I have had a history with this car of the carbon button getting dirty and not allowing the car to start. My old hei did it, I replaced the buttons, coils, rotors, nothing. I replaced the distributor (albeit with a cheap china hei) and I think it has done it once or twice on me in the last few years. Pop off the cap, rub your finger on the contact and it starts right up. Yesterday however, it started fine, ran fine on my errands. I started it to leave to head home and it was ok, pulled out of the driveway onto a road, hit 3k and it broke up, popping through the exhaust some. Took it easy, got on the highway, and it got so bad it shut down on me. With the little tools I had with me I checked for power to the coil, good. Pulled the cap, cleaned the button and it started right back up, but quickly it started breaking up again. Coincidence? Or could that button be related? I'm thinking based on the rpm based behavior its a failing pickup coil. Opinions?

So, I've actually been looking to do something other than stock hei anyway for the new motor, so what do you guys suggest? A gutted hei with an msd box? Petronix? A standalone MSD distributor?

 

Which car are you describing? Is this HEI in the mid 80s cutlass or Mopar pictured? More info please...
(albeit with a cheap china hei) problem #1
Missing grounds will take out the modules.
Full keyed 12VCD present at the coil?
No reason a good HEI (merican made) shouldn't work with full 12VDC and good grounds. Good ignition, good fuel, things should run.
Open the hood with it idling at night and see if you have a leaking cap or wires?

 

I've never had that issue with an HEI. Have you checked your timing? Is your power wire connected securely and you have a good charge voltage.? Is there a Tach hooked up?

 

Strange indeed. Is the coil ground strap in place? It could be a pick up coil going. Usually the pick up coils just die and that is it. I had one MSD HEI module act a bit like that and then die. I know the MSD small cap distributors had corrosion issues. I wouldn't be scared to try the small cap ignitor III with vacuum advance.

 

Have had defective/high resistance spark plug wires burn rotors several times.

If the HEI has a vacuum advance disconnect it and see if the problem changes, if it does that is a sign of a bad pick-up coil. When the vacuum advance is disconnected it stops the movement of the wires going to the pick-up coil and stops the cutting-out/breaking-up.

Good luck!

 

My thought was the secondary ignition as well but who knows

 

Its a standard non comupter hei in the cutlass. I have not checked the voltage at the coil lately (didn't have a chance since this mess up) but I know it did have just over 12v, I'll check it again when I get the chance. Power wire is hooked up good, it does have a tach output. I'll pull it apart and look through the connections inside, but it does have the ground strap on the coil.
Plug wires are not new, but they are Accel superstock 8mm. Also vac advance is unplugged.

 

Disconnect your tach and see if it quits.