stangeba

During the change over, I assume the rear of the engine needed to be lowered some. Doesn't the distributor bump into the fire wall when this takes place? Even if your removed the cap, could the dist or rotor be broken or cracked or bent. Again, just grasping at straws. You did say it free revs OK in park so perhaps not.

I got it free from where I work. (We sell a similar GM HEI Distributer for old in line six's) I have never tried it yet because it requires a different coil that is slightly larger so it wouldn't fit in my current "on intake" coil holder. I would need to run a 12 volt wire to it and my car is very stock right now. I just got three pair of Delco Remy points from a friend and it runs so nice now like it has for 150,000 + miles. Bruce

Unhook the tachometer and try it.

Big concern I know of, is when you have a steel camshaft vs a stock Chevy cast iron camshaft. The gear on the distributor needs to be the correct one to match the camshaft or it tears up the weaker gear. Using thick oil also places more stress on this gear set. Here I'm not 100% sure but I believe it's steel on steel and cast on cast. As far as Pertronix goes, they are a points replacement not HEI. I still run points but have a modified "Dave's HEI" distributor that uses a stock dist with GM HEI module in my basement that I have never used yet. With HEI you can run a larger gap type spark plug and they are better for igniting a leaner or richer mixture. More Power!!!!!!!! Bruce Dave's Small Body HEI

Please don't laugh at this one but, have you shifted into gear with out holding your foot on the brake? Reason I ask is I saw a car that had a severe vacuum leak in the power brake booster and caused the car to die. Most of the time a driver will apply the brake then shift into gear. If it works properly, apply the parking brake, then shift inti gear. Doesn't cost anything to try this one! Good Luck! Bruce

I assume in park or neutral, it's fine. (Perhaps you said and I missed it)

Have you changed anything just prior to this happening? Are you running 12 volts to the HEI? Is the connection you changed (removing old resister wire, soldering in a new wire for 12 Volts) tight and secure and soldered vs just crimped at the connections? Quoting: "the rpm's just FLATLINE! they stay dead but the car is still running" So dead is 0 RPM yet the engine is running and perhaps at idle? What kind of tachometer, sounds like a wire short circuit to ground somewhere. If an aftermarket tachometer, one of it's wires may be grounding out. Good luck! Bruce

Drove it, after filling the gas tank, 50 miles before it starts raining for the next three days. Bruce

For some time now I have had problems viewing most You-Tube videos. My son in-law was having the same problem with his new MAC when at my house today and last week, using my WI-FY. He hard wired (cat 5) his Mac to my 9.5 year old modem, eliminating the router, and the problem for him went away. He helped me upgrade the software for my 6 years old WRT54G router and now I can view You-Tube videos once again. I just assumed my problems were a 9 year old PC and was thinking of getting a new computer but not, not so much. Thanks, Jake. Bruce

My friend did that one night in his car (flipped the air cleaner lid over) and got a ticket with-in 60 seconds. This was back in 1971, I'm sure that police wouldn't notice these days...........

I love that up side down air cleaner lid! The valve may be able to be forced open with a pair of pliers. I would wait till heat is needed now. Bruce

350 4BBL original engine for the car sounds great! I love my stock 1971 350 4BBL numbers matching Monte Carlo. It runs great and I never need to fix anything on the engine. Chevrolet knows how to built them. Bruce

Great picture!

"Take a look at your column and you will likely see where the cable used to be clipped on. there should be a small screw hole there." I couldn't have said it better. DON'T LOSE THE TINY SCREW

I own it, at about $3.50 each month for rent, you can purchase a new one every couple of years. Mine is almost 10 years old now and didn't cost $350.00 new. Thanks!

This may help: Column shift ind cable picture

My Moto SB4100 that I own is 9.5 years old. According to Comcast it's running DOCSIS 1.0 and I should be on 2.0 or the new "best" 3.0. My 9 year old DELL is having problems running almost any YOU TUBE that is posted here or anywhere. Where should I start to upgrade my system? Other that a few YOU TUBE vids now and then, I really don't have any issues, perhaps a bit slow in loading programs but I'm not a gamer nor do I download much of anything. My Son in-law noticed the same YOU TUBE issue with his brand new APPLE when he was here last week using my WI-FY access. Thanks, Bruce

Always great to get them running and even better when everything is OK. Sounds great.

Here is a link to an old discussion about three point seat belts. three point belt topic Here are some pictures of when I did my conversion. Pictures of Morris three point belts Bruce

Great information, thanks! I'm 6' 0" and built like Santa. My smaller "sport" steering wheel is all I need at this point to keep me behind the wheel. Bruce

If freon is leaking out, it won't take long at all till it no longer cools the air. I'm assuming your A/C works fine, cold on a hot day? As David said above, was the A/C turned on when this happened? The A/C compressor will also work if the selector is in the defog position so it's not just on when it's in the A/C position. Perhaps you have a dead rat near the exhaust and that's what you smell! kidding

Perhaps a strange question but why a 400 and not a newer overdrive trans like a 2004R or 700R4? Most cars (and trucks) since the mid 80's have had some sort of overdrive. If the 350 is junk and you have a good free 400 or want to drag race and you have a big block, I understand. Personally, when my 350 dies, I'm changing to a 2004R for my stock 350. Bruce

They look great! Nothing better than a fresh paint on rally wheels, well, new tires look great with fresh paint on rally wheels. Bruce

I know 71 was a one piece then 72 changed and I don't know for sure but could the extra vacuum port be a spot for a filter like shown in the 71 drawing above? I have one of these units that I think came off my Dad's 72 350 2BBL and there is only two fittings, not three. Could yours be from a California system? Bruce

"The white single arrow indicates the key cylinder tang that needs to be depressed in order to slide the key cylinder from the column. On some of the 69-72 versions the tab can be covered by flashing and you will need to use a small screwdriver to break the flashing to access the tang." (From the Buick write up) If flashing (excess cast aluminum covering the area your looking for) is covering the area it may be hard to find. Look in the area of the lock cylinder and look at the picture of the removed lock cylinder showing the tab you need to push in.