Ignition problems

[Wildstreak]

So after getting my 68 swb 4x4 with a 283 running, I decided it would be a good idea to take a h.e.i ignition out of another truck that was just sitting there to replace the points that were in it. Well after changing the resistor wire to a true 12v wire I changed the rotor, put the motor at tdc and got the ignition pointing to the number 1 piston, then put the cap back on marking where it was pointing on the base, then lined it with the #1 plug at the cap.

When I go to start it fires but runs real rough, coughs then dies, I cant figure out why. When I replaced the resistor wire there was a splice off it originally one wire went to the point the other to the starter, I noticed I didnt replace that so I tried tying into the replaced wire and it didnt seem to help. Any suggestion on what I did wrong or what I can do would be a huge help. thanks everyone in advance.

[Sinister]

How did you line up TDC?

[Wildstreak]

the good ol stick your finger in the #1 spark plug hole waited for the compresion stroke to start pushing air, then lined the timing mark on the balancer to the middle of the thing coming off the timing chain case(sorry I cant remember what its called right now for some reason), is that wrong, I just followed a vid I had watched.

[Sinister]

That's the method I use to find TDC. Don't know what could be wrong, but it sounds like you might be 180* out. Might try finding TDC again and restabbing the distributor.

[Longhorn Man]

did you just eyeball it and fire it... or did you try to actually set the timing?
From your step by step that you listed, you still have to set the timing.

[Wildstreak]

I just eyeballed it, never did the timing with a light or anything, waiting for a hand to crank while i hole the gun. But shouldnt it still run? I double checked and the rotor is in right. When i poor a lil bit of gas down the carb it fires, runs great for like 2 secs then dies off and wont start. could there maybe be a carb problem, its a 2barrel?

[Longhorn Man]

if you have to pour gas in the carb to make it run, then I'd start trying to figure out why before I go any further on the HEI install.

[Wildstreak]

it was running fine before I did the swap, I had let it sit for like a week because i was out of town, the gas filter was dry when i went to start so I poured a lil gas down the carb to prime it(done it before when I went to start it after it was sitting for 3 years and it started right away) and it started then died. Its just a farm truck, not like its a show truck I just figured the HEI would make it run better.

[WorkinLonghorn]

The first thing I check when a carb'd motor needs a prime to run is I take the air cleaner off and (with motor off) quickly open the trottle manually and listen/watch to see if the accel-pump sprays a jet of gas into the venturi.
If not then you need to find out why there is no fuel in the bowl or replace the little pump piston.
If you do get a spray,then look into cleaning out the carb or "rebuilding" it, or check your timing and spark.

[Wildstreak]

wow thats crazy, you must have sent that message to my mind as well lol, I was going over everything again and thought well I know when I open the throttle on my 4barrel I can hear them spray, so I opened the throttle and listened and there was no sound whatsoever, I then crawled in and look to see and it look like its just not spraying. So I talked to my buddy who says he can rebuild it for 20 bucks so I'll try that. In the mean time I have a spare 2barrel I'm goin try...Thanks for the help so far guys

[fdbdw]

My first thought when I read this was that you are still only getting 12 on crank and then back to the 9.3 on run but you said you removed the condencing wire, so if it turns out the carb is not the problem I would suggest you disconect and tape off all the wires that were used with the points and run a wire straight from the unfused ing source on your fuse box to the hei (wich will give you full time 12v) and see if that makes a difference, Just another option if it turns out not to be the carb

[Wildstreak]

well the carb was shot, it always lost its prime so I just replaced it with another I had around, went to fire it up and still wouldn't fire, after getting my dad to hop in and crank it over while I adjusted the timing. Turns out you shouldn't always trust the mark on the balancer to be correct, it could have jumped a tooth at one time or even be the chain is that stretched but either way, I got her running great, but I had to time it by ear like an old school guy taught me. Thanks for the help guys