Installing HEI distributor. Need help with wiring.
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Cross-Country
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Installing HEI distributor. Need help with wiring.
I have the distributor installed but not sure how to use the "one wire setup. Where do I connect the red hot wire? I know the green wire is for the tach, but I don't have one. I was reading about running a wire from the the starter solenoid to the hot wire on the new dist. I'm still learning about all this and I'm a very "hands on" learner. Can someone help me with this?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: San Jose, CA
You don't want anything from the starter relay/solenoid. It's not needed, is needlessly far away, and is only hot in START anyway. Well, at least most of the time.
What year and model truck and which engine are you working on? Presumably this is the regular HEI with the big cap and the coil on top? Sounds like it but I wanted to make sure.
The reason that wiring is a little confusing at first is because the HEI wants a full 12v to run properly, and the usual wire to the coil on a Ford is at the end of a resistor wire which cuts the voltage down to more like 8-9 volts instead.
Reason I ask which year truck is because there might be a handy 12v wire to use nearby. There are other ways to make the old Red w/green coil wire work, but they might complicate things more than needed.
There is only one position on the ignition switch on the Ford trucks that you typically want to use. It's hot in ON and START only, but not in ACC mode. You don't want your ignition hot in ACC or you might burn something out while sitting around listening to the radio. Not a good thing.
Anyway, let us know what you have and we can go further.
Paul
What year and model truck and which engine are you working on? Presumably this is the regular HEI with the big cap and the coil on top? Sounds like it but I wanted to make sure.
The reason that wiring is a little confusing at first is because the HEI wants a full 12v to run properly, and the usual wire to the coil on a Ford is at the end of a resistor wire which cuts the voltage down to more like 8-9 volts instead.
Reason I ask which year truck is because there might be a handy 12v wire to use nearby. There are other ways to make the old Red w/green coil wire work, but they might complicate things more than needed.
There is only one position on the ignition switch on the Ford trucks that you typically want to use. It's hot in ON and START only, but not in ACC mode. You don't want your ignition hot in ACC or you might burn something out while sitting around listening to the radio. Not a good thing.
Anyway, let us know what you have and we can go further.
Paul
Lead Driver
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From: San Jose, CA
Never mind. I see you have a '79 F150, correct?
I would use the Red w/green wire (or Green w/red?) that used to power your old ignition module. Should be 12v in START and ON only, and give the full 12v all the time.
On my diagrams it's a White wire, but on other models that was used for the START signal. Maybe my Haynes book is off, or '79 was a big wonky, or I'm reading it badly with my failing eyesight.
If you had a Blue strain relief ignition module, or any other color for that matter, check the colors of the wires that run to it from the body side of the harness and let us know.
Paul
I would use the Red w/green wire (or Green w/red?) that used to power your old ignition module. Should be 12v in START and ON only, and give the full 12v all the time.
On my diagrams it's a White wire, but on other models that was used for the START signal. Maybe my Haynes book is off, or '79 was a big wonky, or I'm reading it badly with my failing eyesight.
If you had a Blue strain relief ignition module, or any other color for that matter, check the colors of the wires that run to it from the body side of the harness and let us know.
Paul
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Cross-Country
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The connector to the original distributor was glued together by whoever owned it before me. So I had to cut them. The heat shrink connectors are there to keep them from grounding.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: San Jose, CA
Was going to comment on those. I almost ordered a 100pc set of those shrink/solder/heat splices. They look slick. You use them much before this?
Anyway, what about the wires where the old ignition control module was, over on the driver's wheel well area? Those are the wires we're concerned with.
The old wires to the distributor no longer apply and are not used.
The old wires to the coil no longer apply and are not used.
You can't use the Red w/green wire that used to go to the positive side of the coil, because that is the resistor wire. If you want to use that you need to connect it to trigger a relay.
If you can find the wires that used to power the ignition box on the fender, that's what we're looking for initially.
Paul
Anyway, what about the wires where the old ignition control module was, over on the driver's wheel well area? Those are the wires we're concerned with.
The old wires to the distributor no longer apply and are not used.
The old wires to the coil no longer apply and are not used.
You can't use the Red w/green wire that used to go to the positive side of the coil, because that is the resistor wire. If you want to use that you need to connect it to trigger a relay.
If you can find the wires that used to power the ignition box on the fender, that's what we're looking for initially.
Paul
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: San Jose, CA
No, you only need the White wire. See it looks like it's connected to the Red wire on the module?
Apparently on yours the White wire is the 12v from the key. You do NOT need a START function wire for your new setup. Or it will only... guess what? Work while the starter is cranking.
Actually, there is nothing wrong with using both. IN fact, if your ignition switch ever fails to connect in START then your other wire is a backup.
So either way, use the White wire alone, or the White and the Red w/white together.
Paul
Apparently on yours the White wire is the 12v from the key. You do NOT need a START function wire for your new setup. Or it will only... guess what? Work while the starter is cranking.
Actually, there is nothing wrong with using both. IN fact, if your ignition switch ever fails to connect in START then your other wire is a backup.
So either way, use the White wire alone, or the White and the Red w/white together.
Paul
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,602
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From: San Jose, CA
And as a side/snide comment, only Ford would think to orient an ignition plug with a White wire meeting Red, and a Red wire meeting White!
Unless I'm seeing it wrong, that's how yours is oriented. No wonder some people hate Dura Spark...
Paul
Unless I'm seeing it wrong, that's how yours is oriented. No wonder some people hate Dura Spark...
Paul
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Haha! Yup. After looking at the schematic in my manual, I saw that there was only red and white wires to run the coil. So I connected the hot distributor wire with the white wire and it fired right up. After setting the timing right, she purrs just right.