68 Vixen S2 starting issues

[boomstick33]

The Vixen I'm working on hasn't been started in about 15 years when I purchased it, plus this is my first British car I've ever worked on too. I've replaced the fuel pump, cleaned the carb, replaced fuel line, new spark plugs/rotor/cap & a new coil. The engine turns over without issue but won't fire, there's basically no spark at the spark plug. If I pull the wire off the coil & put it close to metal there's barely a spark if any at all. I'm at a loss...I see the coil wires into a Lucas 6RA relay that's right next to the coil then to the starter itself. The carb is getting fuel & shoots fuel into the engine, so it's all spark. Is the relay causing issues because I'm not familiar with Lucas systems at all. If this was one of my old Mustangs or my old Firebird from the late 60's, i'd have a better idea of what i'm doing. If the relay is the cause, is there a way to bypass it or replace it...is there a way to test it? Thanks guys.

[boomstick33]

Dollyman1850 said:

Run a wire from a 12v battery directly to the coil to see if that improves the spark…other than that are you sure you are not 180 degrees out..common one especially if it isn't even trying to fire

I tried running the wire from the battery directly to the coil & no luck...no spark. I've tried 3 different coils & all the same so I'm guessing it's not the coil. I'll pull the coil wire off the distributor & test for spark & nothing. I just don't know if i'm missing something in the Lucas wiring setup of the car.

[boomstick33]

here's a good question before I continue...is this a positive or negative grounded car? I'm guessing positive ground, correct? Unlike the American muscle cars I usually work on.

[boomstick33]

phillpot said:

Negative, have you found the battery, probably not in the same place as on your Muscle cars?

I was wondering because the actual red wire goes from the battery to the frame & the engine block where the black wire goes to the coil/starter...not that the color of the battery hookups mean anything because i've seen them switched by accident before but this was leading me to think it is positive grounded.

[boomstick33]

phillpot said:

What shape battery terminals do you have? If round posts +ve is larger than -ve, if square L type (commonly used by Ford) bit trickier if markings worn off. Got a test meter, that'll tell you and if not get one, dirt cheap these days, trying to fix electrics without one is like trying to find a fuel leak with your eyes shut! ...

Their the round type, but I do have a test meter...that's on the docket for this weekend. I did replace the points & condenser as well so its ready for another try this weekend. I'll hopefully report back good news...