77chev truck 350engine hei distributor not firing to spark it not timing chain

1. Connect the distributor's B+ (battery) terminal to a switched 12-volt source, such as the ignition switch.

2. Connect the distributor's tach terminal to the tachometer signal wire, if you have a tachometer.

3. Connect the distributor's ground wire to a good engine ground.

4. Connect the distributor's #1 spark plug wire to the #1 spark plug on the engine. The #1 spark plug is usually located on the driver's side front cylinder.

5. Connect the remaining spark plug wires in firing order sequence to the distributor cap terminals. The firing order for a Buick 455 engine is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

6. Install the distributor cap and rotor.

if spark dies, (ecu thinks so) it must cut fuel to prevent
CRASH on burn as seen on TV>
and by law here.
if spark was good , using can-o-spray test fuel works. see?

does it have spark good on all 8 plugs and firing order right?
and TDC #1 cyl. static timed right? at distributor.

see how here

https://eautorepair.net/Marketing/Default.asp

My first concern is: how do you know there isn't fire? Did you
1- Check it with a screwdriver inside the spark plug wire at spark plug end to ground. This isn't the right way.
2- Have you check fire with HEI spark tester.
(The right way). To see a spark with the tester there will be 25k the spark to jump to ground and it test the coil working properly.
Now the fire system or ignition spark work this way.

When the engine is turning up to 400rpm the camshaft gear inside the engine makes distributor shaft turning. We often see the distributor gear at the end worn like an eaten apple.
Remove the Dist. Cap Somebody starts the engine look for the rotor if it turns. This will tell you the gear is OK.
P.S; What you call the SENSOR = Ignition Module just to let you know
Hope it helps

this generation of gm vehicles is easy to troubleshoot. the engine needs 3 things to run: compression, fuel, and spark. since you mention fire, i assume you have no spark.

disconnect any random spark plug wire and connect the end to a hei spark tester. crank engine and observe for spark. if you have no spark, disconnect the center terminal of the distributor cap and use the hei tester in the same manner. spark means cap and rotor bad or bad plug wireset. no spark means make more checks.

check for battery voltage and good ground on distributor. check for open or shorted ignition module or ignition coil windings. if power and ground is present and ignition coil tests ok, check for ignition pulses at coil primary. if you have no ignition pulses feeding the coil, change the distributor.

with that generation of vehicle, the ignition system will operate without help from the computer. don't even troubleshoot the guts of the distributor, if you change the cap, rotor, and anything else, it will be the same price as a remanufactured distributor, and might not fix the problem. if you troubleshoot a low volrage related issue (no pulses, shorted or open circuit, unstable timing, etc), change the whole thing.

I owned a 75 Chevy wagon with HEI ignition and liked to never found the problem. It seems under the center contact on the distributor rotor would get a hole burnt in it, and then all sparks go straight to ground.

check if fire at the end of spark plug wire with HEI spark plug tester.It need 25000 volts to jump the tester. If ok check for fuel injectors by pouring a little fuel inside intake .

Was the timing chain damaged ?
Did you have spark from the coil before you replaced the other parts ?
Do you have battery voltage on the positive side of the coil with the key on and in crank mode ?
Is the coil wire not sparking, or are you not getting spark at the plugs ?
Is the distributor rotor turning when you crank the engine ?

check to make sure distributor electrical wires been reconnected to distributor.and check to make sure distributor is receiving 8 volts supply from the pcm.check see if orange wire going to distributor to pcm getting power. because spark plugs not firing could be pcm, coil itself bad or crankshaft sensor bad. i would code scan vechicle before buying new parts ignition.timing off if you did not have distributor in number 1 firing position before removing the timing chain.

'56 engine was likely a "blue flame" engine that had a points type ignition system. If someone installed a HEI setup in there, you need to know what year vehicle it came from. The old system used a hot wire from the ignition switch to the (+) side of an external coil...the (-) lead went to the points. The most common conversion uses the same (+) wire but it then connects to the "batt" terminal on the distributor cap.(coil is inside) There are no other wires involved except for the short harness that goes directly into the distributor that connects the coil, pickup coil and control module to each other..

This should help, firing order is counterclockwise, 1,8,4,3,6,5,7,2.