Hei conversion troubleshooting

skidmark said

No I didn’t run it first. I replaced a no name unidentifiable distributor that did run with Chrysler orange box, but I had issues with it jamming rotor into the cap. I fixed that internally. Didn’t have any confidence in it for reliability so I bought a rebuilt OEM electronic at Napa. Took it apart and rebuilt it again with FBO advance limiter disk, changed 1 spring out for a lighter spring on advance weights. And added metal collar setting shaft play with shims and reworked reluctor and set gap. So far so good.

Any chance it’s going lean? Clogged fuel filter? Fuel pressure ok?

New lifters.....Just double checking, You did a break in like a new cam?

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Filter is good, steady 5psi pressure, a lean condition is possible but I don't see how that could cause the ignition to cut out at higher rpm's. It would explain the backfiring/poor running, but not the intermittent spark (at the wire, indicated by the timing light).

I tried to do a proper break-in, but the crappy run condition meant I couldn't rev it up past 1500-2k. I used good break in lube and high zinc oil, and there is no ticking or anything so hopefully break in was ok. When I can get it to rev up to redline without breaking up there is no noise from the valvetrain. Basically it hasn't had any run time under a real load. A lot of idling and bouncing rev's.