I just picked up a 1985 GS on the cheap. Got it running by clean fuel. It runs extremely rough tho. I have not taken much time to dig deeper but did notice the Lead1 and Lead2 ignition wires do not spark to the distributor cap when pulled off like the secondary wires do. Is this normal? If not whats the fix? I do have spark from the lead coil to the cap. Spark from the trailing coil to the cap and spark from both trailing wires to the cap. Any help is much appreciated.

 

 

Your terminology is a bit confusing. Pulling wires from distributor cap on a running engine is not good practice,it's what gets to the spark plugs that counts.have you removed dist cap and inspected condition of cap terminals and rotor?
It would appear leading and trailing ignition primary side is functional if you have secondary voltage at distributor cap. What is color of spark at coil wire/cap terminals? It should be blue in color for both. If spark is orange or white in color,it could be indicative of a weak or failing igniter or excess resistance in coil wires. You could ohm test ignition wires or replace.
Fresh cap/rotor/wires/plugs should net a fully functional ignition system. It would appear currently that the engine is running on trailing ignition only.The engine will run on trailing ignition only but won't make much power.
Once you get ignition system squared away the engine should run better. If still rough running,carburetor may need some attention and/or vacuum leak(s) could be present.

 

Sorry for the confusion. Basically i removed each wire off the distributor one at a time.

1. Lead wire coming from coil into distributor had arc from wire to distributor
2. Trailing wire coming from coil into the distributor had arc from wire to distributor
3. lead to spark plug wires did not have spark from distributor to wire heading to plug
4. Trailing to spark plug wires had spark from distributor to wire leading to plug

Let me know if you need more clarification

 

No more clarification,stand by my recommendations

 

Cant hurt to change out all the plugs, wires, cap and rotor. I will start there and check compression today. I will post what i find. In the mean time if anyone has any other recommendations let me know!

 

Well, problem solved. 1985 GS with 70K miles $900. $82 later runs like a dream! Needs a clutch but otherwise steal of the year It was the Rotor. Upon further inspection the rotor was so old and beaten the leading plugs were not getting juice to the cap.

 

Suspected cap/rotor. Good fix. You got that car cheap,need some pics here...

 

Here she is.

 

It's all there,71k,you got a good deal.Appears to have had rear louvers on it at some point.Did they come with the car by any chance?
Have you looked underneath car for rust? What's plan for it?
What kind of car is in the shed to left in pic?

 

Looks nice and clean, you're gonna really enjoy it!

 

Looks like an early second gen Celica, say... '77-79?

 

Thought it may be

 

Put a clutch in it and put the livers back on they are in the trunk right now. Probably drive it for a while. Then tear the motor, transmission. Rear ending out of it and out it I. A MGA. Think I 13b or a 327 will go back in it. Undecided for now.

 

Your car has Livers? Stop, you're making me hungry. And where does the MGA come into the pic? Your gonna put your 12A into a MGA and put a 13B or 327 SBC into the RX7?