plug and play not working

Do you mean the "ready-to-run HEI distributor" made in China? If so, many posts here and works for most people. Just need to connect 12 V ignition to the red wire, and ground the black, I recall and wire the output to preferably an E-core coil (can buy from same vendors).

Regardless, for any distributor, do you have a spark tester? Did you try spinning it by hand off the car and verify you get a spark? I always do that before wearing out the starter endlessly cranking.