[68454SS]

This is on a 350 w/HEI. Car will intermittently crank and crank and never fire. Then all of a sudden it will start, sometimes it won't and the battery dies. It does it maybe 1 out of every 10 starts, and there is no pattern. Sometimes when cold, sometimes just ten minutes after you shut it off. It has a rebuilt distributor and module. Car has had this problem for many years.

 

[JWagner]

What do you mean about the battery dies?? Do you have to recharge the battery when this happens? Other than the battery mention, it sounds like a loose connection.

 

[Verle]

loose connection
bad/corroded ground
bad/corroded battery cables
bad/corroded/partially broken wiring inside insulation

Are you using the neutral safety switch?
Take it apart and clean all the contacts.

 

[68454SS]

Sorry - I realize that wasn't the clearest post. What I mean is that you can crank the starter until the battery dies sometimes and it won't fire at all. Sometimes it will start normally, sometimes you can wait for a few minutes and it will fire normally as well. It has a B&M megashifter mounted in the floor. Originally it had a column shift, could there be something loose in the column that isn't being used anymore? What would allow it to crank but not fire?

 

[mrfuzzy]

if it's your basic hei it sounds like it may be your reluctor. the wires wear from the dist. advancing and intermitantly short out which would cause your problem.

 

[72ragtop]

Did you remove the resistor wire and replace it with a reg wire of 12 ga to supply power to the distributor? Jim.

 

[1Fast7D]

When it won't start check for power at the HET BAT terminal while cranking. You could also tap a wire off the wire going to the HET BAT terminal, (add a fuse for safety) run it to the dash to a small bulb (like a 194) and then to ground. Check the bulb while cranking, if it is not on, the HEI isn't getting power.

One possibility cound be the IGN switch going bad or out of adjustment.