I'm looking to finally upgrade my 69 to an Accel 300+ ignition box. I already have a new box to install, so I'm not looking for info on what box I should buy. There's a very good story about Accel customer support but for now I'd like to seek your help.

My question is- how do I trace down the resistor wire that runs to the ignition switch? I need to wire in a non-resistor type wire instead so I plan to just disconnect the resistor wire and run the new wire in it's place. In essence, how do I get to the wire at the ignition switch? I think I need to start by dropping the steering column down but beyond that I'm not sure how to access it. I'm hoping somebody here has done this before and can shed some light. Thanks.

 

The best placeto start is the wiring diagram. I think I have one here for a 69.

Can't find my diagram but I would trace it back to the plug in the firewall. I think it becomes a resistor after the firewall connection. I would remove the wire from the plug on the engine side and just plug in a regular wire from the engine side plug to your box. My 72 diagram only shows the resistor in the engine compartment and not inside the car.

 

Gordonm is right, the wire from the coil runs to the bulk head connector. You did not say where you were mounting the box, but all you need is a good 12 volt switched source. It may be easier for you to run a wire from another source to the box depending on where you are mounting it.

I mounted mine on the 72 to the backside of the inner fender in a position so that I could get to it by taking off the lower splash shield. (Shielded from debris and water).

I don't know about anyone else, but I've had some serious problems with the MSD 6al box. I've installed probably 20 in the past five years and I've had three defective boxes. . . I've only had one recently but it was my own car.

 

Thanks to both of you for the info. I hope you're right and I'll post my findings.

I want to give Accel a big thumbs up here. I had purchased two 300+ boxes back in the 90's because they were on sale at a great price (at Summit if I remember right). They were a pretty new model at the time. I installed one right away in my Z28 and was rewarded with a noticeably better running car. I got busy with other things and the second box went into storage. This winter I decided it was time to put it in the Vette, so I called Accel tech to ask a couple of questions about the wiring. I talked to a tech named Tim, who was very helpful and well informed.

When we were done covering the wiring we talked cars for a bit and were about to hang up. He then said before we did that he had a quick question- what was the serial # on the back of the box? Well, as it turns out I had an early box and they had some problems with the resins they used to seal some components and had experienced some failures. He told me to send it to him and he'd give me a new one for free- this after over 15 years since the purchase. I did so and received a new box shortly after that. I thanked him via email and mentioned that the box in my Z28 had worked fine for all these years but I'd keep an eye on it. He had me check the serial # on that box too and insisted that I send it to him too for free replacement. I did so and got my new box about 2 weeks ago.

Given the state of our economy and the time that had passed since I bought the boxes I'm really impressed that they (credit to Tim specifically) would replace the boxes out of pocket. They have bought my loyalty in a big way. I figured you folks might be interested.