Invader Sandstone

The old distributor looks pretty much like the new one, just a tiny bit smaller. This is my maiden voyage into distributor work so thanks for bearing with me.

It'll be the first thing I check tomorrow. Thank you. God I hope this is the problem.

Zorro O

If your old distibutor was also an HEI (you said they look about the same) When they put the new distributor in, did they give you a new coil, or swap the old one over?

bluedawg

Sounds like youve got a short in the distributor. Wish you lived near and we'd dic with it.

augiedoggy

I converterted my 74 from the original distributor to the same HEI one you have and did run a wire from somewhere else.... I just can't remember if I tapped into main ignition wire or the fuse panel.... you do want a wire that turns on and off with the actual run position. And not regular ACC power.

BB2B

I suggest you do a little more investigation before committing to a solution. You did not say if you looked for spark or fuel in the periods where it won't start. My first thought upon reading your post was vapor lock or fuel pump issue. You need to look for fuel at the carb and spark at the plugs to narrow down the problem.

augiedoggy

He did say he checked for spark with a piece of wire and didn't have it the one time it wouldn't start.... if he's actually using the original 9v points ignition wire his HEI module will overheat fast.... Ithink this could very well be his issue..... I found this out by Googling for installation instructions when I installed mine since the ones supplied with the HEI module were terrible...

Invader Sandstone

I cant recreate the problem today. OF COURSE. I drove it around till the engine was warm and after ten minutes tried to start it, and it started. I repeated this three times. Ill have to try on a hotter day. I did pick up the spark tester and ill keep it with me when im in the car. Ill post updates as soon as I have any.

I did check the voltage going to the distributor before i started driving and it was 12.5v

Please stick with me on this. Im very appreciative of everyone's help. This is my daily drive, which I love, but at the moment it is useless as a daily driver because Ill get stranded.

Thanks a ton.

Ill probably really get more tests done on saturday.

calwldlife

so no luck in repeating the issue.
wire is 12v, good.
not knowing what your car came with OEM,
can't say whether it is factory.
74 was the HEI year for GM.

heat you say.
well that points to a borderline electronic component.
coil
ignition module
mag pickup coil.

maybe the wire if it is jiggled, moved around is intermitent..
you did say that you were trouble shooting no spark and,
bam it started.

have your test equip with you so you can check for volts
and spark.

Invader Sandstone

I'm pretty sure it's heat related and its pretty regular (except for today). Everything before pointed to fuel boiling except for when it started after I had removed one plug to check spark. I'm gonna keep all me diagnostic tools with me when I got out so when it happens again I can get on it.

Ill post those results here.