engine swap questions
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 28
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From: Milwaukee WI
engine swap questions
I'm currently changing my 1971 original 350cid engine for a 383cid engine including all ancillary parts such as tuff stuff starter, mallory electronic dist, mallery coil, proform carb, air gap intake, PM alternator, and so on. Might not have been the best idea to change out everything (distributor) but I'm in so I'll finish. I have not posted many posts but i have read hundreds, go here goes...
1. The wires going to the old starter had a wire that was connected to the "R" term. From reading other posts it seems that this wire is only needed if you are running points style distributor. Correct??? I have cut it and taped it off.
2. There are two wires coming from the fire wall for ignition (one black and one red with choth sheath) that are soldered together that connected to the "+" side of the old coil. The black wire is getting very hot when the ignition is in the start and run positions. I thought that this wire is somehow related to the wire that I cut at the starter so I cut if away from the black wire that it was soldered to to see if this helped the "hot" black wire situation. It didn't seem to. The black wire reads 12V when it is disconnected from the coil and 9V when connected and the engine running. I read some posts about needing a new ignition wire and a ballist resistor????????
3. The original engine set up had two vacuum lines (one small and one large) running from the front of the carb to I don't know where. What are these for????
4. The TH400 transmission seems to be stuck in 3rd gear (as i moved the car from one garage to the other it could hardly go forward). The shifter moves from Park, Reverse, D1, D2, and D3 but it is tight and doesn't seem to snap forward or back like it used to. I have a hose going from the intake manifold to the trans vacuum modulator temperarily instead of the original hose pipe line. Fluid might be a little to high. Any ideas?????
I have a couple of "crude" schematics that i have drawn for trouble shooting purposes that i would be glad to email you if you think you can help.
Best Regards,
Rod
1. The wires going to the old starter had a wire that was connected to the "R" term. From reading other posts it seems that this wire is only needed if you are running points style distributor. Correct??? I have cut it and taped it off.
2. There are two wires coming from the fire wall for ignition (one black and one red with choth sheath) that are soldered together that connected to the "+" side of the old coil. The black wire is getting very hot when the ignition is in the start and run positions. I thought that this wire is somehow related to the wire that I cut at the starter so I cut if away from the black wire that it was soldered to to see if this helped the "hot" black wire situation. It didn't seem to. The black wire reads 12V when it is disconnected from the coil and 9V when connected and the engine running. I read some posts about needing a new ignition wire and a ballist resistor????????
3. The original engine set up had two vacuum lines (one small and one large) running from the front of the carb to I don't know where. What are these for????
4. The TH400 transmission seems to be stuck in 3rd gear (as i moved the car from one garage to the other it could hardly go forward). The shifter moves from Park, Reverse, D1, D2, and D3 but it is tight and doesn't seem to snap forward or back like it used to. I have a hose going from the intake manifold to the trans vacuum modulator temperarily instead of the original hose pipe line. Fluid might be a little to high. Any ideas?????
I have a couple of "crude" schematics that i have drawn for trouble shooting purposes that i would be glad to email you if you think you can help.
Best Regards,
Rod
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Joined: Dec 2001
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bump for you.
not sure about the first one since i haven't had a points distributor in YEEEEAAAARRRS. i will say that i don't, and haven't, had anything connected to my 'r' terminal on my solenoid ever on any HEI motor.
my understanding of the older ignitions, i.e. not HEI sounds like your voltage is correct. BUT! you should never have a physically hot wire. there is certainly something wrong there. you should figure out what before you "let the smoke out".
not sure on #3 as there are dozens of different configurations and options over the years. my first thought is the small one should go to the vacuum advance, i'm guessing. the big one may go to a charcoal canister, if you have one. if you do, it will probably be located just behind the left wheel tucked under and behind, well, everything. it might also be a PCV hose.
can't help with #4, see name.
not sure about the first one since i haven't had a points distributor in YEEEEAAAARRRS. i will say that i don't, and haven't, had anything connected to my 'r' terminal on my solenoid ever on any HEI motor.
my understanding of the older ignitions, i.e. not HEI sounds like your voltage is correct. BUT! you should never have a physically hot wire. there is certainly something wrong there. you should figure out what before you "let the smoke out".
not sure on #3 as there are dozens of different configurations and options over the years. my first thought is the small one should go to the vacuum advance, i'm guessing. the big one may go to a charcoal canister, if you have one. if you do, it will probably be located just behind the left wheel tucked under and behind, well, everything. it might also be a PCV hose.
can't help with #4, see name.
