1977 Loadstar no sparky

big jt · Apr 18, 2015

OK went to get the Planter out of the shed yesterday. One of the items that needed to be moved was my 1977 IH Loadstar with a 446 gas engine. (Yes they had a 446 V8 not the
466 diesal)

Anyway crank and crank which is usual to pump fuel back up. Still no start. Finally check for spark, no go. Put my little LED test light that I made to check a bad pertronix
unit and it showed that something in the electronics was not doing it's thing.

Truck has some sort of electronic ignition I am not real familiar with but it is simaliar to the older Fords with a pickup in the distributor and a module on the firewall. NAPA
didn't show anything for it and I haven't checked with my Navistar dealer yet.

My question here is. Have any of you dealt with this system and what did you do for parts? Any other diagnostics I am missing here?

Thanks

JT

Bob · Apr 18, 2015

IIRC, it's an oddball Holley "Goldbox" EI.

The module can probably still be $$$$ found.

Or, Pertronix makes a drop-in replacement unit that fits in the distributor in place of the pickup unit that's there now and it eliminates the unit on the firewall and the wiring between them.

Part #HO-183, or 9HO-183 in the "Ignitor II" version.

But first, check for voltage to the coil with the ignition switch "on". I don't remember if there is a resistor or a resistance wire involved on those.
Check it out yourself, Page 8.

big jt · Apr 18, 2015

Thanks Bob

I was thinking if I could even get the unit from Navistar it would take a while and be spendy. I also figured it was some oddball setup that IH used and that is why I asked here cause I know there is a wealth of knowledge on this site.

Pertronix was what I figured I would be doing anyway which is fine. This is by no means a show truck just a old strait truck I use to haul grain in the fall.

I had checked for voltage at the coil with a test light and will check with a VO meter probably later today. Need to get the # off the housing to order from Pertronix anyway.

JT

Bob · Apr 18, 2015

IIRC, a have some troubleshooting info at system the shop, but probably won't be going there anymore today. Post back if you want me to look.

Buzzman72 · Apr 18, 2015

Lots of folks swear by Holley products; my dad swore AT them. Someone at IH apparently loved Holley enough to buy their ignition system. Unfortunately, yours is what IH called their MV-series engine, so I don't know if another distributor is even available for one. I'd recommend a conversion to something more common; if that means Pertronics, then so be it.

big jt · Apr 18, 2015

Oh just to make life interesting it is a intermittent fault. Put the battery back in after charging and to check the coil voltage, just in cast I hit the starter, dang thing fires right up.

Looked up the distributor on the pertronix site and they do list a kit for my application, PPHHHEEEWWW. Well at least I have a solution before I really need it this fall.

Thanks all

jt

Paul in MN · Apr 18, 2015

Navistar parts dept told me in no uncertain terms that they are a diesel truck company, and they have nothing to do with the prior IH trucks such as the Loadstar. The aftermarket is where you have to go. There are a couple of IH websites run by guys who have some interest in this vintage equipment. Maybe somebody has a hot link to them. My memory is coming up short of the site names.

Paul in MN

1977 Loadstar no sparky

big jt

Well-known Member

Bob

Well-known Member

big jt

Well-known Member

Bob

Well-known Member

Buzzman72

Member

big jt

Well-known Member

Paul in MN

Well-known Member

Similar threads