I've recently replaced the engine in my 69 chevelle and with this change i have also changed over to an HEI distributor. I'm having an issue now where i am getting no power. Everything is hooked up, except the wire that will power the distributor. I understand the car wont start without that wire actually hooked up, but i'm not looking to start it yet, i'm just wondering why when i turn the key to the on position i get no dash lights, no head lights, no lights of any kind coming on. the fuses are all good and like i said, the only thing that has changed is i'm using the HEI. Do i need the HEI hooked up to power the rest of the car (dash lights, headlights, etc) or should i be getting power to those regardless? Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Sounds like your neutral safety switch it is located on your steering column .69's are famous for them going.Had one go in my 78 truck did the same thing as your car turn the key and nothing.Can you still get head lights?

Sorry I should have read more throughly I see you get no head lights either.Mine had lights even though a had nothing at the ignition.Might also be your ignition switch.

The HEI not being connected would have nothing to do with any of the lights.
You need to start checking voltage to see where you do have and where you do not have power.

I would start at the BAT terminal of the horn relay and work my way both directions from there.
If no power there, check at the main terminal on the core support - behind the passenger's side head light, it is fed from a fusible link connected to the positive battery cable pigtail.

Also, sometimes the bulkhead connectors loose connections where they plug together.
Also the fuse holder clips sometimes loose their connection with the fuse so even a good fuse will only have power on one end.

I would think that the problem is related to the engine swap.

The same thing happened to me tonight before I had to go to work. For me it happened out of the blue. The car cranked one day but would not start. I replaced the battery the next day and now with a new battery and volt meter saying I have 12v it still has no power, headlights and all. I messed with the negative clamp on the battery and it started, drove it about 10 miles and my guage hit 18v one time when I was on the gas. Other than that it drove fine until I got home and it died and I have no power again the headlights, ign etc... I didn't get a chance to look at it but I am going to start at the ground and work back to the fuse box. I don't know if this is the same problem as you, and I don't want to take over your thread with my long winded problem, but if you figure yours out can you post it back on here and I'll do the same

sounds good, keep me updated i havent even had time to look into mine yet so it might be the same issue

I traced the wire coming off the battery ( I assume it goes to the harness that clips into the firewall for the fuse panel) and found that the wire pulled out of a crimp connector. The crimp connector was wrapped in electrical tape so I guess it was holding on by a strand and would once in a while move and that is why i was having that voltage spike. I guess I just got lucky that I was able to make it all the way home before that wire pulled loose again and the car died. I drove the car around since and it has been running great. Good luck