1984 Chevy 305 distributor

[Grapejuice1998]

Recently, my truck just died in my garage and wouldn't re-start. Being a dummy, I thought it was the ECM behind the dash and bought one before doing the real trouble-shooting first. Well, it still didn't start, so I went back to square one. I had another vehicle exactly like this one available to me, so I started robbing parts and swapping them over. I started with the coil in the cap. Nothing. So then, I went and assumed it was the ignition control module and bought one. I installed that and STILL nothing. I was under the impression that the coil and the ICM were pretty much the only other parts that could go bad. WRONG.
I finally swapped over the entire distributor from the donor vehicle and it fired right up.
My question then would be, what other parts should I replace in the distributor? I did see some type of condenser in there and then there's the stator (I believe it's called?). Anything else?

I know. I'm a dope, but I'll try and learn from it.

[leolkfrm]

here is something to do now that it on the bench


Pick-Up Coil

See Figure 2

1. To test the pick-up coil, first disconnect the white and green module leads. Set the ohmmeter on the high scale and connect it between a ground and either the white or green lead. Any resistance measurement less than infinity requires replacement of the pick-up coil.
2. Pick-up coil continuity is tested by connecting the ohmmeter (on low range) between the white and green leads. Normal resistance is between 500 and 1500 ohms. Move the vacuum advance arm while performing this test. This will detect any break in coil continuity. Such a condition can cause intermittent misfiring. Replace the pick-up coil if the reading is outside the specified limits.

Fig. 2: Checking the pick-up coil

1. If no defects have been found at this time, and you still have a problem, then the module will have to be checked. If you do not have access to a module tester, the only possible alternative is a substitution test. If the module fails the substitution test, replace it.

[Grapejuice1998]

Thanks for the detailed information!