Help getting a 78 bus started

[Left Handed Kennedy]

I have a problem getting my 78 VW Bus to start.
Here is my current setup, everything is stock except
for:
1. Megasquirt ECU running fuel only with stock injectors.
2. Mallory Unilite Dizzy
3. Watson Streetworks VW rewiring kit.
4. Mallory Hyfire 6EZL (currently not hooked up, I would like to get it running without it first)
5. Cold air intake behind the pie tin where the old ECU used to be.
6. Bosch Blue Coil with built in resistor.

Here is what I'm finding.

1. Spark is not consistant. I hooked up a timing strobe
and I'm finding that some times it fires and sometimes
not. Occasionally it wil fire and run for a second or
two, but than die.

2. While cranking and watching the realtime display on
megatune, I'm seeing the voltage drop below 7 volts.
This is a brand new battery.

3. I did the voltage drop test on the dizzy according
to the mallory troubleshooting guide and everything
checked out ok, so I know that the dizzy is good.

4. Changed out the sparkplug wires on the advice of a
mallory tech to suppressor core wires from stock bosch
copper core.

5. I've noticed that Megatune does not register that
the engine is cranking. (i.e. bar across the bottom of
the display never changes from "not cranking")

Questions:

1. The Watson Streetworks wiring kit has two terminals
that are mounted on the firewall. One is for 12v and
the other is switched 12v. The coil and other items
that need switched 12v are connected to that. Could
this be causing the coil to not receive enough power?

2. Would it be better if I ran a wire from the battery
to the coil through a relay switch to assure that there
is proper voltage getting to the coil?

If anyone can help, it would be greatly appriciated, or, if your in the Inland Empire this weekend and have some time to help out, I can feed and beer you in exchange.

[david58]

Here is what I'm finding.

1. Spark is not consistant. I hooked up a timing strobe
and I'm finding that some times it fires and sometimes
not. Occasionally it wil fire and run for a second or
two, but than die.

Welcome to the forums Left Handed Kennedy
A timing light should not be used to check spark. Get a spark tester to verify spark. You need to have battery voltage to the coil 7 volts don't cut it. Is the starter dragging?

[Left Handed Kennedy]

"A timing light should not be used to check spark. Get a spark tester to verify spark. You need to have battery voltage to the coil 7 volts don't cut it. Is the starter dragging?"

I don't have a spark tester, I will see if I can get my hands on one this weekend. I really think that I'm not getting enough power to the coil. The starter seems to be working fine.

Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate your helpful input, and thanks for the welcome.