1985 wellcraft 350 engine...ignition question? help...

lea_1211

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Aug 19, 2010
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i have a 1985 21' wellcraft w/350 engine. It has a thunder bolt ignition system. Is there any reason why i wouldn't be able to rewire the entire system with an automotive distributor ignition system? i haven't been able to get spark from the coil, i tested the coil on my 71 gmc and it works just fine. anybody please help?
 

jtmarten

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Aug 2, 2004
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Re: 1985 wellcraft 350 engine...ignition question? help...

Why not just use the coil that tested good?

If it's in a closed bilge, you'd need a marine dizzy, unless you want to chance going boom.
 

lea_1211

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Re: 1985 wellcraft 350 engine...ignition question? help...

thanks for the reply, i have followed every wire that goes to the coil and to the distributor but i don't know why i can't get any spark if i have 12v at the positive terminal of the coil. i guess my main reason for wanting to change the system is because i don't want to spend 500+ dollars on a boat shop if i can do this myself, and save hundreds of dollars. i am familiar with my 71gmc's ignition system, all i have to do is wire it up the same way my truck is. I really don't want to bust my engine, specially since the man i bought it from had just overhauled the entire engine.
 

Turn-n-Burn

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Jul 15, 2010
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Re: 1985 wellcraft 350 engine...ignition question? help...

Did you follow the TB Flow Chart?.......Mine turned out to be the Ignition sensor......;)
 

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lea_1211

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Re: 1985 wellcraft 350 engine...ignition question? help...

10am my time saturday morning. yes sir mr. turn and burn i just found this TB FLOW CHART searching this website 2 days ago. I am almost certain it will help me identify the problem. thank u much. i will post results later, i am on my way to work on my ignition problem. Thanks again.:D
 

lea_1211

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Aug 19, 2010
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Re: 1985 wellcraft 350 engine...ignition question? help...

just an update on my ignition problem, i followed the flow chart i got at this website and it seems the ignition sensor inside the distributor is bad. i found one on ebay for about $48.00+shipping, i also found a good working distributor so instead i bought the distributor. hopefully this helps someone else. i will post updates after i get it running.
 
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