No spark on HEI

[AZ4x4]

What is the most effective way to tell if I'm am getting spark from my HEI distributor? It's on my 68 302. Thank you in advance.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Pull a plug wire and place about ¼" from ground. Crank engine and look for a spark.
There is a cheap HEI distributor (you say HEI so I presume it is one of the retrofit GM based HEI distributors) that is well known for breaking the shaft inside. Pull the cap off and check of the rotor spins freely. More then what you get out of the mechanical advance anyway. Also crank the engine with the cap off, make sure the rotor spins. Need 12V to the batt terminal on the cap. Mack sure the tach terminal isn't grounded out (bad tachometers can do that).

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, X2. Did you have spark and lose it or is this a new install? One 12v key on wire for power. Some people forget the ground wire for the coil, or the little round carbon thing that drops in the center hole, and some people even forget the rotor. Good luck

 

[Broncobowsher]

The ground wire mentioned above is internal to the distributor. No external grounds on an HEI.

 

[SteveL]

If you have power to the hei and nothing coming out its probably the module. They're like $15 at napa. If it is the module bring the old one with you to the store. There's 2 or 3 different modules it can be.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I think the broken shaft is a more common failure then the modules these days.

 

[SteveL]

The module just failed a block from my house in the 66. It's got a dui hei in it but it's been in there for 18 years. Luckily it died in front of the house where some other gear heads live. They're becoming few and far between out here. He towed me home with his HD f-150.

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, when I had Ford TFI ignition I carried a spare module. Glad you fixed it.