So i have an 86 coupe with a carbed 5.0 recently it stopped running and im almost lost. now it will turn over but will not crank. i replaced the msd box, the coil, the wires, sparkplugs, cap , and rotor, and it still will not fire. It used a test light and saw that power was going to the positive side of the coil, but the coil isnt sending the spark to the distributor. What could cause this? Everyonce in a blue moon the car will fire, but other times it simply isnt getting spark. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

could it maybe be the pick up in the distributor? this is my guess, and will be what i change next.

 

Make sure the distributor is turning also. With the cap off bump the engine to see if the rotor is rotating. Does this year have the TFI module like my 1990 5.0 does, on that I am not sure if you have it or not. Sounds like you have verified the primary side with your test light, but sounds like it is not getting the secondary side which is for the spark to the plugs.

 

Also make sure one of those wires hasn't jiggled a little loose at the distributor making a weak connection.

 

id look into the duraspark box on the strut tower unless the msd takes its place, those used to go bad way back in the 80's

 

Start from the simple to the extensive
mabye a ground got disconnnected?
coil gone bad?
did you try cranking it and seeing if the coil is working,?