Distributor/Ignition Trouble, No spark Options

[adamd1514]

I have a 1974 1.8 914 (L-jet). I set the point gaps last night, and the engine still just turns over. What was wondering is, if anyone has any suggestions on what would make my car have no spark. As of now im up for exploring all options. The plugs are good. If anyone has any suggestions on what i should check i would appreciate them greatly. Thanks,
Adam

[ArtechnikA]

QUOTE (adamd1514 @ May 17 2005, 10:58 AM)

The points were brand new when i set the gap, can't say for sure if they were opening and closing though.

okay, cool - we are making progress...

how did the points look when you took out the old ones?

there's supposed to be a fiber rubbing block that rubs on the distributor cam to open and close the points. was there one? comparing it to the one you put in - did it look squashed, broken, or teeny, like it had ben rubbed away?

did the metal contact points look burned?

HOW did you set the point gap? there was a really good thread here on how to do that within the past 2-3 months - a search should bring that up.

try: points AND setting AND gap as search terms.

you MUST have the points on the high point of a cam lobe when you set the gap. there are various ways to do that, and i'm hesitant to describe the "easy" way because you MUST retime the engine after using that method and i don't want you getting in over your head too soon and getting frustrated.

by all means: buy the Haynes manual for this car and study the ignition procedures. you will need something to tell you when the points are opening and closing - a simply low-wattage 12V bulb - like a taillight bulb and some wires - or a FLAPS test light, or a voltmeter. having a decent inductive timing light will help you too.

describe clearly what you're doing, what you've done, and what the results were, and we will get you through this.