Chevy 6 cylinder HEI help!!!

Ok so I got a used HEI for the 64, and got the wires this morning , so idecided today was a good day to get it in.I checked before removing my old points dist., and rotor was pointing towards #1 cylinder, and was timed and running great before removing.As far a i could find in archives Don stated to check rotor position and put the HEI rotor same way, well the HEI wouldnt go all the way down(on the block where the dist. sits flush) with the rotor pointed towards the #1, as did the original dist..The small slot at the end of dist. shaft would only slide in(down to seat on block) with the rotor facing more towards the left(#6 cyl. maybe)see pic of how it is setup.
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I went ahead to see if it would start with the way it is in the picture above , with the wires placed according to what I know(not much), #1 where rotor pointed, and then in clockwise firing order from there(1,5,3,6,2,4), and it works, well after I plugged in the wires into the HEI cap.I adjusted by ear and sounds fine and runs fine, but i really cant tell difference. The timing light I have, which is an old Grand/Auto parts store, doesnt work with this setup, but does work with my old points setup, do I need a newer timing light?Probably should anyway, but seems weird that it didnt work.
Ok anyway, do I have my HEI setup correctly, like I said it starts fine, and runs too, but is not setup like the other HEI's i have seen that Don has posted, almost similar placement of cap, but wires are more setup like the old points setup, with the #1 wire closest to the #1 cylinder and the rotor pointed that way as well.I tried moving the rotor, and had to crank over the engine to get the dist to drop in and rotor to point to #1, and then re did all the wires as well, but wouldnt start, so I went back to the way I 1st installed it and it runs and drives , what in the world am I doing wrong here, or am I???Help please all you master mechanics!!!!

Ok so I tried repositioning the rotor as stated, but wouldn't fire, so I tried cranking over till it dropped in & rotor was pointing towards #1, still wouldnt drop down pointing that way or start, moved it around slightly & nothing. So made sure my notch was at TDC, then placed dist. in no it didnt point towards #1, it was just like the picture above......anyway it just doesnt seem right and I dont think this upgrade is going to be.I dont know what the dist. came out of except that it was a 250, but it doesnt sit/point towrds #1 like the other dist. did, it must be defective or something, I should have bought a brand new one,hell and I even replaced the cap & rotor as well, I guess it isnt for me, and now I am out $90 ....like I said though it ran/run s, and drives as it sits like the pic above, but I think it is better off with the points back in it, it never failed me to begin with so why change a good thing, like they say why fix it if it aint broke!!!!!Well off to put my old dist. back in and throw the HEI away in a box somewhere!!!!

Mark

So I just couldnt give up my fight with this used HEI and let it win.......well it did....NOT!!!!
Thanks once again Don, I finally got it to work, and work properly.Now without actually removing the cap and moving the rotor to the #1 cylinder, I placed the dist. back smack dap where I 1st got it to run when 1st installed as seen in pic, but couldnt get the timing correct on it(vacuum hit doghouse wall, other way made it run worse). So i stabbed the dist. back down in and I just pulled all the plug wires at the cap and went around cap placing the wires 1 place up each time, and well they finally got where I could fire it right up, dial timing in and tighten it down and run it down the road, and to my surprise the #1 wire is where the rotor should be pointing towards the #1 cylinder, just as I was told it should.It seems to run smoother and I hope will improve my gas mileage a little as well!!!
Thanks again Don for the info I needed!!!

Mark

Thanks Don, and I tuned it to the tune of 6 degrees BTDC when I set the timing earlier, ran it around town real quick and appears to be running nice and smooth.

Mark

Good to hear you got it dialed in Mark . Don you helped another vanner upgrade his van(or get it going again(like me).

I am ignorant on the HEI topic, but it seems that if HEI is used then no more points and condensers are needed? I imagine the tune up becomes simpler, just the timing needs to be set. Another question is can these be bought new for a 250 ci L6? I searched and found some info from Mallory. Any suggestions any one has would be appreciated. Thanks,
Kakster

pertronix makes a great kit for the electronic conversion and only one wire hookup. put two kits in a friends boat and havent been in the bilge adjusting anything all summer.they are simple work great and easy to install. take about an hour with two beer breaks.just make sure you get the coil with the conversion kit, makes for a better job and warranty coverage applys.

I just picked up a hei2 the other day but the wire going into the distributors is broken right at the point were it meets the rubber . I'm not having a lot of luck finding someone that sells just a new wire set up . anybody know if the wire of a v8 distributors will work ???

yes thats it like in the pix .. can i buy it ?? was told no but now after looking at it you would think i could or can i just use one from a v 8 distributor

I have to go into town tomarrow i will have to see what auto zone has to say in person ,,can never get good help on the phone.. thats don