1967 Chevy Nova Iginition

TEXASBREW

MEMBER
1967 CHEVROLET NOVA

Electrical problem
1967 Chevy Nova 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

I have an HEI ignition, new electronics, new coil, new wires and new plugs. When I turn the ignition to start the car it fires, but when I let go of the key, it dies. It does not run at all after letting off the key. I recently had a problem, at high rpm's the engine would run, at idle the voltage would drop and the car would die. I decided to change to an SI style alternator, change the plugs, wires, distributor electronic module, coil and even change the horn relay. Any ideas?

3 Replies

MASTERTECHTIM

MECHANIC
4,750 POSTS

I believe you are losing ignition voltage to the distributor or coil when the key is in the run postion possibly due to a bad ignition switch. Heres my course of diagnostics. Put a test light on the positive wire at the hei distributor and try starting, if you have power when cranking and none with the key on, start there. Also make sure you have ignition voltage at the coil. Oh yeah did you run a new wire harness for the coil and distributor from the ignition switch, if not your problem may lie right there, the original factory ignition harness used a resister wire to drop the voltage to 9volts on the ignition wire on the old style ignition. Let me know if you need further help

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Saturday, October 25th, 2008 AT 5:16 AM

TEXASBREW

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Now I am completely confused. After consulting with the assembly manual, I noticed that the wire from the run position on the ignition switch to the starter solenoid was never connected. It is beyond me how the car was even running before I changed all the parts the other day. It is running great without any issues. Thanks for the help.

Michael

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Saturday, October 25th, 2008 AT 1:36 PM

MASTERTECHTIM