gte engine wont fire up

[DAN-F]

just bought a 1ltr nova with a gte engine conversion i know it used to run because i know yhe boy who used to own it, but its gone through a few hands since then and i know the engine has been changed and the wiring looks like its been tampered with,
i bought it as a non runner and i cant get it started, ive checked the timing and its bang on, its getting fuel, and its sparking but the spark looks pretty weak and the spark looks orange, think the spark should be blue, and the reverse light switch on the gearbox h#as been cut off and the wires going to it are live and sparking if they touch anything even with ignition turned off, anyone have any ideas? i found a loose wire today as well dont know if this is anything to do with it
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn152/DAN-F/PIC_0719.jpg

should there be wires connected to both of the little 8mm bolts on either side of the coil cos theres only one on there

if anyone can help cos im pulling what little hair i have out

[Andy]

Trace all wiring back until you have eliminated all possibilities.It sounds as if its seen better days

[DAN-F]

cba to go through all that i might just rip it all out and stick a corsa gsi lump i know for in it if i cant get it running

[DAN-F]

anyone???????

[Rich]

Its hard to tell you over the internet without seeing it. Could be anything if its been messed around with!

Get a new loom and start again? Check make sure all the earths are there and tight with clean connections

[DAN-F]

its a complete genuine gte loom, car and engine loom are from a gte so there wasnt anything cut in, i know because i put it in there a few years ago, i cant see anything cut now but it just looks wrong
im thiniking that there may be a dogy earth somewhere could that make the spark weak? also im sure my old gte had an earth across from the alternator to where the cam pulley is , there isnt one on here

[Adam]

Is there a gearbox/engine earth strap fitted?
Check the ignition live to the coil/ecu doesn't drop when you crank it over

[Rich]

Should be an earth from alternator to the head, try a jump lead on the gearbox direct to the battery earth. Got an earth from the gearbox to chassis? all earths good on the starter?

I had a bit of a nightmare which turned out to be a loose earth on the starter (c20xe though)

[pul16v]

earth across from the alternator to where the cam pulley is , there isnt one on here

it should have one from alternator going to bolt for alternatorbracket to head

phil

[DAN-F]

all the earths are there exept the one from alternator to head, the ignition live to coil stays constant when im cranking it, BUT i found a broken wire today, a black wire going to the neg side of the coil ive re connnected it but my battery was dead so i couldnt try and see if it makes any difference
not checked the earths on the starter though

[Adam]

That sounds like the problem tbh.

If the engine turns over, the starter earth is fine

[DAN-F]

im hoping thats the problem it was actually sparking just a very weak orange spark
well ill know tomorow its too wet to do it now lol

[craig green]

I'd earth the alternator body to the -ve battery terminal to rule that out.

Are the spark plugs properly gapped & plugged into the correct contact on the dizzy cap?

You say it has fuel? Are the fuel pipes attached to the rail the correct way around? Does the pump prime with the ign on?

[burgo]

you ask if there should be a wire going to each terminal of the coil! that leads me to beleave there isnt?? there should be a wire going to each side from the ignition modual mounted underneith the coil

[Ernie]

that loose wire looks like it is an extra earth to the coil.Just bolt it into the earth point on the chassis leg above the gearbox.

[DAN-F]

Ive re connected that broken wire to the the other end it broke off,
fuel lines are all correcet and it has new plugs that are gapped correct i havent checked the firing order though