Ok, so I just got a 78 cutlass supreme with a 350 rocket from a 72 olds cutlass supreme. All it needed was a distributor. So I went to the parts store and got a brand new HEI distributor. Now I looked it up and it seems like a pretty common conversion. Now from what the previous owner said it was an electronic ignition distibutor. But a guy at the parts store had the same motor and said it would be no problem to convert it. So I got the distributor and put it in time with TDC and hooked everything up even a new coil and I'm not getting fire from my spark plugs or the coil. The motor turns over but no spark... I have ran ouof ideas I really need help with this.

 

So this is an hei distributor? Not having a spark? You need to check for power with key on.

 

The only wire that come out of the HEI is a ground wire.. So I hooked it up to the frame.. Im getting power to the coil but no power out of the coil its a brand new coil so I don't think its blow. But I don't know how to tell.

 

You need a +12 volts to the coil, AND a +12 volts to the distributor. You can use the exsisting one that was for the distributor.

 

Im getting power to the coil but no power out of the coil its a brand new coil so I don't think its blow. But I don't know how to tell.