[Guest]

Hey all, I had my chevelle running just a few days ago with the new 406 I built and I had the timing set at 36 (18 initial and 18 advance). It was my first time doing timing on a car and it ran great except at around 5000 rpm or so it would start to bog and hesitate as if the car was suddenly losing power. I figured it was too advanced and I didn't like the way the HEI was sitting in the motor, as the vacuum advance was pushed up against the transmission dipstick (it just looked wrong!) So, I decided to pull the distributor and it's been 3 days that I haven't been able to get it running again, I did get it running for like a second the first day, and I wasn't pressing down enough on the distributor and it came right out of its place and everything was off again. I've done everything, bring it up to TDC with my finger over #1 to feel for compression, point the rotor towards #1 and vacuum advance to around #6. It's not getting any spark. I'm starting to get really frustrated, and I'm hoping that I dont need to get another new distributor. What could be causing the lack of spark? I tried everything, even changed coils and caps and still nothing. Yesterday I accidently put the wires in backwards because I was so tired and frustrated (the 3 wires brown, black, and peach are individual on mine so it's a real pain in the ass). Could that have caused something to blow or burn out? What about the module, what is it's job and can that have gone bad, since those wires come from the module? Please, any advice or help would be great, I know there is alot of knowledge on this board and I'm just trying to learn.
thanks,
-Cyrus

 

[Troy70SS]

Hi Cyrus,

Sorry to hear about your problems. Been there...

Sounds like a module issue of you aren't getting any spark. Make sure you have 12v to the dist. when ign is on. Make sure your wires are in the right l;ocation then try it again. if you still have no spark, try a different module. they are cheap at the parts store. However, the cheap ones aren't always good for 5000+ RPM so just try it and if you get a miss above 4 or 5K then try putting in a good module from MSD or an original GM HP module.

Hope this helps,

Troy.

 

[zwede]

First step is to install the distributor with correct timing. Pointing the rotor at no 1 is just too much of a timing error in my opinion. There's an easy way to set it almost perfect:

Rotate engine to #1 compression stroke. Your thumb method will work or pop the drivers side valve cover and make sure the valves for #1 are not moving as you come up towards TDC.

Next rotate engine to indicate 15 degrees advance on the timing pointer (of course still on #1 compression stroke).

Now install distributor with rotor pointing to #1. Make sure it engages oil pump shaft. If not, rotate oil pump shaft with long screwdriver until the distributor goes down all the way.

Remove the rotor. You will see the magnets that create the trigger pulse. There's a ring with teeth pointing in and another ring on the main shaft with teeth pointing outwards. When the teeth line up you get a spark.

Rotate distributor until the teeth line up.

Make sure rotor is still pointing at #1 tower. Install rotor, cap and wires.

Timing will now be right for the engine to fire and run with no guessing.

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys,
I'm gonna go to the parts store and pickup a pertronix flamethrower HEI module and the coil to go with it. They claim it will handle up to 7500 rpm which will be more than enough. Hopefully with the new module I'll be able to get my car started and dialed in, and wont have any more problems at 5000 rpm. Anything else that I should check?
Once again thanks,
-Cyrus

 

[Bob West]

As stated before, just make sure you have 12 volts to the HEI, the stock resistor wire is only 8-9 volts. Thats one of the reasons I've like Mallory Unilite distributors, you can use the stock wire, drop in and go