I have a built 350 with a non computer controlled holley 650 double pumper. I just putit into my 1991 camaro and im having problems starting it. It has a vacuum advance hei distributor brand new. i have new plug wires, plugs and everything. i already bypassed the vats and it wont start because im not getting any spark but yet it backfired a couple times when i tried to start. Getting fuel but no spark. i have an aftermarket fuel pump and regulator. At first i thought the timing has out of wack so i fixed that and now i cant figure out whats wrong. i pulled one of the spark plugs and turned it over and nothing. Please help me!

 

I don't know anything about VATS so take this with a grain of salt
No spark but back fire....hmmm
Basic Q--
Is the coil connected properly? What kind of coil?-- HEI in cap coil or a remote type?
Sorry it's not working yet!
The gurus will need info such as-
fuel pressure, floats set right, type of coil & distributor,& possibly brand, how VATS was bypassed, if the starter seems to be spinning the motor fast enough, pull a coupple plugs & see if they are gas fouled, what gap are the plugs, what brand?
"Built" --do you have hi compression, a big cam?

Good luck!

 

You can't have any backfiring if you have no spark - so you have spark somewhere.

It's not a VATS issue - if it were, starter would not crank at all.

My guess is your dist is off. Get #1 TDC ON COMPRESSION STROKE and restab dist then check/redo firing order.

 

I do have more compression and a bigger cam so i was thinking that maybe the factory starter is drawing to much current because its not turning very fast. i have a new battery and everything is set right. Im wondering if i need a new starter, one that is more powerful so it doesnt need as much from the battery.

 

I think you need to lift the distributor up, turn the rotor 180 degrees, put the distributor back in, and try it again.

 

Is this a stock HEI setup? If not then you need to run a 12V switched wire to the hot led on the distributor. The old HEI runs off resistor wire and new ones need full 12V. I has the same problem when i hooked up the resistor wire it wouldn't start but would fire every couple of rotations.

Check to make sure its timed right easiest way is to remove the driver side valve cover and when the intake valve shuts all the way and the piston is at TDC install the dizzy with the rotor pointing at #1 plug wire.

Last thing check to make sure you have the firing order right.

 

First, verify that #1 is at TDC when the rotor points to the #1 terminal on the cap.

Post up your findings, we'll go from there.

 

i already turned the distributor rotor 180 because i was getting a backfire from the carb. Now its coming from the exhaust. i do know that the firing order is correct. i just cant figure out why no spark. everthing is new and im getting power to everthing.

 

its an older style hei with the coil on top and it has a vacuum advance

 

Start from scratch. Get the #1 cylinder to the #1 firing position (TDC is not good enough, you have to know it's on the compression stroke as the piston approaches TDC). Verify the rotor is pointing at the distributor cap terminal the corresponds to the #1 spark plug wire. Make sure the next terminal clockwise goes to the #8 spark plug wire, etc.

 

ok i'll try that and see what happens. thanks

 

Slow down and do as we are asking you to do.

If you are indeed getting backfire from intake or exhaust, you are getting spark.

Do you know how to set the engine at #1 TDC??

 

I finally got it running thanks a lot guys