truck died on me tonight

[chrislehr]

looking for t-shooting ideas for the morning.

350, HEI distrib. I gassed it before warmed up and had a pop and it died and wouldnt refire (and typically does fine)

when I first had the engine put in, this happened once and it was a bad distrib wire.. unfortunately, im a computer guy not a mechanic, so I am not sure where to start. Im planning on packing a small toolbox and heading over in the morning...

[jkeady]

Pull off your distributor cap, make a note of where the distributor rotor is pointing, get in the truck and bump the starter a couple of times, then go back and see if the distributor rotor moved. I'm guessing it hasn't, which means: broken distributor gear roll pin, or broken timing chain.

[cdowns]

a common hei problem is the modules get fried especially if the original ruck wiring was used// unhook the wire to dizzy and turn the key on and use volt meter to see hoif theres voltage to that wire if so how much?

[chrislehr]

Also - this is a Skip White HEI, and if it IS the second time it's a bad connection at the distro wire, I think it might be time to say goodbye.

[BB72CHEVKT]

Originally Posted by cdowns

a common hei problem is the modules get fried especially if the original ruck wiring was used// unhook the wire to dizzy and turn the key on and use volt meter to see hoif theres voltage to that wire if so how much?

Had a module die more than once my self. There is no warning. It works then it doesen't.

[bigguy69]

i had this happen once. i ended up running a new to the dist. and it works fine now.

[chrislehr]

Im electrical and starting system retarded.. I put a voltmeter on the red wire going into the HEI (that comes from the starter, right?) and "tried" to ground the other (may have been a poor ground) and got 0.00 there.

I tried to remove the cap - I got to the ignition module inside, but couldnt find how to get further than that.

[Hawker7]

Originally Posted by chrislehr

Im electrical and starting system retarded.. I put a voltmeter on the red wire going into the HEI (that comes from the starter, right?) and "tried" to ground the other (may have been a poor ground) and got 0.00 there.

I tried to remove the cap - I got to the ignition module inside, but couldnt find how to get further than that.

Power for HEI shouldn't come from the starter. Ideally should be a 10 gauge wire (with inline fuse) run directly from the ign unfused terminal on the fuse block.

[WestButteTruck]

Was the key in the "run" position when you tried to get a voltage reading? There should only be one wire running to the dist.

Also, I had a backfire one time through the carb and it made my choke stuck shut thus making it not want to start because it was flooded. Make sure your choke is working freely.

I think you can pull the module out and have it tested at most local parts stores.

[Beefcake]

Originally Posted by cdowns

a common hei problem is the modules get fried especially if the original ruck wiring was used// unhook the wire to dizzy and turn the key on and use volt meter to see hoif theres voltage to that wire if so how much?

this happened to me

[unclewatts]

FWIW, about a month ago I was driving my 70 home and it was like somebody switched off my ignition. After the engine cooled down it ran OK so I limped home. I was running a 82 Chev pickup HEI. I talked to some knowledgeable automotive friends and they said it's the module in the HEI. Bought a new MSD "Streetfire" HEI and installed it. So far everything's OK.

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by Hawker7

Power for HEI shouldn't come from the starter. Ideally should be a 10 gauge wire (with inline fuse) run directly from the ign unfused terminal on the fuse block.

Well, if there is an inline fuse, I don't see it!

I didn't trace the cable, just went into a harness that appeared to head that away. The fusebox - so there should NOT be a fuse there then.. how silly - whats the point?

[cdowns]

if you feed wire to the hei is coming from the original factory harness THAT'S A PROBLEMyou r not getting full voltage to the dizzy the low voltage will burn modules up on a regular basis due to the low voltage

[coloradosean2009]

I don't see why there would be no fuse. I am thinking that you need a fuse.

[Sinister]

Originally Posted by cdowns

if you feed wire to the hei is coming from the original factory harness THAT'S A PROBLEMyou r not getting full voltage to the dizzy the low voltage will burn modules up on a regular basis due to the low voltage

[DZL1]

Originally Posted by cdowns

if you feed wire to the hei is coming from the original factory harness THAT'S A PROBLEMyou r not getting full voltage to the dizzy the low voltage will burn modules up on a regular basis due to the low voltage

So is it safe to assume that the power should come from the battery? Just wanting clarification.

DZL1.

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by DZL1

So is it safe to assume that the power should come from the battery? Just wanting clarification.

DZL1.

no the power needs to come from a switched power source// any doubts check the FAQ section on how to properly install an hei dizzy

[faribran]

what CDOWNS said.... good place to start

[67chevemall]

two wires there if he has a tach.
Toss the old espestis wire and run a brand new one with a fuse.