Electrical
 

71 350 longhorn,

new alternator, new battery, new starter, new ignition switch, new HEI dist.

Won't fire, tried everything.....HELP!!!

Had a battery explode, since then it's been a nightmare.!

Re: Electrical
 

...will it turn over?
Have you checked 7 times to make sure that your (new) HEI distributor is timed correctly to fire for #1 at TDC.
A lot of installs get this wrong or out by 180°.
The best way is to check it on the damper, remove the valve cover to view the valve/spring position and then check it in the cylinder with the plug removed.
If that is ok....is your HEI actually firing off a spark?

All Good
Coley

Re: Electrical
 

Battery explosion...WOW!
Did you figure out what caused it?
Ok...back to basics...

1/ Ign on, do you have 12 V on HEI + connection? Supply wire from Ign switch must be 12 G or larger...make sure you havent connected Ign to Tach terminal on HEI connector...
2/ New HEI distributor...does it have the module in it and is it wired correctly?
3/ Missing rotor button?
4/ Distributor timed correctly? Bring cyl #1 to TDC on compression, remove the cap and make sure rotor is pointing to #1 cyl...firing order clockwise, 18436572......see pic...
5/ Does the starter spin the engine over?

Usual suspects...
fuel supply ok?
does the rotor spin when engine cranks over?

:chevy::chevy::chevy:

Re: Electrical
 

I always check em 8 times...not 7....once for each firing cycle...haha

But I do know what you mean...not first time its bitten me...

:chevy::chevy::chevy:

Re: Electrical
 

You need to get a voltmeter and describe the problem with more than won't fire.

Re: Electrical
 

Battery explosions are usually due to loose terminals sparking during cranking. OR you could be like a guy I used to work for that would hook a 12V battery up to jump start a tractor with a 6V system. Fortunately the big chunks missed me, and I got the acid rinsed off before I went blind. Lots of crazy running loose in the world.

Please provide us with some pictures. They may help in the diagnosis.

Re: Electrical
 

Drop a Q and run.

Did the truck have HEI before? If no, you need to run a new wire from the fuse block to the HEI.

Re: Electrical
 

....good point.

How many volts do you have at the HEI right now with the main power wire?

If you are using the original, tiny little yellow power (+) wire...you might have 8 volts or less arriving at your HEI unit and this isn't going to cut it.

Check this voltage....and post up the number.

All Good
Coley

Re: Electrical
 

Anytime working with a battery, SAFETY GLASSES/FACE SHIELD.