I have an 86 trans am thats isn't getting any spark!!

Hello, I have a 86 trans am that has a carbureted Chevy 350 *** with a HEI distributor setup in it that I swapped in about a year ago. One morning I went out to start my car, and when I tried, it would just crank but not turn over. I wasn't getting any spark at all. It started the day before and many before that. I just put on a new distributor cap, module, rotor, and wire harness. I thought I screwed something up while installing something. I have a spare distributor and after I put that on I still had the same problem. I checked the spark plugs and even changed over the wires with some spare ones. I hooked up a voltmeter to check if i was getting power to the distributor itself and it is getting power. The knock sensor has some damage to it when I was putting on my headers  . It may be having some connection problems. could this cause the lack of spark? Also today I went out and found that the timing was way off. I'm not sure how that happened, but it should get spark through the wires still right??

Thanks, and any help will be greatly appreciated  

Anyone have any suggestions at all?? I would like to get this answered to I can get it back on the road.
Any suggestions or input would be appreciated. Even if it is minor. I may have over looked something, but as of right now I have no clue what I am missing    

You changed out the whole distributer and still had the problem, or just the cap and rotor?
If so, did you have number one at TDC and the rotor facing number one? That might be why the timing was way off when you were done.
If you restabbed a new distributer my suggestion won't help.
Everytime I run into a spark issue on an HEI it turns out to be the pickup coil.
But the odds of having two of them bad is probably zero.

Does it have an OBD 1 connector under the dash? You should see if you have any codes set if it does.
Don't overthink it, it's usually something simple.
Hope that helps...good luck  

Yeah i changed out the whole distributor with a spare one. The timing was readjusted when I did so, but I'm still not sure how it got this far off. My first thought was the coil but with the second one put in and still nothing it leaves me completely baffled. it doesn't have a connector under the dash. I wish I didn't tare out the ECM, because then I could check the codes to see what is going on.  

You said you have power to the dist. Did you check to make sure you have power when it is cranking, and when the key is let go to make sure you still have power? Also you said you took out your computer?  

Well, today I reset the timing, that didn't help at all. Yeah I hooked up the voltmeter while it was cranking. It had a CCC quadrajet carb on it that required it when I had the 305. Its not the problem I've had it running about a year since the swap to the 350. I'm going to get my buddies voltmeter again today and see if by chance both pickup coils are toast or not. It seems very very unlikely, but who knows I guess...    

What all did you remove when you removed the ecm?Do you have good grounds? Have you taken the module out of the dist and taken it to have it checked?  

a few things....   the hei rotors burn through...  allow the spark to go straight through to the distributer shaft..  resulting in a no spark out to the wires...   many cars not just hei equipped have that problem...

when the distributer cap got changed..  did the ground strap that fits UNDER the coil and connects to the center wire of the three get swapped over from the old cap....  the ground circuit for the coil windings is from the black wire out of the side of the coil...  to one of the hold down screws... to the ground strap under the coil .. to the center wire coming up from the distributer housing... to the wiring harness strain relief hold down screw...      when this ground strap is left out... there will be loud explosions heard from under the hood...  like a SHOT GUN being fired...  that kind of loud...

now... on to hei diagnostics...    the modules can be tested at most chain parts stores...  have it tested 6 times in a row... this builds up heat... they mostly fail hot..

got a digital volt meter...  want to  test the pick up coil...   set the digital volt meter to 2K ohms scale.. (2,000 OHMS)   measure the pick up coil... most should read between 500 and 1500 ohms...  before disconnecting the meter... move the knob to 2 volt  AC or 20 volt AC scale.  spin the distributer shaft with your hand... if the pick up coil works.. and the reluctor works... it should produce over 1 volt AC...   if it does not make over 1 volt AC ... it will not trigger the power transistor in the module...    if it does not trigger the power transistor in the module...  the primary winding will not be charged.. no charge of the primary. no discharge when the power transistor opens... no spark...

oh. yea...

the distributer won't work if  the housing is not grounded...  

I am having the same problem with my 85 z28. No spark. With the timing light hooked up to the #1 plug wire - I get no flash of light. But when I take off the plug wire, put in a seperate spark plug, ground to the frame - crank over - I get spark and the timing light flashes.  Tested the BAT - good test. Coil is good, module is good - (tested in my 84 z28).  Think it may be the pickup coil -- how the heck do you remove this jewel?? How do you get the top of the rotor off-hammer, chisel?  

To get the pickup coil out, you have to knock out the roll pin in the distributer gear and remove it and the washer. The vacuum advance had to come out and the rotor.

there is a lock ring that holds the pickup coil in. Oh you have to take the module and condenser out too.