Experienced Mechanic needs another opinion

[special-K]

From what you describe,I think the problem is with the HEI.They either work or don`t.Less forgiving than original points dist.If it doesn`t start with other distributor then it`s got to be the supply to it.Your "new" distributor could have,as mentioned,a faulty module,pickup,coil,or wire from base to coil.You have spark at plugs,though.Is it a good zap?I forgot about that.It probably is timing,then.I bet you`re 180 out or wires aren`t right.

[68cajun]

If you had to realign the rotor as stated in the first post, i think you may have jumped timing.

[olblue60@aol.com]

I dont know if its just a coincodince: but twice I have had to change modulators in my trucks. they ran then went dead. A few hours after, they started up again. I drove them a little and they quit for good. After changing the modulator they started and kept running. Its been a long time since this happened, but I was told that it wasnt uncommon for it to act this way before the modulator went out for good. It might be woth the investment of a new modulator while the timing and carb settings are still where the engine was running.

[olblue60@aol.com]

I also , as Special K suggested have had the wire going through the bottom of the dist. ,worn and grounding to the distributer as he suggested. Your symptoms sound as though this might be a good avenue to check out as well.
Good luck

[69_hafton]

I agree with Jhowe - replace the plugs. I've got a car that I've replace the plugs on several times because it runs rich and after running awhile it just won't start anymore. Replace the plugs and boom, there it is! Plugs shouldn't be wet, BTW.

Edit: don't rely entirely on the spark at the plug, you can still get a weak - yet intermitant - spark with plugs that are gas fouled.

[JIMS1972STEPSIDE]

I had a problem like yours, where the voltage on the + side of the coil was to low and the motor wanted to start but didn't and once I corrected that it fired, but you said you had the correct voltage there, sound like a problem in the HEI system to me. And yesterday my truck developed a problem where it would fire intermittently and found a crack in the top of the coil tower, you coud see the spark fire through the top of the coil, so I replaced the coil and it ran fine. Good luck

[tom71]

i did a toyota 22re with a brand new motor plugs cap and rotor basically everything was new , it just wouldntstart and drove me bug **** re set the timing by hand 5 or 6 times it turned out that the cat was plugged , it took 5minutes to disconnect the exhaust and try to start , whaddaya know it started rite up , if you think everything is right then try pulling the exhaust loose it worked for me .

[luisduran]

So what happend,did you find the problem?

[53burb]

curious too....

[kingsolver72]

Originally Posted by Rdrdave

check condition of rotor and cap...badly cracked or broken. I had that problem. Check the simplest and go for the worse. check wiring to HEI, then cap/rotor, then firing order, then plugs and so on. You'd be amazed how many little things keep an engine from starting.

I would agree.Sometimes the simplest or most obvious things are over looked.