johnhanson

I have a 1961 Vette with a 350 crate motor and HEI distributor still using a ballast resistor. I recently replaced the module in the distributor and learned the ballast resister should not be used with an HEI distributor, as the distributor should see the full 12 volts. Can some one point me to a wire schematic for a C1 with a HEI distributer showing me where I need to route the wires after removing the ballast resister?

Plasticman

Just take the 12 volt wire off the ballast resistor and connect it directly to the HEI dist. That 12 volt wire comes from the Ignition switch.

Or take the HEI wire, and connect it to the 12 volt feed end of the ballast resistor and use the one end of the ballast resistor as just a terminal connection.

Plasticman

ZBRA

I just did an HEI conversion on my 64 two weeks ago. The hot wire that fed the ballast is not large enough for the HEI. You need a 4 prong 30a Bosch type relay (5-prong will also work & 40a will also work).

1) Remove the ballast
2) Remove the wire that ran from the ballast to the + coil (won't need it)
3) Feed wire for the balast will be the hot wire that triggers the relay at the #86 pin
4) Ground from coil will be the ground for the relay at the 85 pin.
5) Run a 12 ga wire from the battery to the #30 pin on the relay and put a 30A fuse in the wire as close to the battery as possible
6) Run another 12 ga wire from the #87 pin on the relay to the HEI hot terminal.

Wire it just like this:



If you use a 5-pin relay, it will have an 87a pin in the middle. Just leave that unhooked.

BTW: The hot feed for the HEI is red. The green wire next to that is NOT A GROUND. It is the feed for an electric tach. Don't hook it to a ground. The HEI grounds through the body, so it doesn't have a ground wire.

GCD1962

No need for a relay, just run a 12 gauge wire from ign switch to HEI. Also make sure the wire from battery is also a 12 gauge. No need to do any extra work. Mine runs 14.3 volts all the time this way