I finally resolved the sparking problem this morning.
I checked the coil, 2 ohms between + & -, and 8500 ohms on the high voltage side. These are all good results.
My old coil which also worked before was similar between +& - and 7500 ohms high voltage.
so I thought I would check the distributor. checked all was working, no cracks in the plastic insulator, points all ok. Then there it was!
Duhh somehow I had set the distributor up wrong. I had set the pulley at the correct point for the timing and set the points up by turning the distributor in the wrong direction. so the rotor was nearly 90 degrees out.
Ignition on, pulled the lever, started straight away even without the choke on. I got it running as best as I could but to be honest with the vibrations through the car it was hard to tell what was the sweet spot.
So out come the uprated engine spring and back in with the original. What a difference that made. The car has stopped shaking, the front number plate has stopped shaking like Beyoncé's rear end, and all the vibrations have gone. The engine seemed to be running better as well.
With a slight adjustment to the mixture and idle it sat running quite sweet.
Took it for a run up the road, no problems.
Took it for a run a bit further and back, all ok.
Then I thought I would give it a longer run, going really nice. sitting at the front of a que at the traffic lights, they went green, the car went nowhere!
It stalled and would not start again.
So I pushed it to the side and a nice bloke helped me park it on the path. God these cars are small.
With my new helpful assistant pulling the starter I could see no fuel, only bubbles coming through the filter. Now I know I haven't run out as I just put 10 litres in.
Off came the fuel pump. stripped it apart. Couldn't see anything wrong but I changed the diaphragm over with the bottom one to see if it made any difference. Vroom it started straight away. Thanked my assistant, jumped in the car and brought it straight home! parked him up and went to see the car show without Franko.
Andrew it was a good turn out, with a large variety of cars, sadly only one 500 there which seems to be doing its rounds. Not the best example (apologies if the owner reads this) but at least it made it which is more than I can boast about. But yes the ABBA tribute was loud, although nice legs
.
So next step - new fuel pump. I knew I should have bought a new one