I want to know if the vacuum at the top of the holley 80364 will operate the advance on a hei dist.

Factory camshaft specs:
5.8L (non lightning): Lift: .278" Intake; .283" exhaust.
5.8L Lightning: Lift .260" intake, .278" exhaust.
(No other specs given)

Base timing: 10* BTDC (Before Top Dead Center)

try fuel module

This works with the 5 prong module on an HEI ignition system with the coil that is mounted on the top of dist. The wires that come out of the back of the dist go to a spark controll module under the dash and they are junk. There is a conector on the wiring harness about 5" from the dist unplug that conector and run a jumper wire from the green wire to the black wire on the dist side and make sure you tape up all wires on dist side to keep them from grounding out. On the other side of the dist where your 12V goes in (batt conection) there are to wires piggybacked on top of each other disconect them from dis and plug only the pink 1 into dist at the batt conection. Where the wires on the back of dist run into firewall there should be a vacume line disconect and plug on engine compartment side. Thats how you do the bypass and the spark control module can be removed from under the dash if you want to but its not hurting anything to leave it there. BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING MAKE SURE YOU DISCONECT THE BATTERY. When all this is done you mite have to advance your timing 8-15 degrees. I had to advance mine 12 degrees. let me no if you have any problems. kyle yeo

Have you looked down inside the engine were the dist. goes ? If you do you will see the oil pump drive shaft . You will notice a slot cut in it , now look at the bottom of the dist. shaft . You will see a key or it looks like a standered screw driver . Probably not linning up , need to take a long screw driver an turn the oil pump shaft till they do .

PICK-UP COIL (HEI)

1. Isolate 2 pick-up coil lead wires. Remove pick-up coil connector from module. Connect ohmmeter to either terminal and ground. See Fig. 4 . Connect pump and apply vacuum to test vacuum advance unit. Replace vacuum advance unit if inoperative. Connect ohmmeter to pickup coil terminals. Operate vacuum pump and observe ohmmeter throughout the vacuum range.

2. Attach ohmmeter to one pick-up coil terminal and distributor housing. Set ohmmeter to middle scale. Operate vacuum advance throughout vacuum range. Reading should be infinite at all times. If not, replace pick-up coil. See Meter "A" in Fig. 4 .

3. Connect ohmmeter leads to pick-up coil connector terminals. Operate vacuum pump to ensure proper operation throughout vacuum range. Flex terminal wires by hand to check for possible intermittent defects in wiring or connectors. Pick-up resistance should be 500-1500 ohms. If resistance is incorrect, replace pick-up coil. See Meter "B" in Fig. 4 .

NOTE: Activation of the vacuum advance may align trigger wheel tooth and pick-up coil pole piece causing ohmmeter pointer to deflect. This
deflection should not be diagnosed as a faulty pick-up coil.

You shouldn't need a spark box because thee coil is located in the dist. cap. You need to run a 12v switched power source to the side of the dist. cap that is marked dist. if it isn't maked it is the term. that is on the front right of the conector pad. the one on the left is for hooking up a tach.

Is the vacuum hose removed from the dist when the timing is being checked?
Are you connected to the first plug wire (closest to the rad) on the drivers side?
If this is being done.....remove the cap and rotor and check the springs on the mechanical advance,the advance should be tight to the shaft and springs tight.
I would set the base timing on this set up .....at idle speed...... at between 5 and 10 before TDC.

Remember......timing marks on modified engines are not always accurate. Parts from this year and that year put together.

Alternator: Old style alt with two wire plug on top back edge of case with internal regulator.: hot wire from start side of ign switch to a 10 ohm 6watt resistor, to terminal #2 on alt. Jumper wire from B+ large terminal on alt to term #2 on top plug. B+ wire to Battery. (70"s Cadillac wiring)
Distributor : 12volt from "run" side of ignition switch to distributor (using old style HEI dist. with vacuum advance and no computer connections) 12v can also be used to power aftermarket "upgrade" ignition.
Numbers are usually stamped into alt housing but if I remember correctly looking at the back the one on left is #1, right is #2 Battery (B+) is the large wire connection.

you would need a intake,carb, old hei dist w vac advance and elect fuel pump for carb

Figured it out, The dist.. base wires simply route through the coil on top of the distributor. Adding the Tach if you want it, and 12 volt switched to the batt. terminal. Black to ground and yellow to yellow.
Thanks for the help. Bill