Motor won't start after 2nd rd?

[cal]

Hello all
Well here is a good one for you.
Motor starts right up when you start it for the 1st time every day. then for the time run it starts fine, 1st rd it starts fine, 2nd rd it will start right up, then bam 3rd rd it will just spin over and over and not even try to start. Then out of the blue it will fire up, once it stats it will run fine till you cut it off, and try to start it back up. It is really strange, has happened at at leaset the last 3 races.
Little info, 522 BBC, pretty standard stuff, 1050, Brodax heads, Dart intake MSD Dist, 7AL2,
gas motor.
Any ideas?

Cal
S/ST HR 1177

[Bill Moulding]

My Camaro had a similar problem but only once. It wouldn't fire sitting in the staging lanes for the final round. I wound it over several times and finally it fired. It was a faulty toggle for the ignition (on/off). Don't know why yours waits till the third round but it is a place to start. Bill

[fordteacherguy]

I would check the coil for proper resistances on the primary and secondary sides and look at heat related ignition issues. Applying some heat with a head gun on the related electronics (box, distributor, coil) can help identify a intermittent part.

[Tom Goldman]

Ignition switch is a good place to start.
If you have an old style MSD triangular style that is oil filled you might want to check to see if it still has any oil in it .
I had one that was nearly empty that gave similar problems and have seen at least two others with the same problem.
It seems to be more common if the coil is in the engine compartment.

[Alan Roehrich]

If it cranks but will not start, as others said, check the ignition switch, the coil, the coil wire, the pick up (what ever style, magnetic or optical, at the crank or in the distributor), and the ignition box.

[Keith 944]

Hey Cal it did start 3rd round so it must be getting better, I would leave it alone....lmao

[FED 387]

I would swap out first the coil----what coil and part number are you using?? next swap out the ignition box-- what box and part number are you using--- FED 387

[RobbieRacer]

Originally Posted by Bill Moulding

My Camaro had a similar problem but only once. It wouldn't fire sitting in the staging lanes for the final round. I wound it over several times and finally it fired. It was a faulty toggle for the ignition (on/off). Don't know why yours waits till the third round but it is a place to start. Bill

My car did the same thing. Replaced the switch and never a problem after that.

[buzzinhalfdozen]

WOW I've never heard of many switch failures till now...however here's what I'd do to eliminate that as a source of the problem. If box is easily accesible put a volt meter in car, when issue arises simply test for voltage on the IGNITION point on the box should be battery voltage.If box is not easily accessed put a short lead on Ignition terminal of box with insulated end, then do the same test as quickly as possible as it appears the issue resolves itself.Other option is to zip tie, duct tape, velcro meter in car already hooked up and merely switch on as needed to test.Personally to quickly narrow down the issue I would use my MSD tester to quickly rule out a non funtional crank sensor, test the ability to fire the coil ect. Good luck and let us know what you find. Joe

[Mike Taylor 3601]

If starter solenoid has the extra post could run wire from it to + side of coil,will send 12 volts to coil while cranking.
Mike Taylor 3601