I have a new distributor, module, dizzy, cap, coil, plugs, wires, confirmed TDC (pulled the valve cover off and watched the valves) and timed it, and 12V to my hei ignition. EL camino will turn over but no fire. Motor is a 1988 Camaro H.O. 305. Edelbrock 650 cfm carb. Stock long block and tins. What is wrong with my system? Fixed my backdiring issue by putting in in tune. Now it won't even kick. Plugs are gapped at .035. Any ideas?:dontknow::let_it_all_out:

I believe plug gap should be opened up a little more with HEI, I believe .043- .045. but it should still start. make sure your at TDC on the compression stroke, take out the number one plug and turn it over until you feel air pushing your finger out and thats the right TDC

when you put in the coil did you put the carbon thing with the spring to the coil under it? are you sure you have a good power source to the coil? did you check to see if its sparking when you turn it over? are you sure that the power source doesent turn off in the crank position on the ignition switch and come back on in the run or acc position? did you yook up thr pigtail from the pickup coils to the cap? did you remember to put the ground strap under the coil when you installed it?

Did you by chance hook the power wire to the tach side of the distributor cap?

All good questions!!!
Inquiring minds wanta know!!!
Donny

I've gotten a bad module right out the box before. Check the module.

If you find that you left the ground strap out, don't be suprised if you still don't get spark after replacing it. You probably fried the module.

I believe plug gap should be opened up a little more with HEI, I believe .043- .045. but it should still start. make sure your at TDC on the compression stroke, take out the number one plug and turn it over until you feel air pushing your finger out and thats the right TDC
I thought so too, but the motor is from a Camaro, so when I pulled the manual for that engine it gave said plug gap. I'll open it a little bit more. Also, I know for sure I am TDC, I pulled the valve covers and set it.

Regarding the carbon button under the coil, it is indeed installed. Yup, it sparks when cranking and receives 10V to it while in the starting position. Pig tails are hooked up, as well as the grounding strap.

Power is going to the BAT terminal.

Testsed the module, coil, wires all of em are good.

See thats why I am stumped. I have tested and tried everything for this dang ignition system. My dad mentioned the stator, do those go out, could that be the cause?

Otherwise I am at a complete loss, because everything is new, and good...
I am going to retest everything again tonight, as well as double check TDC to be safe. But I am 99% positive that everything is in order. Thanks for all the replies and questions! Any other ideas?:beer:

You need 12v! Make sure you're getting 12v all the time. Try running 12v from the battery as a test. See if that helps.

Old school trick... attach a 12v test light between the TACH term and ground. While cranking, you should see a very faint flicker as the coil fires.

So, to clarify, did you get spark at the plug wires ? Seems like the only thing you didn't mention was the pick-up coil. Distributors with vacuum advance sometimes work those wires to the pick-up coil to where they break inside the insulation. A resistance check with an ohm meter would verify if it's OK.

10 volts during cranking sounds low. sounds like you might have another problem all together. as stated above run a jumper wire straight to the battery and see if it fires.

10 volts during crank is what I get on my 59
The starter is a big draw
But is should start.

I too have been chasing Distributor issues all day
After a coil change---module change---still no spark
Got frustrated and went to town for a new cap, rotor, and coil. Also bought a pick-up coil just in case, as I did not want to go back into town.

Install new cap, rotor, coil---still no fire and I was just about to give up, when I noticed
a loose wire in the 3-wire harness of the distributor.
The wire had just fell out of the terminal because a bad crimp by MALLORY.
Checked the other 2 wires and they seemed okay.
Since I have a supply of Packard 56 terminals, I was able to fix it.
Put a new end on the wire----plug the wire into the connector-----plug the connector into the cap
AND THE CAR FINALLY STARTED.

Check everything-----even the stuff that makes no sense

My car started this morning after quitting last night, just as I pulled into the driveway.
Earlier it quit at the place where I get the oil changed.
Both times----after it cooled down--it restarted------------weird

Yup, it does spark, and on time too. Also, I recieved 10V when cranking in my camaro and it would start right up, so I am not sure that I am not recieving enough voltage. Also, I have done the jumper wire trick, and it still will not fire.
Hey Bryan, I am going to check my connectors in the dist and see if I have your problem. It sounds VERY familiar.
Thanks everyone for all the input.
:nanawrench:

Gah. I am done.
This is what I am going to do.
Remove the Valve cover.
Set it on TDC.
Check the dist for endplay, recheck the module, check the wires running from the stator to the module, and the wires from the module to the cap.
Then I am going to check the cap, and ,ake sure the terminals are not some how shorting.
Test the coil.
Install coil in cap.
Test the wires.. again.
Pull all the plugs, see if they are fouled, and open up the gap to .045 while I am at it.
Will test for sufficient voltage in all positions, and for sufficient grounds.
ALso, I am going to flush out my tank, perhaps I am getting poor fuel.
If it doesnt run still, I am going to blow apart a certain 305 this 4th and drop in my gen6 454 crate motor I picked up for $600. Only 20 miles on it. Its a friggin steal!!:nanawrench:
Have a safe and happy holiday everyone.:beer:

What sparkplugs do you have in it ?(brand)
You said you have spark,so where are you registering the spark at.
Take an old sparkplug and attach a plugwire to it and ground the plug to the engine then turn the engine over to see if the spark is getting to the plug.This eliminates bad ignition parts up to but not including the sparkplugs.
If you are using E3 sparkplugs I would change to a different brand to see if it makes a difference.

It was a bad stator. Of all the things it was the stator. Replaced the distributor and it fired up.
Thanks all!