I just bought an '87 GTA that won't start. The previous owner hooked up the battery backwards and it hasn't started since. The car cranks and everything on the car works but it has no spark from the coil. The previous owner installed a new cap, rotor, and ignition module. I have swapped in a coil and computer from another car but it hasn't solved the problem. I've checked the pick up coil and it seems to be okay. I'm assuming the problem is in the wiring somewhere but I haven't been able to find it yet. I was hoping somebody might have had a similar problem and could tell me where the problem was.

 

i'd have the module tested or replaced even if it's new or you think it's new. if all is well there i'd start looking for voltage at the module and workign back till i found it and the problem

 

You might also want to meter the filter capacitor in the base of the distributor. An electrolytic capacitor will only tolerate a reverse polarity connection for 5-10 seconds before it fails, sometimes shorting, sometimes blowing up. If your's is shorted, the HEI module isn't going to switch the coil voltage at all. And just for argument's sake, disconnect the ESC and bypass to try to start it.