Ah Ying and Yang grasshopper....Summit made good on my adjustable timing light and it came to my doorstep today. 4 days after calling them that's pretty good. Bad news. I was driving yesterday evening on a deserted country road and boom, backfire cars slows , no spark. deja vu all over again ...that's how the e-bay complete distributor got put in last fall because the original ( Not to the car) HEI bought the farm. 4 hours later after being towed ( Thanks CAA) I am about to do an autopsy on the dead HEI. Any suggestions?
Thanks
joepenoso

 

Take lots of pictures

 

Buy a better HEI, like MSD or Mallory.

 

Or maybe a rebuilt one at Canadian Tire?
I was hoping to change the module or coil only.....but who knows I'm researching options right now
Thanks
joepenoso

 

Here's a module tester http://www.ebay.com/itm/KENT-MOORE-J..._Tools&vxp=mtr

Although you can test one without that.

 

I wouldn't pay $300 for a distributor if that is all that was left in the world!
Order an Accel moduale and start there.

 

My suggestion, install an original points style distributor and forget about the unnecessary HEI ........ After two HEI failures, maybe your Olds is trying to tell you the right thing to do.......

 

Always carry a spare module when you have an HEI and always put the heat paste under the module. These modules are somewhat noted for this. Not so much with todays new modules. Certainly no where near as bad as a Mopar ballast resistor (mandatory glove box spare part with a Mopar) but they are known to fail.

 

I have a MSD billet on both chevy's and MSD RTR on the Cutlass. 9 and 7 years on the chevy's and 2 years on the cutlass with no problems.
I fried the MSD RTR on the Cutlass due to operator error and MSD fixed it for free, had it back in 3 weeks. You get what you paid for. Great customer service.

 

I checked made sure distributor HEI was getting 12 volts with key on....went to Canadian Tire ordered a new module( Not in Stock) I'll install it tomorrow. Agreed points ignition would not have left me stranded like that but I bought the car with HEI and now have 2 HEI complete distributers. The one from E-Bay cost about the same as a module alone
Thanks
joepenoso

 

No... the one on Ebay cost you the cost of an HEI and a new module.

 

I think your [SARCASM] [/SARCASM] HTML tags apparently aren't working...

 

LOL.
I tried, thinking maybe it will stop.

 

I'll just leave this here...

http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/...feature19.html

 

"Lost art"??? Seriously? How hard is it to work on a HEI distributor? There are like, four parts to it.

 

Don't look at me .. I didn't write it.

 

Thanks for the contributions
The module arrives tomorrow, not an in stock item.
joepenoso
Peace....Out

 

Another concern is good grounds. Poor grounds will take out a module in short order. The MSD distributor is real sensitive to this as is the A & AL series of spark boxes. Im sure most electronic ignitions systems are ground sensitive. All electronics are. Grounds, grounds, grounds!

 

My old fashioned point ignition has never failed me.

 

Summit and E Bay have Cardone rebuilt points ignition they are clearing out......but I haven't reached that stage yet. The Olds HEI ignition on E Bay has dropped to a little over $40.00 it's cheaper now than a year ago.
Thanks
joepenoso

 

Don't go back to a point dizzy, its just going backwards.
I sold my dwell meter in a yard sell for $5.

 

"I checked made sure distributor HEI was getting 12 volts with key on"

I would check that with the car running.

I would use a original AC Delco module in your HEI (Accel and most others are crap) Always have a spare like others have stated.

 

Two dead, I'm betting on wiring. What gauge wire feeds the ignition to the HEI? They typically recommend a larger than stock gauge. And you did remove any ballast resistor/wire correct? Also, I've had corroded/worn key ignition switches that didn't pass current well.

 

Was heat sink grease used on the module? None or little would cause a new module to burn out.
I am also one of the ones who would suggest points again, unless you are usually into high RPMs.

 

The kid was sick Friday...weekends are right offs and Monday was no school.
Replaced Module in Chinese ignition with a new Canadian tire one....CHECKED FOR 12 VOLTS+ on 12 ga. live wire to HEI. 12 + volts yes...... so far no good.
Cranked motor with timing light hooked....no spark. double checked everything....no love.
Plan B ordered new now $40.00 E Bay distributor researching what to check replace next. Not ready to buy point distributor on sale at Summitt and E Bay


Thanks
joepenoso

 

I have seen fouled plugs give this symptom. Try a plug change.

 

It's not sparking
13 volts is flowing into the distributor through a key switched wire
Thanks
joepenoso

 

Did you read the article I linked for troubleshooting?

 

As I previously stated I've witnessed fouled plugs no sparkie first hand. I have a couple of different in-line spark testers. One flashes and one has the adjustable spark jump gap. I was trouble-shooting a friends "no spark" condition 20 some years ago after he installed a point conversion kit in his 56 BelAir with a 383. I had everything apart from the ignition switch all the way through the system. I had all the right resistances and voltages on all the components, yet the in-line spark testers said no spark. Thoroughly Defeated, I tucked my tail and left his house without solving the problem. He called a few days later and said "I fixed it." I replied "OK what the hell was it!"....plugs....they were fouled from all the cranking he had done prior to my arrival while troubleshooting it. Change your plugs.

 

I did not.

 

I hope you were joking

 

Thanks professor for the article(Hemming) I read it and using it as a guideline for my autopsy'''''''''''''..............I will try swapping a #1 plug to see if fouling caused a no spark condition( Droldsmorland). I,m joking about buying a rebuilt Canadian Tire distributor......the one from E Bay is less than $40.00 plus shipping lol
Thanks
joepenoso

 

You hopefully mean a new plug not one out of #1 cylinder? Use only a new plug.

 

Yeah new plug into #1 cylinder with a timing light' Suspender/belt kind of thing. It will confirm no spark and eliminate module from the equation
Thanks
joepenoso