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radio interference after HEI install

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Old May 4, 2010 | 09:17 AM
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Default radio interference after HEI install

I just finished installing HEI in my '69 coupe. Now I have interference on the aftermarket radio and cd player. I did not connect the HEI to the ignition lug on the fuse block, but found a 12 volt line under the hood. Do I need some sort of shielding or change the wiring to the HEI. Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks, Ron
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Old May 4, 2010 | 09:46 AM
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GM HEI? Install the plug boot ring and the plastic 78-82 shield.
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Old May 4, 2010 | 09:56 AM
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No, it was the DragonFire HEI. I did not see any shielding in Corvette Central Catalog.
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Old May 4, 2010 | 12:05 PM
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Call DragonFire. I'm sure their 'techs' will help you out.

Also, did you change out the spark plug wires to the appropriate 'resistance' type wires? They are required for proper ignition performance and to help abate ignition noise.
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Old May 4, 2010 | 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Call DragonFire. I'm sure their 'techs' will help you out.

Also, did you change out the spark plug wires to the appropriate 'resistance' type wires? They are required for proper ignition performance and to help abate ignition noise.
, Exactly what I was going to say. Make sure you get a GOOD set of wires that are shielded. Don't go out and purchase that "stock" crap from china. Go aftermarket and do a little research to see which ones work best.
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Old May 4, 2010 | 02:30 PM
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I used 8.5 mm MSD wires.
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Old May 4, 2010 | 04:11 PM
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Resistance wires or 'solid' wires? Solid wires will generate lots of EMF noise.
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Old May 5, 2010 | 10:41 AM
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Resistance wires are not solid wires, they are carbon impregnated center nylon wires,,,, so as the carbon breaks down the wires resistance goes up until and eventually they are junk. msd wires also have a carbon core, and a steel wire wrapped spirally around the carbon center core from one end to another, this is for RFI suppression. and lastly, solid wires... just that, a single solid wire from one end to another... no RFI suppression.

make sure your spark plug wires stay as far away from other wires as posable...

turn on your stereo, start your car, open the hood and see if a movement of wires will fix the wine... did you remove the RFI suppression capacitor from the HEI?

is the wine from the alternator or spark plugs? ignition sounds like POPS in the wine... Alternator is a smoother wine with out the POP sound...

Last edited by pauldana; May 5, 2010 at 11:03 AM.
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Old May 5, 2010 | 11:15 AM
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You can also pick up a noise suppressor from a stereo store or radio shack, but its cheaper and better to fix the actual problem.
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Old May 5, 2010 | 09:58 PM
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what does your interference noise sound like.if its a wining sound its a ground problem.
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Old May 6, 2010 | 07:52 AM
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It's mostly a popping sound. Sorry I haven't been around lately. Been busy with other things and now have to leave town until Sunday. I'm going to check out the wire routing and connections. Thanks for all the replies and help. When I get to the bottom of the problem I'll post the results.
Ron
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Old Aug 3, 2010 | 09:13 AM
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Hi Ron, just wondering if you were able to figure out the cause of your problems and get them fixed.
I converterted to HEI this weekend, and I'm getting the same popping noises through the stereo. I'll try cleaning up the wiring some and see if that helps. I'm also using the 8.5mm MSD spark plug wires.
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Old Aug 3, 2010 | 11:03 AM
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Sorry I haven't been back for a while, My mom has been in and out of the hospital a lot. I went to Radio Shack and picked up a package of 2 clip on suppresors (sp?) and clamped one onto the power lead to the HEI. Most of the popping went away. Hope this helps.
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Old Apr 22, 2013 | 11:55 AM
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Hey Ron, What did you do to fix the popping issue, I have the same HEI and MSD wires. When I installed the radio I have the POP too.
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Old Aug 1, 2014 | 08:08 PM
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As a ham radio operator and all of the knowledge I have learned from it, most motor noise in any audio device can be corrected by grounding EVERYTHING to the frame or battery. I have even seen some fuel injectors throw some stray RF through the exhaust system! I have even grounded the exhaust pipes to the frame or the battery ground to fix it.
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Old Aug 1, 2014 | 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by pauldana
Resistance wires are not solid wires, they are carbon impregnated center nylon wires,,,, so as the carbon breaks down the wires resistance goes up until and eventually they are junk. msd wires also have a carbon core, and a steel wire wrapped spirally around the carbon center core from one end to another, this is for RFI suppression. and lastly, solid wires... just that, a single solid wire from one end to another... no RFI suppression.

make sure your spark plug wires stay as far away from other wires as posable...

turn on your stereo, start your car, open the hood and see if a movement of wires will fix the wine... did you remove the RFI suppression capacitor from the HEI?

is the wine from the alternator or spark plugs? ignition sounds like POPS in the wine... Alternator is a smoother wine with out the POP sound...
I had the wine, RFI suppression, more rpms = higher the wine..

Don't need no stinking radio ??
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