vehicle stall one and then magically starting back up hah whad the motor make a fulll rotation and jump right back to where it jumped from nah look at all your wiring runa wire from your battery to your coil the positive side on the coil if nothing try a diff coil Thats where your problem lies Ive worked on cars for a garage all my life never seen a timing chain jump But ive heard of it from my boss

Used to happen all the time to the chevy aluminium/plastic timing gear where I lived in Texas. Texas has a warmer climate . Dealer told me once that it rarely happened in northern cooler states.