1958 283 Engine Miss

[Dennis G.]

Last weekend I started up my rebuilt 245 HP, 283 for the first time since it was rebuilt. It is sitting in the chassis and I wanted to run it before the body is put on the frame to make sure everything was OK. It has a restored 891 distributor set up on a machine. The coil is a 091 GM retoration part from Corvette Central. Using a toggle switch with a ballast resistor I ran power to the coil to start the car. It had an engine miss on the #1 and 2 cylinders. I replaced the spark plugs and put two different spark plug wires on. It did not fix the problem. The ballast resistor I used was an old GM and it overheated and burned out. I put a generic ballast resistor on and ran the car while troubleshooting and that ballast resistor burned out. After checking the wiring diagram for a 58 I decided to replace the 14 gauge wire from the battery to the coil with a longer 20 gauge wire. And to run a ground wire from the stud on the waterpump to battery. I got a new generic ballast resistor and installed it. The valves were readjusted and the engine was checked for a vacuum leak. A compression test showed a range of 135-150 psi on all cylinders. The ballast resistor burned out again. Then a racing coil was put on with an internal resistor. Plus I changed the condenser in the distributor. It still missed. Finally we installed an old vacuum advance 1955 distributor and the miss went away. The same rotor and distributor cap was used throughout the run. I don't recall ever running into a distributor causing a miss on a couple cylinders without the points being badly burned. Any ideas on what the problem could be?

[Duke W.]

Re: 1958 283 Engine Miss

The ballast open circuit failure is probably due to excess current and overheating, which is most likely caused by excess system voltage. Did you have a regulator installed? Did you measure voltage input into the ballast?

Excess voltage can also burn points, short the condenser, and damage the coil.

If the miss went away with the other distributor, it indicates something is wrong with the 891. If you are saying the same cap/rotor was used on both distributors then the problem would be in the 891 primary components. Check the breaker plate ground wire. Make sure the system voltage is 13.5-14.5V, or just disconnect the generator and do the test with a battery only.

Duke

[Bill B.]

Re: 1958 283 Engine Miss

I decided to replace the 14 gauge wire from the battery to the coil with a longer 20 gauge wire.

I'm not sure of the original gauge wire used; my print only shows connections and color of wire. Above says you replaced the 14 gauge wire with a longer 20 gauge wire. That is three sizes smaller gauge wire plus you ran it longer possibly adding more resistance then with the 14 gauge. I would replace a wire with the correct gauge, or larger 12 gauge. Wires run in sizes like shot guns, the smaller the gauge number, the larger the shot gun. Not sure if this will help your problem, but it is a good start. Make sure you use a suitable (automotive wire) that has proper heat range wire insulation. Wish you luck.

Bill

1961 Black/Silver/Red Int. 283/315 FI
power windows. Frame off 65% completed.
1989 White/hard top/Grey Int. daily driver 167,000 miles

"The problem with Liberalism is that eventually you run out of other people's money" - Margaret Thatcher

[Dennis G.]

Re: 1958 283 Engine Miss

Thanks to the both of you for the advice. I did not have a generator and regulator on the engine when I ran it. It was only a 12 volt battery. So it should not be excessive voltage.

The wire size on a 1958 Corvette that would normally run from the ignition switch to the ballast resistor is an 18 gauge. So the 20 gauge would be even smaller.

Unfortunately I did not have a volt meter with me when I was working on the car. I was thinking the same thing regarding a problem with the grounding. I will call the gentleman that rebuilt the distributor and ask hime what he thinks.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1958 283 Engine Miss

A leaky/shorted condenser could also cause this type of problem. They are cheap... best to just install a new one.

Duke

[Domenic T.]

Re: 1958 283 Engine Miss

Dennis,

How good, and what size wire is your battery ground.

If the ground wire from the battery to the block is to small or loose it will cause problems in other areas. When you start the car the starter will look for a better ground thru other wiring.

DOM

[Dennis G.]

Re: 1958 283 Engine Miss

I replaced the condenser before the distributor was changed. So that was not the problem.
The new battery cables are from Corvette Central and are listed as "correct" for a 1958. Plus I ran another 12 gauge wire from the water pump stud to the battery.
I will have a volt/ohm meter with me next time I run the engine and that should help figure out this problem.

Thanks for the replies, any ideas are welcome.