Once I get new distributor and if that doesn't work what's next

 

Check prices and a higher price is not a indication of quality. I got my from LCE as they custom build new ones. But instead of just throwing parts at it double check the wires. And as old as it is a New distributer is a good idea anyway. But I would bet it is a wire failure. Wires get hot and if they have a break that you can't see may seperate just enough to cause issues.
Don't buy a rebuilt distributer. Not worth the money. I got my first one from Napa. And the vacum advance would not work. Then I got the LCE one. It comes complete with cap and rotor.

 

Yup i agree. Sounds like a burnt wire somewhere creating resistance when hot. Itcould easily be in the distributor but you also need to comfirm good grounds.
Spend 20 bucks and redo the grounds so we can cross it off the list

 

Oh and as far as your timing concerns. Is it possible your dist gear teeth arent engaging? Its a long shot but thats the only way i can imagine a timing issue having affect here. Maybe your mechanic overlooked something when putting the dist back in?

Check fuse box. I had a windshield leak dripping on my fuse box. Not good.

 

Also the problem is. Everything is good when cold.
So what you really need to do is get it running wait for it to shut down then run continuity/ resistance tests on your wires.
But its not starting at all now?

 

Since that first time it started after the fail it wont start at all. Turns over all day but nothing. I will check wiring tomorrow. I am also ordering new distributor off rock auto.

 

Have you pulled your valve cover and checked your timing chain? Have you turned the motor over with fist cap off to see if it is turning?

 

Yes I have turned it over with the cap off and it is turning. I have had wife turn it over and grounded plug, nothing. Had her turn it over to get an ohm reading and nothing coming out of distributor. I even grabbed end of plug while leaning on truck and nothing. Also just bout 6 months ago had new chain and gears put on my truck. But even if timing was off shouldn't there be some spark coming out of distributor?

 

Yes you should get a spark. I bet it's the distributer.

 

That's what I am thinking. I have spark coming out of coil pack into distributor. I also have reaging coming out of ecm into coil pickup. Replaced coil pickup, rotor, cap, wires and coil. But still nothing coming out of distributor. This truck is a pain. If this doesn't fix it I am out of ideas. What would be next if that doesn't fix it.

 

More than likely it will be fixed with the new distributer. Hey look at the bride side. At least rats didn't eat a bunch of your wiring in the engine compart like mine. I still need to finish some wiring issues.

 

Someone said it's the igniter. But I have spark coming out of coil. So it distributor correct?

 

No it has spark coming out of coil. Nothing out of distributor so I replaced coil pickup, rotor, cap and wires and still nothing

 

Have you double checked the 2 wires that go to the distributer for continuity?

 

I checked them but how many volts are supposed to be coming out of those?

 

Would the coil fire if the igniter was bad but cause the spark not to come out of distributor?

 

I would think 12 volts at least. But you need to check those wires for resistance too. Best way to check. Any wires close to the engine get Hot and after time the insulation starts to break down. Some of my sensor wires are so stiff you can bend the wire and break the insulation. I need to replace this with some new wire. And your distributer wire connection hangs on the head in a spring holder getting a lot of heat. So for example if you check the resistance in a New wire of the same gauge and length and compare the 2 readings it may show your Old wire is not capable of conducting enough voltage/amps.

 

Ok. I will check. As for coil making 12 golts ,11 when cranking engine. Could the igniter or ecm be bad and that is the reason no power coming back out of distributor?

 

My 82 ran with the ecm unplugged. Our early trucks don't really have a computer. There is no diagnostic port. These were some of the first so they are primitive. I had a few soldered terminals in mine that the solder was gone and loose connections. Did you pull your old distributer? My distributer bearings were so far gone it was eating the cap with the rotor. Make sure you have the engine at top dead center on number 1 when you pull it. That will make installation of the new one simple. Best is to pull the valve cover off and turn the engine over with a 19mm socket on the crank bolt. That way you can check your timing chain too. And the distributer drive gear.

 

I would suggest downloading the 83 FSM up in the Stickies, go to Chapter 3 pages 3-7 thru 3-11and test the system, step by step, until you find the problem.

The reason I said to check the condition of wiring between the igniter/coil and distributor, my truck was intermittently missing and sometimes just plain died. What I found was the insulation on those 2 wires was bad/brittle and shorting out on the dipstick and power steering mount. Repaired and fixed the problem. Anyways, those wires control the firing of the coil and spark. JMHE