Starting Issue w/ HEI Distributor

[Chance66C10]

I drove my tuck to work on Tuesday and parked it in the garage that evening. When I went to start it Wednesday morning it was turning over, but seemed like the spark plugs weren't firing. I didn't have time to mess with it so I took another vehicle to work.

Last night I checked all of the connections as I just rewired the whole truck and everything seemed to check out. I tried starting the truck again and I had no luck. I then tapped on the top and side of the distributor and it fired right up.

Is there something I can look at in the distributor, or do I just need a new one? It's a Delco-Remy HEI.


Thanks,
Chance

[geezer#99]

Maybe your tapping advanced it a bit.
Normal rotor rotation will retard the timing if the distributor isn't locked down.
Check to see if it's loose.

[Chance66C10]

geezer#99 thanks for the advice. I will double check the timing this evening. I had an issue when I bought the truck that it would kill at 3k rpm. The culprit ended up being the distributor was a little loose and the timing was advanced way too far.

[geezer#99]

If being loose isn't it then it could be internal.
Coil wiring or ground. Look here.
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...EI_distributor

[luvbowties]

Don't forget to check/replace pickup coil; it often is "almost broken in two" inside insulation & works intermittently. Cheap replacement, too.
Sam