No spark need help

[supasosa]

I have a 1982 3500 350 5.7 tow truck with holmes flatbed. I changed the engine and wire harness myself and now I am not getting spark. Can't find a spark controller. What can be the problem

 

[MarineOne]

What distributor?

 

[supasosa]

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[SquareRoot]

There is no spark controller with an HEI per se. The coil is in the cap. As long as the 3 wire plug is connected between the module and coil all you need is 12 volts from an ignition source. The other wire is the tach signal. If all that's correct and it still no sparky, I'd get a new module, verify voltage and let r rip.

Edit: make sure the source voltage is hot during cranking AND ignition on. Some ign circuits are bypassed during cranking. Easy to verify with a test light.

 

[Rickf]

What's with the electrical tape on the wires going to the ignition module?

 

[supasosa]

I put the new one on

 

[ReefkoiC10]

Im wondering why the plug wires on the right all go to the right bank and the left to the left, the firing order is off I’d guess….

 

[SquareRoot]

Im wondering why the plug wires on the right all go to the right bank and the left to the left, the firing order is off I’d guess….

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^What he said.

 

[squaredeal91]

18436572
8 7
6 5
4 3
2 1

 

[KnuckleBuster]

Of the 5 wires that leave the cap and go toward the odd bank, 1 crosses back behind the carburetor and goes to the even side . From what is shown, it appears that the wires are going to the correct sides of the engine. Supasosa, you said that you put the new distributor in but didn't say whether or not that fixed your problem. If still no spark, tighten the distributor clamp enough to ensure ground, and check the pink wire at the distributor for power (best to check with a test lamp). Let us know.

 

[supasosa]

New distributor same no spark. Omw to truck now to make sure it grounded ,(left loose to turn) its been 4 weeks I'm so frustrated

 

[supasosa]

Also pink wire is giving fire but when you spin its not.so tried running straight to battery still no spark

 

[KnuckleBuster]

Hmmm. Exactly how did you determine that it has no spark? Make damned sure that you have a FULL 12v to the distributor via the pink wire (looks like yours is red) anytime the key is in the ON or CRANK positions. Disconnect your TACH wire until you find the problem just to eliminate that circuit as a problem. Assuming that it ran before you replaced the wiring, I'm betting that the problem is in the B+ supply or the TACH circuit.

After today I personally won't be back until the middle of next week, but there should be someone else here that can help. My best advice is that once you have the FULL 12v and the distributor grounded, run through a GM diagnostic chart. You can get it by downloading the 1982 GMC Light Truck Service Manual . The chart is on page 6D-36.

I'll try too respond for as long as I'm here. I know it's frustrating but you'll get there. The basic HEI system is one of the easiest ignition systems there is to work on. Good luck to ya!

 

[Matt69olds]

Read this:

https://www.gmcmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/HEI-Testing.pdf

Make SURE you have full battery power on whatever wire you have plugged into the BATT wire in n the distributor cap. If so, move on to the next step. If not, find out why.

If you have power to the BATT wire, plug it in. Put a 12 volt test light on the TACH terminal, with the ignition on you should see the test light on. If not, the coil is open and needs replaced. If it’s on, crank the engine. The test light should flicker. If not, follow the charts and procedures on the link.

 

[RaisedK5]

I can't help but notice the orientation of the new distributor is different from the old. Are you certain the rotor is pointing at the correct cap terminal and it's not out of time? Did you bring #1 to tdc on and install how'd that all go down? It might be firing but not at the right time to run. Just a thought.