[MikeCio1]

I just swapped out the old distributor for an HEI from Depend On Auto.
I put it in and the car ran like crap, would not idle.
So my buddy say rotate the engine again back to TDC I was on the wrong stroke.
So I did that now I have nothing at all. It back fired through the carb once while it was turning, but nada....

Any thoughts or suggestions?
Its wired to the Pink wire under the dash btw..

Thanks
Mike

[Sun Tuned]

Pull a plug and verify spark or no. Then look in a shop manual for the repair diagnosis for an HEI, very simple and very straight forward.

Can also do this....

www.performancedistributors.com

for the repair diagnosis.

[Schurkey]

http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref5.html

(second half of article)

[67cruiser]

Surprised me that it even started on the wrong stroke?? No spark, bad coil?? remember one thing you must have a full 12 volts to the hei when key is on. where are you picking up your 12 volts from??? You cannot just swap out distrib. we need more details.

[J_JAMNIK]

Was this a "ready to run" distributor? Check the coil ground under the coil cover. It is a solid metal piece that bolts under one of the coil screws and goes to the center of the three wire harness to the control module/condenser. The carbon pile button from the discharge point of the coil to rotor may also be faulty. The module or coil could also be suspect even if new especially if they are that Wells junk from AutoZone.

[sleepy]

First is FULL 12 volts to the distributor then(It might sound stupid) verify the power wires are hooked up correctly with HEI there is a control, Power and tach wire hookup. then check for spark at the plugs. then make sure the plug wires are hook up in the right order. Then verify you're not 180 off.

[MikeCio1]

This was suppose to be a "ready to run" "plug and play" what ever. I researched here and from what I read I was suppose to wire it to the "Pink " wire under the dash.. Which was suppose to be a full 12 volts... Maybe I can find another in the engine compartment...I did notice that I have no power to the ignition fuse (little one) in the fuse block under the dash???
It had a stock distributor that was converted about 4 years ago to a IgnitorII unit with a flamethrower coil...

[Sun Tuned]

If you think it might run and quickly want to see... just run a jumper wire from the battery pos terminal straight to the hei if you don't want to get into the checking of things right now. If it still doesn't do, then testing would be the next step, instead of hanging parts as that gets expensive.

[MikeCio1]

Update for those who gave me suggestions...
I had a friend come over and we figured out I was 180 off I had 1 pointing to the firewall it should have been pointing the other way...
We got it started, still runs rough. We tried to time it and got it to idle, but like its cammed up. We have it about 14degress btdc to keep it running. So we tinkered some more.
We we have the vacuum advance pointing towards the passenger side, but the 70 service manuel says it should be pointing towards the drivers side. Which way should it be?
Besides that we discovered the lifters are bad... you can actually compress them with the push rod by hand... not good.
We are pretty sure that might be the main issue...
Any suggestions or thoughts?
Thanks

[67cruiser]

First off your still wrong! period, Take no. 1 plug out, with distrib. disconnected bump the starter and hold your finger over no. spark plug hole you fill it coming up or pushing your finger away this is compression stroke and also watch your damper. Only once when you are 100% sure you are up on no.1 compression stroke, i don,t care whats pointed where or how, remove the cap is the rotor pointed to no.1 spark plug wire on the cap???? The flat part not the bent area, Then you know your right period. Another way pull the valve cover off on the driver side, with no.1 up are both valves closed""??? better be. You can put a distrib. in anyplace you want to as long as when no.1 is up on compression stroke 100% sure rotor is pointed to no.1 spark plug on the cap. As for the lifters way ruin the motor any more, replace the lifters and take it from there.Caution also seen it 3 times! Pontiac distributors rotate counter clock wise not clock wise like a chevy unit, make sure you start with no.1 wire and follow each wire around and mark em with masking tape if you must it must read 18436572 . I wish i new how to make a video i send it to you. Call me anytime if you need help ill walk you thru it again if you need me to, ok HELPFULL HINT HERE!! say your off one tooth, SIMPLY TAKE A LONG SCREWDRIVER STICK IT DOWN INSIDE THE DISTRIB. HOLE AND TURN THE PUMP UNTIL IT LINES UP!! Go have some fun then.

[67cruiser]

I did what you did about 6 months ago tapping into the pink wire, then a 5 minute talk to the people at M&H Fabricators in Cal. and talking to Mike told me to make sure i have a fire bottle handy because ill need it. Please call em and talk to them, a simple 50.00$ wire harness fab. by them is alot easier than burning your car up.

[MikeCio1]

OK, I will jump back on it Wednesday. I have to work Monday and Tuesday... What you said makes what is says in the service manuel a little clearer...
As for the electrical connection, I saw here that most everyone who hooked up an HEI used an existing ignition wire. Even the guy at NAPA told me how to do it and said it was very common. I never heard of a fire starting (all my cars have extiguishers). I have an auto electrician friend, i will get with him and see what he suggests.
THANK YOU!
Mike

[67cruiser]

Believe me Tom, can make it alot clearer than i can. No.1 all the way, tell i told you to call, he set me up perfectly.

[dmac]

If he didn't have power to the HEI, it wouldn't run at all. Sounds more like a timing, plug wiring, or maybe even a vaccuum leak issue. I would get it running again without worrying about how many degrees advance- the timing marks could be off. Make sure the plug wires go to the right places, turn the distributor to where it idles best, then try a carb adjustment, and check for vaccuum leaks. I also always try pulling one plug wire at a time while running to check if all cylinders are firing and have about the same effect on idle speed. If not then you at least identify which cylinder or cylinderS have a problem. You don't need any special tools or even a timing light to take it this far. If one or more cylinders don't seem to be firing, you can check the plugs, plug wires, distributor cap easily, then go looking at valve action/rockers, pushrods, etc. If you are unsure about the voltage to the dist., do a temp line straight from the battery. These are really the first basic steps, if you already have the engine running, even badly. PS- if its been sitting a while, it can take the lifters a while to pump up with oil. I doubt the lifters are bad if it ran before you changed the distributor. Plus you should have the vaccuum advance disconnected at the dist and the hose plugged while you are working out the issues. A faulty advance could be the problem if it kicks in too low rpm-wise.

[MikeCio1]

Heres the scoop...
When I adjusted the valves I was 180 off. I was on the wrong stroke. I fixed that. I locked the rockers down with new Mr. Gasket Poly Locks nuts...But still no start. Then apparently it does matter which way the vacuum advance faces. I turned it 180 to the passenger side. Put on my new set of HEI wires. And varooom!
It started before the engine had a chance to turn 360. The timing was right on so I locked the distributer down and DONE!

And BTW the guy I know at the auto electric store listened to my issue. Went in the back and handed me a harness told me where to hook it to. (power and tach) It works fine.
The runs better then it ever has.

Thank you all for you help and advice!

I am sure I will be asking again the next time I mix things up
Cause I aint no mechanic, just a weekend shadetree parts changer

[Old Goat 67]

I aint no mechanic, just a weekend shadetree parts changer

Hang around, Dude.
We'll fix that too!

[Mattjv]

I always thought that you had to put the vacuum cannister facing the driver's side? Where did you end up connecting the power lead?

[MikeCio1]

Originally Posted by Mattjv

I always thought that you had to put the vacuum cannister facing the driver's side? Where did you end up connecting the power lead?

The cannister wound up facing the passenger side. I did not purchase a "GM" HEI. It was a aftermarket from Depend On Auto
http://www.dependonauto.com/pontiach...ibutorall.aspx
I believe the Pontiac specific ones face left.

I had an auto electric guy wire the power. He had a harness thing that connected to a clip under the dash. Hey gave it to me to do, but rather then mess it up he came by the house after work and it took him about 5 min. It still seemed to clip in to where the pink ignition wire is.
The tach he just spliced where the old wire went to the coil.