Since it sounds as if the HEI was previously installed, how did it run before? It sounds like a ground issue or voltage to the HEI itself is a problem.

When you say you have voltage @ the distributor but not after, exactly how much voltage do you have (for sure)? Run a hot wire (10guage) from an ign-unfused source on the fuse-block directly to the batt terminal on the distributor & see what happens. If the rotor is turning (no broken timing chain) you should have spark. No spark, look @ the coil & it's ground strap.

Keep us posted. We all love a good mystery......we just hate it when it happens to one of us & in this way! :banghead:

i personally at this point replace the distubutator and see what happens

..
 

You said it's been sitting for a while. Make sure your tires are at the correct air pressure, and that your radiator is topped off....j/k



assuming you have power to the distributor, and assuming you confirmed that it's the spark that's absent and not fuel or a broken timing chain, there are three things it could be. Listed in the order of failure in my experience (1)the pickup coil, (2) the modual, (3) ignition coil

pickup
 

pickup coil image

you said that you ckecked for spark against the inner fender and i am not 100% sure on this but maybe it won't ark through the paint or will it. That is just my $0.02. I am probably wrong but what the heck it never hurts to speak your opinion does it?

Did you do any ignition switch work? I had a similar problem after I rehooked up my ignition switch. The dizzy would get power in the on position, but when put in the sart position would not get power. I had 2 wires backwards on the ignition switch. One wire interrupts power when cranking(start position)so to give all the power to the starter (ie radio, A.C., etc), When put in run position it gets power again. The other wire gets power all the time when ignition turned to start or run. These 2 wires were backwards, so I switched and then it worked fine. Maybe your ignition switch went bad? Hope this helps a little. Good luck!
Shawn

Found my problem on my SWB this afternoon. Forgot to put the two screws back in the Module that mount it to the Dist top plate. After I did that, the bugger kicked off fine. Now how I forgot them little screws---well let's just say "Brain Fart!" Da!!! :D

glad to hear you found it. been waiting for that post. I hate it when it's my fault! :banghead:

Check the pickup coil (white donut shape with two wires coming out of it-you must remove the dist shaft from the dist housing to replace the coil) as suggested above. Had one that after a few years one of the wires broke due to fatigue and constant movement from the vacuum advance. And yes, the 12v supply to the dist should be there during cranking and while running. Means the latest thing you have done is add the tach, unhook the tach wire from the dist and see if any symptoms change. I would also leave it unhooked until the vehicle is running again. Once it runs, then hook the tach wire back up.

Randy

Started to write my suggestions, got interuppted, finished writing and posted. :rolleyes: There has been about 6 posts since I started the post. Glad to hear you got it running.

Randy

Uuhhh.... it was 72superBB that made the original post. Did he get his going?

It is running now, look at the at my wits end post for info

thaks

Ron

Ok.