HEI No Spark issue..

So I just got my HEI from bulltear. I also installed a truck avenger and full tune up at the same time. I have 100% guarantee on fuel and air, but no spark.

My HEI has 3 wires coming from the base into the cap (Red, Yellow, Black) I purchased a 2 wire HEI hookup at Advance auto for the battery and ground. It is red and green. With the ignition in the on position, I hooked the red wire (batt) to a 12v source from the old coil. It has 12v with the key on...but I can;t tell when it's cranking since I'm running solo n this one.

Any ideas why I have no spark? I have tried holding a plug to ground to see if anything is parking and NADA. I verified TDC and rotor point at #1 cylinder several times...and still nothing.

Any ideas?

 

I can't tell from the pic, but is the green wire going to the coil "-" terminal? If so that is the tach hookup and if it's grounded you won't get any spark. Regardless, disconnect the green wire and see what happens. All you "should" need is the Red to Distributor + and the 3 wire connector from the distributor to the cap. The 3 wires are for the ignition module/signal/power/ground to the coil for when to fire.

 

Yeah, the green was unhooked...I knew that was for the alt...although I tried to ground it to the battery to test and wiring got hot...so I pulled that back off.

I though the red wire was all that was needed...still not sure why I get no spark?
The 3 wire from the base to the cap...could I have flipped that? I though I tried with the clip in both ways./.....

Where is the best place to get 12v? Is there another wire on the firewall that would be better to tap from? It's a 74 with 304 and stock wiring.

 

i hooked mine to the key on on the started silnoid the problem i found on mine was the connector i used at the distributer was able to short to the ground terminal post try wrapping some tape or use a covered female terminal this fixed mine

 

OK...still no luck!
I have a 12v source. Check
I have verified TDC multiple times. Check
I have the rotor point at #1 cylinder on the cap. Check
I have fuel, but still no spark. I even used one of this spark testers and have no spark. Is it possible I got a bad HEI...any other ideas?

I did get 1 good backfire when I first cranked it with I had the HEI hooked straight to the battery to verify 12v source was correct.

 

OK! I figured it out. Like a moron, I put the distributor gear on upside down, so the rotor was never spinning! Changed that it it fired right up.
No it won't turn off with the key, I had to pull the 12v at the HEI. I'm going to try the other old coil lead as the 12v ignition switch on the relay I set up and see what that does...but if you have any ideas why it still runs.....after the key is off.

 

if your 74 / 304 is the same as mine there should be a starter silinoid on the fender hook the power to the hei on the keyed power of that this will cut the power when you turn the key off

 

Yeah, I tapped off the old coil wire. I may have the one that doesn;t go to the solenoid. I wired it through a relay...but I think I'll swap out ignition switch. I put the old one back in while I was trying figure out the no spark issue even though I have a brand new one. The old one may just be worn so it won;t turn off.