Distributor Problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old July 24th, 2017, 06:36 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Distributor Problems

I just converted from points to Hei distributor. I ran into a little problem trying to get the engine to fire. It cranks but won't fire.

When we first put put the distributor on we made a mistake and wired it wrong and it burnt the ignition module wires. Did that possibly mess up the module.?

We have the tach side grounded and the battery to ignition. Could it possibly be wired wrong?

my uncle helped me get to tdc and drop it in
Could it be a timing issue or needing a new timing chain

Need help ASAP.!
like always any type of advice or help is always accepted
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:21 AM
  #2  
Registered User
 
RandyS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 2,972
I'm not at all familiar with HEI, but wondering why you have the tach output grounded? Isn't that shorting out the spark signal? And if you burned wires, you may well have injured the module.
RandyS is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:22 AM
  #3  
Lansing built
 
1970cs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Grand Ledge, MI
Posts: 3,227
What's wrong with points besides basic maintenance?

Do you have spark?
1970cs is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:26 AM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by RandyS
I'm not at all familiar with HEI, but wondering why you have the tach output grounded? Isn't that shorting out the spark signal? And if you burned wires, you may well have injured the module.
I'm very new to wiring it and that's what my uncle suggested. But if you know how to wire them can you please inform me
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:27 AM
  #5  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by 1970cs
What's wrong with points besides basic maintenance?

Do you have spark?
no spark when I put a screw driver into the plug wires to test. but has fire going to distributor.
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:29 AM
  #6  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by JustaOlds350
no spark when I put a screw driver into the plug wires to test. but has fire going to distributor.
it stopped firing when I had the points. Because of the accel cool so just went ahead and replaced the worn point distributor and cool altogether.
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:33 AM
  #7  
Administrator
 
oldcutlass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 40,524
Originally Posted by JustaOlds350
I just converted from points to Hei distributor. I ran into a little problem trying to get the engine to fire. It cranks but won't fire.

When we first put put the distributor on we made a mistake and wired it wrong and it burnt the ignition module wires. Did that possibly mess up the module.?

Yes, very good chance its toast.

We have the tach side grounded and the battery to ignition. Could it possibly be wired wrong?

If the tach side is grounded it will not run.

my uncle helped me get to tdc and drop it in
Could it be a timing issue or needing a new timing chain

Fix the above and go from there.

Need help ASAP.!
like always any type of advice or help is always accepted
Next step is to see if you actually have spark. Put a timing light on plug #1 and see if it flashes.
oldcutlass is online now  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:40 AM
  #8  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by oldcutlass
Next step is to see if you actually have spark. Put a timing light on plug #1 and see if it flashes.
Thanks for the reply and as far as the tach side of the hei distributor where do I run it.
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:42 AM
  #9  
Administrator
 
oldcutlass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 40,524
If you have no tach, nothing is connected there. If your distributor is connected directly to the battery the engine will not shutoff with the key.
oldcutlass is online now  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:49 AM
  #10  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by oldcutlass
If you have no tach, nothing is connected there. If your distributor is connected directly to the battery the engine will not shutoff with the key.
I don't have it connected to the battery. The side of the hei that says BAT is connected to ignition. And the other side I had grounded which is TACH side. I'm confused on where does the Tach side goes? Because you said if it's grounded it won't fire which is obviously my problem.
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:50 AM
  #11  
Administrator
 
oldcutlass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 40,524
Nothing connects to it. Do not use the resistance wire that was originally on the old coil positive post.
oldcutlass is online now  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:54 AM
  #12  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by oldcutlass
Nothing connects to it. Do not use the resistance wire that was originally on the old coil positive post.
ok thanks will keep you informed on what happens.
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 08:08 AM
  #13  
Lansing built
 
1970cs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Grand Ledge, MI
Posts: 3,227
Where is the directions? But yes Eric got you going in the right direction. Get your battery side hooked up and disregard the tach output, unless you ad a tach as previously stated
1970cs is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 08:13 AM
  #14  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by 1970cs
Where is the directions? But yes Eric got you going in the right direction. Get your battery side hooked up and disregard the tach output, unless you ad a tach as previously stated
good question where is the directions been asking myself that the whole time I was wondering how to put everything together lol. Thanks for replying. And I'll just disregard it.
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 02:19 PM
  #15  
Administrator
 
oldcutlass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 40,524
Did you get it going?
oldcutlass is online now  
Old July 24th, 2017, 03:56 PM
  #16  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by oldcutlass
Did you get it going?
I got rained out today I will be attempting to do it tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the info and I'm starting to believe that it's also how my uncle sat my distributor in because where he wanted me to start with number 1 is on the opposite side of number 1 piston. So I basically have to do all of it over again, luckily I still have it at TDC
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 04:30 PM
  #17  
Registered User
 
m371961's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sistersville, WV
Posts: 2,163
If you were trying to start it how do you know that #1 is on TDC compression?
m371961 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 04:42 PM
  #18  
Administrator
 
oldcutlass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 40,524
If its not on the compression stroke then the rotor would be pointed to #6.
oldcutlass is online now  
Old July 24th, 2017, 05:31 PM
  #19  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by oldcutlass
If its not on the compression stroke then the rotor would be pointed to #6.
it's on TDC but he told me to start the number 1 plug on opposite side which seems wrong.
Ive researched it and seen the proper way of doing it.
So im going to attack the project tomorrow.
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 05:33 PM
  #20  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by oldcutlass
If its not on the compression stroke then the rotor would be pointed to #6.
The rotor is currently pointing at #1 but he had me start the number 1 plug at the one which is pointing towards #6
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 05:34 PM
  #21  
Registered User
 
m371961's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sistersville, WV
Posts: 2,163
Originally Posted by JustaOlds350
I got rained out today I will be attempting to do it tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the info and I'm starting to believe that it's also how my uncle sat my distributor in because where he wanted me to start with number 1 is on the opposite side of number 1 piston. So I basically have to do all of it over again, luckily I still have it at TDC
If his uncle stabbed it in on the wrong cylinder and he cranked it, He has to find TDC compression again.
Maybe I am just confused.
m371961 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:02 PM
  #22  
Administrator
 
oldcutlass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 40,524
I agree, first find #1 tdc on the compression stroke by rotating the engine with your finger over or with a tissue gently pushed in the #1 spark plug hole. When you rotate the engine you will feel air come out of the hole with your finger, or it will blow the tissue out. Move the machined line on the balancer to the 0 mark on the timing gauge. That will be #1.
Wire as per this picture with the power plug for the distributor pointing to the drivers side fender making sure the rotor is pointing to the #1 referenced spark plug tower on the cap in the picture.

oldcutlass is online now  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:06 PM
  #23  
Lansing built
 
1970cs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Grand Ledge, MI
Posts: 3,227
You need to tell your uncle thanks but no thanks for further help! Just start fresh and drop the distributor back in at TDC on cylinder #1. Put the rotor on and which ever tower it's pointing to is now #1. Follow the firing order and it rotates CCW.
1970cs is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:15 PM
  #24  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by 1970cs
You need to tell your uncle thanks but no thanks for further help! Just start fresh and drop the distributor back in at TDC on cylinder #1. Put the rotor on and which ever tower it's pointing to is now #1. Follow the firing order and it rotates CCW.
ok will do and thanks that helped a lot!
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Old July 24th, 2017, 07:19 PM
  #25  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
JustaOlds350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by oldcutlass
I agree, first find #1 tdc on the compression stroke by rotating the engine with your finger over or with a tissue gently pushed in the #1 spark plug hole. When you rotate the engine you will feel air come out of the hole with your finger, or it will blow the tissue out. Move the machined line on the balancer to the 0 mark on the timing gauge. That will be #1.
Wire as per this picture with the power plug for the distributor pointing to the drivers side fender making sure the rotor is pointing to the #1 referenced spark plug tower on the cap in the picture.

thanks for the diagram it helps a lot !!
JustaOlds350 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
chasman414
Big Blocks
19
June 25th, 2020 07:05 AM
babs68
Small Blocks
20
July 4th, 2015 10:11 PM
delta_88_germany
Small Blocks
16
October 12th, 2013 11:35 AM
ronetuley
The Newbie Forum
9
August 13th, 2013 10:33 PM
chris83
Parts Wanted
9
August 18th, 2012 01:47 PM



Quick Reply: Distributor Problems



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:21 AM.