i've searched alot and still haven't figured it out. i put in my new mallory dual point distributor, msd blastor coil, and msd super conductor wires. when i can get it to start it runs really rough, and then dies . sometimes it'l run for a minute or so and sometimes like 10 seconds. i've tried changing timinf but it always does it. when i try to rev it up it dies. i hooked my positive on my coil to the i think its pink wire from my stock wiring. should i have hooked up another wire to it to? or maybe a different wire? thanks for any help

 

are you sure you hooked up the wires to the right posts and the right spark plugs? its an easy thing to overlook

 

yeah definetely sounds like you messed up the spark plug order on the distrubutor when you put it back together.

 

I agree. Sounds like you have spark plug wires backwards. On my 350 TPI, I used a Haynes manual to replace a head gasket. Putting it back together, I hooked it up according to the firing order in the book. Ran like crap. Finally figured out that the book was wrong! Use the firing order that is stamped on the intake. Matt

 

i had about the same problem, i had the distributor exactly 180 degrees off so it was firing backwards, i would say its either that or the plug wires r off

 

i went over it like 10 times the firing order seemed correct. if it was 180 degrees off what would i do to fix it?

 

well, 1st, you get ur number one cylinder to top dead center with either a guage or pull the plug and put ur finger over the hole and turn it over until air pushes out. then pull of the distributor cap and see what plug its pointing at, then if its off then pull ur distributor up and turn it to the number 1 plug, make sure it goes all the way down in, you may have to turn the oil pump so it meshes right. search for my post, it tells how to do it in a little more detail. but if this is the problem you wouldnt be able to afectively set the timing. you may also just make sure one more time and check the plug wires, the firing order for most small block chevy's is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

 

bad_ta, summed it up pretty good, if its not to hard to do on your car take the driver side valve cover off, and when the #1 exhaust valve is all the way up(you can tell by the tip of the rocker arm), bump the engine over until number 1 exh. is up, then pull your cap and distributor out, the next part is a pita kind of put look down the hole and see where the oil pump pin is at. if it isnt facing the #1 cylinder then get a long screwdriver and turn so it is, carefully reinstall the distributor and make sure the rotor is also pointing towards #1, reinstall the cap and make sure the firing order is right. that may sound hard but once you get the valve cover off its not that hard...you can do it that way or the way bad_ta said, just whatever is easier to you...if you need help just let me know

 

ok where should the valves be at tdc? i am a little confused about that. so i set the motor at tdc and then align my distributor with the rotor between 1 and 8 correct?

 

yeah, thats pretty much it, just get the number one cylinder to top dead center, then if needed turn the oil pump so the distributor gears will mesh properly. then set the rotor between 1 and 8

 

should both valves be all the wya up at tdc? i thought i had it at top dead center a couple times to find out that it was wrong again

 

just pull out spark plug in the number one cylinder, have somebody bump it over while u have ur thumb over the plug hole and air will push out and make a psss sound and ur done, or go and buy or borrow one of those guages to tell u