Whats the most common problem for not getting a spark after changing distributors? What can a check? It was working in my old motor.

I did search for this but the only thing that looked promising had a dead link.

 

GoFaster..how did you connect the wires on the side of the distributor?

Are you sure you have them the right way round,post a pic if you can.

 

The red wire is plugged into C+. B- has no wire.

I double checked the spark plug wires against the pic up top & #1 is on #1 etc. But still, if that was wrong it would still spark, just at the wrong time.

I have new spark plugs in it.

You'll notice in this pic that the wiring harness is unhooked. I was checking to see if it was corroded at the time of the pic, looks OK, its plugged up now & still no spark.

http://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pE...NxrizOkpDVDV9K

In this pic you'll see that Ive wired #3 to the ground wire on the alternator. Tried it a couple of times & no spark.

http://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pf...lbLS_pnOH-erTj

 

GoFaster..connect the red wire to the BAT terminal on the hei cap.

The brown wire to the tach terminal.

And the harness to C+ & B-

Also unless you have numbered your plug leads wrongly they seem to be all messed up.

 

Pretty sure thats how its hooked up. Here are some more pics.

Above the car
http://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1p-...Kcgdd-zwds6fJY

see numbers better
http://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pp...GbP71iHnD8dPiQ

Haynes book pic, fireing order.
http://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pD...T-vMdrtniFKJWO

 

I stated another thread on my HEI distributor.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1567365082

Turns out I was sometimes getting 3-5V on the pink wire so I ran a wire straight from the battery & it solved the problem. I've got a great spark on all with 12.15V!

Problem is, the F+*$!)<% STILL won't start .

Pretty sure I'm getting gas because I can smell gas but even if I wasn't getting gas I filled the bowl on the carb with a turkey baster & it should have had enough gas to at least sputter.

I cranked it for a while & it sounded like the battery was stating to get low so I just put it on charge & quit for the night.

So I'm back to this thread to try & check for bugs in the static timing.

I figure if its got spark & its got gas but no sputter its gotta be sparking at the wrong time.

 

Video #13 is now up. Shows about making the balloon tool & trying to crank it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgxhNo0yHJs

 

Good videos. Wish I had the patience for making them.

Couple of things to check

The 10° I stated in the instructions is just an arbitrary number. These engines will idle well and freely at anywhere from somewhere before tdc (0°) to over 20° (if setup right).
I use the 10° for new engines with a new cam so the cam can be burnished in safely upon initial startup without having to fool with a timing light.
So, if you have the balancer mark about a 1/2" or 3/4" before tdc, then that is good enough to safely run the engine. Then you can use the timing light.

Watching you try to start it in the dark showed a lot of sparking going on around the distributer. You shouldn't have any at all. Check the distributer to see what is up. Perhaps center button fell out.
The easiest way to check for spark I have found is to take a good spare spark plug, put any of your plug wires on it and just lay it on a bare part of the engine so it grounds, preferrably the manifold. Then crank and check for spark at the tip.
If you are unsure about gas, I just take a soda bottle cap full of gas and pour it into the carb. The engine should at least fart.

Your distributer should be positioned so that the power connectors are perpendicular to the front of the engine. That way you will have plenty of room for the vacuum can to rotate when setting the final timing. But that won't affect the running at all.

 

Okay, just read your other post and found the sparking was from your camera lite.

If the engine shop dynoed the engine and the balloon fills, then I doubt the valves are set incorrectly.

Redo the timing, check the wires and check for spark.