Hello- First post here, but I’ve been reading and learning for the last 6mo or so. I’m hoping I can get some assistance and some help problem solving.

I am having some difficulty starting my 272 after beingdown for some upgrades. I know itsdifficult to diagnose through a keyboard and more-so without all the info, soI’ll try my best to explain and list everything.

1958 F-100 V8-272(basically all original and all stock)

3-spd column shift - all original (points) ignition - Should be thestock 2bbl carb, etc

I drove it around a bit after acquiring it and seeing itsuffered from the ‘drunken monkey’ syndrome, I put it up in the garage for somenecessary upgrades. (New tires, brakes, suspension,…)

While I was at it I changed the coil, points, condenser,plugs and wires, fluids, battery…all the standard tune-up stuff.

By the time came to start her back up, it has beensitting for approx 2-1/2 months. It would not start.

-It kept turning over strong and would pop/fire out ofthe carb occasionally, then end with an “eerrrrrrrrr” sound. Tried thisover and over again but would never catch to start.

-After double checking the wire sequence, etc I wonderedit I had mal-adjusted the points. So ina quick fit I threw in a pertronix we had laying around the shop (new andcorrect model#). It just did the samething…over and over.

-Thought then that it might be the timing, so I loosenedthe distributor and twisted it left, right in various increments …it either didthe same or worse. THEN, while still attempting it …I saw the battery arc fromthe terminal to the firewall and all went dead. Dead as a doornail.

This is where I stand now. Regarding the scary ending I’m guessing Ididn’t have a good ground somehow (perhaps from loosening the distributor??)

I am quite certain that would have fried the Pertronixmodule and probably why it is super dead right now. I have purchased a new Pertronix and new coiland will attempt this again this week.

Number one, I don’t want to fry another Pertronix….number two, theengine still wasn’t starting….and number three, what about my ground(why thearc)?

Can anyone give me advice to where to go from here?

Many thanks-