Trouble Shoot HEI Install

T

TheBix48

New member
So i looked up some youtube videos on how to do a distributor swap...

Took out the stock one and dropped in this HEI unit that i got off Ebay and now if i try to start up the car the power is totally out as if there's a short or something.

When i do unplug the HEI from where i have it plugged up, the power goes back to the rest of the car. Is my distributor shorting everything? or is that connection spot not a 12v area?

Any help or advice would be great. I positioned the new rotor pointing the same as the old but cant get any response.


http://imgur.com/ShcqfTC,eQmYasB,h0R4lRO,UaAc8C8,5daEfQx,u2S3dR9
http://imgur.com/ShcqfTC,eQmYasB,h0R4lRO,UaAc8C8,5daEfQx,u2S3dR9#1
http://imgur.com/ShcqfTC,eQmYasB,h0R4lRO,UaAc8C8,5daEfQx,u2S3dR9#2
http://imgur.com/ShcqfTC,eQmYasB,h0R4lRO,UaAc8C8,5daEfQx,u2S3dR9#3
 
That red cable is the new one? That isn't a 12v location, that's the relay switch. I'd have to see your instructions (my bronco has a DUI but it's a couple towns over), but your 12v spots are the two big studs on either side, not the little ones.
 
ok thank you very much. yes the red cable is the new one. I will try to hook it up differently today and let you know my results. The instructions say to just run the wire to a 12v source, no resistor type wire since its a high output distributor. the other steps such as spark plug wire placement and cap/rotor placement i just followed a video off youtube which says to drop your new distributor in based off the old one(i.e. where is the rotor pointing, making sure the vacuum advance points same way, etc.)
 
Alrighty. After hooking up the red cable(new HEI power) to a sufficient power source there is no more short in the system.

Anyways, when i try to start the car up the engine will turn over but won't start up. Turns over very slowly, i don't think it is getting a spark so I think I need help with either positioning or something to get it fired up. I have my wires plugged in 1-5-3-6-2-4, but idk if its different position because of the HEI cap or what?

Any advice is great, can't base anything off how the old one was set up because someone did a confusing install on that one and its irrelevant now anyways. I don't know how to find TDC on the pulley because the belt is so old i don't see anything.

Thanks,
Wes
 
Anyways, when i try to start the car up the engine will turn over but won't start up. Turns over very slowly, i don't think it is getting a spark so I think I need help with either positioning or something to get it fired up. I have my wires plugged in 1-5-3-6-2-4, but idk if its different position because of the HEI cap or what?
Click to expand...

:hmmm: First have you checked the charge condition of your battery yet? HEI's need to have enough voltage to work correctly if the voltage is too low they won't fire at all. IE Make sure you have a full charge and do a load test. Also be sure that you have good clean and tight grounds to engine block, Body / Chassis too if you are not sure then add them. IE Battery Neg or - cable to engine block, block needs ground wire to frame and or the firewall, or do both extra grounds won't hurt a thing.

As to the wiring check this link to trouble shoot your installation.
http://classicinlines.com/DUIinstall.asp

You will need to find the timing mark on crankshaft dampener to be able to time it accurately its a line or v mark. Clean the damper up and you should be able to see it. Other way is to remove #1 plug, use a piece of tissue paper over the hole or your finger in or over the hole to feel if your on the compression stroke, next use a piece of stiff wire into the hole on top of the piston, turn engine over slowly until you see the wire stop rising and drop rock crank back and forth until you find high point this will be near TDC set distributor so its slightly leading the #1 post on the distributor cap that should be close enough to get it to run and start tuning it. Good luck :nod:
 
Ok so i got the engine cranked to TDC, remounted the dizzy in correct positioning. I tried running the wire from the dizzy straight to the battery, and on the starter relay on a 12v port, but was unable to get the engine to turn over. I am thinking my battery might be a dud, but i connect a jumper battery to it as well to get some extra juice but no go. am i not wiring it correctly or is it probably my battery not having enough juice?

Thanks,
Wes
 
First things first - you *really* need to verify you've got 12v at your battery. Just guessing about what goes where and how much charge you've got is just going to waste a lot of time.
 
X2 When trouble shooting electrical problems always start with the battery and work your way back. If you don't have a volt / ohm meter you should try to borrow one or pick one up is a valuable tool that is fairly inexpensive. A fully charged battery is going to be 13.4 to 13.8 volts. You might also take your starter in for testing to see if it's working correctly it's free to test battery, starters, or an alternators at many auto parts stores. Its a good idea to also clean all your battery and electrical connections even if they look clean they can have corrosion or oxidation, good luck :nod:
 
Alright, distributor wire has 12v going to it, battery is fully charged. My issue now is that the engine is "dieseling" i think. I turned the engine on after connecting the distributor wire (as per the pictures) and it jolted right up. The only way to turn off the engine was to unplug the battery, turning ignition off didn't work.

On top of letting the car run while trying to turn the distributor to time it, the engine just kept rumbling about until eventually it just "died" out.

*Main two questions: "best way to wire the distributor for ignition response" and "how do i fix the 'dieseling' issue?"

Any more info needed just ask. Any advice welcome and appreciated. Thanks all much !

-Wes (noob in training)
 
you said you hooked the bat straight to distrib right? If so you will need to run that wire to the switch or use it with a relay so you can turn it off. You will need to Decide which way you want to wire it so we can tell you how to do it.
 
So the distributor just cranks and cranks. It has spark, carb is gettign fuel, battery fully charged as stated, voltmeter said 12 on dist.

My issue is starting the car and something tells me its the positioning of the dist. I had previously got it to TDC and pointed the rotor accordingly to #1.

Where are the timing marks on the ford 200? Is positioning my actual problem?

-wes
 
Looking at your engine from the front of the car it will be on the lower right side of the timing cover just slightly above the damper there will be a corresponding mark on damper to line up with the timing marks.
 
I will throw out here that the dizzy may be 180 degrees out.
They way to check is to put your finger over the spark plug hole and feel for the air that gets pushed out on the compression stroke.
A remote start switch really helps with bumping the engine just a little bit.
 
yeah im really not sure anymore. i feel like i got it started but it was running pretty damn rough and i couldnt rotate it enough to make it sound normal.
it only "runs" once though cuz if i turn it off its like all the juice from my battery gets used up, or something. IDK if theirs a short somewhere or what but theirs power leakage or something.
 
TheBix48, you have gotten advice from the best on this forum.
I would advise at this point get local professional help.
Where are you located?? If a forum member is close I'm sure he would be glad to help you.
Please let us know what was found to correct the problem.
 
I want to apologize its been ages since I've posted/replied to this.

Anyways I did manage to get the car running and the issue was (please hold onto your wrenches before tossing them at me)
battery wasn't FULLY charged(as i thought it was) and the choke on the carb wasn't open enough

Thank you for all the advice and help to lead me to these results. Monkey Brain here at work, sorry to any of those that were frustrated by a doh-doh bird.
 
No problem, at least you have your car running.
That's the bottom line. Enjoy your ride.
 
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