Please HELP me Diagnose My Problem????

[ll____b0t____ll]

Ok well after my Valentines Day Nightmare Ive taken some time away from the truck to coooool off.
Now I need to get into it and find whats wrong and fix it.

Any help from Members here would be greatly welcomed..Here goes.

1972 C-10 "was" Inline 6 Now is 350 V8
Running a new style Alt a.k.a internaly regulated.
Running an H.E.I distributer.
Running Quadrajet 4
New starter
New Battery
Ive listed these things as they seem the most likely Notes you might need to help but if you need further info please ask.

The problem is it turns over but wont fire up or even try to fire from what I can tell.

I dont think its lack of fuel as just in case I shot it with starter fluid and cranked her... and nothing changed it just cranks over and no fire up.

My guess is somthing with the H.E.I but I need to get some advice so that I dont have to throw more money away and it still not start.

[Chevymann1968]

Ok wll you scould try the most common thing and check the at the plugs for fire! Then if you arent getting fire trace down the problem !!! It could be a bad cap and rotor ro maybe it is the plug-in on the distributor that is what gives you fire!!! ANymore questions give send me a PM!!!

Ernest B.

[Longhorn Man]

check for fire, if no fire, look at both ends of the wire that was added to run the HEI, check for power with a test light at both ends too.
After that, check the condition of the cap and rotor
After that, it's probably going to be internal on the HEI... module is a fairly common problem

[texanidiot25]

Pull a a boot off at the dizzy, and set it near the tab. Crank the motor over and see if it's getting s strong spark. If not, see if you can swap out the HEI coil. Mine went out tonight. Was starting pretty strong yesterday and the past week, but the motor was feeling some-what weak I thought. Wouldn'ts tart at all tonight. After seeing that the spark was weak as a Ford, tossed in a new(er) HEI coil and it fired right up on the 1st try, and felt stronger as well.

[ll____b0t____ll]

Im heading to the parts store and grabing some new plugs in the morning incase its fouled plugs and then I will check for spark.
Correct me if im wrong but I remove drivers side front plug and put it into the plug wire and crank the moter while holding the plug close to frame and look for an ark or spark?

[Chevymann1968]

Frame or the manifold!!!! Good luck!!!!!

[ll____b0t____ll]

Ok ill hit it in the morning and go from there and let you all know. thanks

[texanidiot25]

No, just pull the spark plug boot off and hold it near ground (anything metal pretty much). If the spark is strong it should have no problem arching to a ground from the boot. If it can't easily, then that's a sign of weak spark.

[sinned4me]

I have run into this a lot. Is your power wire to the distributor hot when cranking? Most tap in to a hot Wire when key is on but forget to check if it is hot in the crank position.

[Longhorn Man]

sinned... if it ran before...

[haysonj]

Pull the cap and make sure the rotor turns when you turn the engine over if it doe then most likely the module is your problem if there is no spark. these dist. either work or don't work and there is no in between.

[ll____b0t____ll]

Ok well I got out there today and checked for spark at the plug boot and no spark.
Checked at the cap ..no spark.
I didnt have a wire tester so I couldnt test the wire but I cant see how this could be it as it started around 25 times before but just incase I ordered a replacement wire for it from jegs of the right size.

Also as I didnt want to rebuild the old H.E.I that we just threw on from a used moter so I went ahead and ordered the Jegs street Spark Distributer.

Figureing id just close the loop on the ignition I also ordered a set of MSD 8.5mm High conductor red spark plug wires ooh and a nice billet hold down for the Dist.


Now heres where I need some real Old School Help......
Ive never really had to install a Distibuter before Dad was just always there and did that kinda thing but as hes gone now I have to do it myself.
I get the way it works but this moter gave my father a chalenge getting the distributer to drop fully ... it took him almost 2 hours fighting it.
This from a machanic with mad skills and the most patiance ive ever seen in a man and it had him frusterated.

This has me spooked and Ide realy appriciate any counseling or help you all might have so I can feel like I can do this myself without getting it out and not being able to finish.
Thanks in advance and for the previose help.

[texanidiot25]

Took my dad (20+ year ASE mech., and hot rodder) maybe a minute or so to fidangle the thing in my motor when we tossed it in the truck and primed the oil system. Normally it ain't a big deal stabbing it in. Be sure to take one wire off at a time off the cap as you hook them back up to the plugs to the dizzy, so you keep track of the firing order.

Honestly I find putting the spark plugs back on (if you didn't keep track of the order) right and timing a bigger PITA then stabbing in the dizzy.

[craig24671]

Listen I had the same problem with my brand new msd distributor. Worked fine for a while then all the sudden nothing, no fire. Changed out the electronic module about $35 bucks and fired right off. Good look with yours

[BarryB]

I would swap out the module, Those those things will quit snap of a finger. And put you to walking. The ones I've had go bad, would run until I shut it off, and then wouldn't start back. 35.00 fix.

[texanidiot25]

Originally Posted by BarryB

I would swap out the module, Those those things will quit snap of a finger. And put you to walking. The ones I've had go bad, would run until I shut it off, and then wouldn't start back. 35.00 fix.

+1 For me. Cranked and ran fine saturday. Sunday just wouldn't fire.