OK guy's inherited an 85 El Camino with a 305 small block and I was told by the owner that his father said it had no spark the last time he fooled around with it some six years ago or so? Anyway I received the car with the dist. half way pulled out of the engine and the rotor was missing? I have not had the chance to get a manual and thought I would ask what typically craps out in this ignition set up? I know the HEI hybrid has a module and a pick up coil but from there I'm lost? Any help out there would be great!
Thanks

it's most likely the module

Ralph,
It is most likely either the module or the pickup. The pickup is easy to check, just use an ohmmeter across the two wires and see if there is continuity. The GM manual has a real easy troubleshooting procedure.

Thanks Guy's! Well I checked everything on the dist. and reinstalled it unstuck the starter and got it to turn over. Not sure about the spark but I know for sure the fuel pump is out of action! I have a Chilton manual that says if the pump does not energize there is a fuse somewhere on the right fender passenger side? I'll be damned if I can find that sucker although it was getting late and Momma had dinner ready and was gettin all aggravated so I had to pack it in Lol! Anyone can shed some light that would be awsome!!
Thanks Guy's
Oh forgot to ask what the devel is that ticking noise comming from the Qudrajet? Man I know I know the traditional Pontiac engine but this thing is way differant for sure!

Autozone shows:
The Relay - Fuel Pump is located:
Under hood, passenger side, front engine area, above wheelwell, mounted on inner fender

I figured out a couple of things this afternoon and they are not very positive. The first thing I found is that someone had bypassed the harness and picked power for the fuel pump of off a wire in the main harness so that the pump still comes on when the key is switched. But I was still not getting fuel in the carb? I pulled the line and tested the pump there was plenty of gas? So I checked the filter and changed it out and tried again still no gas? Anyone have any idea whats up with this carb other than something being stuck internally?I noticed that there are a couple of solenoids and I was wondering if one might be the cause? I have zero experience with an electronic Quadrajet. The next issue I have is The Engine will not fire still, The car came to me with the dist. hanging out so I had to put it back in properly. Anyway I checked everything out including the pickup coil and coil and all looked sweet? So I put he engine at tdc with the rotor pointing at number one piston and I wired up the dist per the firing order. Since I had no fuel I put a bit down the throat of the crab with bit of either to boot and all I could get is a poof out the top of the crab every third crank or so? I double checked every thing and it all look Ok? What the heck is going on with this thing?
Thanks Any help would be great.

If the carb has sat awhile, it might need a new gasket kit as maybe the float is stuck. The ticking sound you hear is the mixture solenoid. That carb, and maybe the ignition is computer controlled, so there's alot more to troubleshooting these. Did someone install a electric fuel pump?

Yea there is an electric fuel pump but it appears to be a factory deal? I pulled the carb and everything looked decent and unless the float released when I pulled the top off of the carb I'm just not sure? Either way I need to get a rebuild kit and put this back together and go from there. I am starting to think that maybe there I not enough juice left to push the fuel? I removed the line and it does pump though?

To my knowledge, the only ElCo's of that era that had factory electric fuel pumps were the EFI V6's. Could this be a case of the previous owner swapping out the V6 for a V8? If so, that electric fuel pump probably putting out too high a fuel pressure for a Qjet, even an e qjet. IIRC, about 10-12 lbs for the TBI. At this point, I'd check the vin to see if it was previously a V6 before doing anything else. One way to get it running would be to stab a good old HEI distributor with a fresh module and a non electric Qjet in it.

This thing running yet?

The "poof out the carb" sounds like a stuck valve, broken push rod / rocker arm.

This thing running yet?

The "poof out the carb" sounds like a stuck valve, broken push rod / rocker arm.

Or the dizzy is 180* out and he had TDC on #6 cylinder.