302 engine cranks but won't start, what's wrong?
Okay so about a year ago I bought an
87 Ford F150 XLT Lariat 4x4 with a
302 V8 engine. Originally the truck
was only going to be used as a work
truck but the more I drove it the more
I liked it so I decided to stop using it
as a work truck and started restoring
it. The truck ran great, the four wheel
drive works excellent, no problems
overall and actually a very good
strong truck especially for the age.
So anyway about 4 months after
having the truck while driving it one
day it dies on me and start back after
doing some troubleshooting
because it was crank but no start. So
I changed the fuel pump relay, and
the inline fuel pump that is on the
frame I believe it's the high pressure
fuel pump. I didn't change the fuel
pump in the fuel tank because the
gentleman that I had bought it from
told me that you'd just changed the
one inside the tank so I know this
has already been done. After
changing the fuel pump relay and the
fuel pump on the frame the truck ran
great until about 5 weeks ago when
one day I went out to start it and the
battery was dead it wouldn't do
anything so I checked the battery
and alternator. I found the alternator
to be bad so I put a new battery and
alternator in and it fried right up and
we was back on the road again.
Everything was great until
approximately one week ago when
the truck died on me on my way
home from work and would not start
back I get a crank but no start just
like I did when the fuel pump went
out but after checking my fuel pump
relays and my fuel pumps and
verifying that I am getting fuel I've
determined that I am not getting a
spark somewhere. Now obviously if
I'm going to restore this vehicle then
I'm going to put new plugs, wires,
distributor cap, coil the whole nine
yards but I'm doing this as I have the
money so some of those things have
not been replaced yet. So my
question is where should I start first
the distributor, ignition coil, pick up
coil, TFI, solenoid, ECM or where? If
it's the distributor should I change
the stator or should I change the
stator and the shaft? I'm doing all of
the work myself and not being a
mechanic I'm not sure of where to
start first or what would most likely
be my problem. I'm thinking it's going
to be the distributor or solenoid but
after being on a few forums and
reading other post where people
have had the same problem I'm
hearing all kinds of different things
that it could be. I would greatly
appreciate it if anyone any help and
can give more detailed info if needed
did help with the diagnosis but just
to reiterate it is a crank no start and I
am getting fuel.