The body of my 72 vette is off the frame. all that is on the frame is the engine transmission, fuel tank and suspension parts. My goal is to start the engine.

What are all the essential wires that i would need to hook up in order to get the engine to fire without the body on? Obiviously the spark plugs, fuel lines, and main power line to the starter, but where do i go from there?

thanks

 

You need a "hot wire" from the battery to the coil positive terminal (or batt terminal if using an HEI) that you can remove easily to shut the engine off, and a push button switch (or screwdriver) between the main starter post and the "S" post on the starter solenoid to turn it over. I would hook up temporary oil pressure and temperature gauges so you can monitor those vital items, and put a big window fan on standby in front of the radiator for added cooling if needed. I would also hook up the exhaust so you can hear anything unusual. Joe

 

I ran a hot wire from the battery to a toggle switch. I used an ordinary house light switch. From the other side of the switch you run a wire to the positive "+ "side of the coil. The negative side of coil goes to the distributor. NOTE: the wire that goes to the positive side of the coil must be the special GM cloth covered "resistor wire". If you check your original wiring there will be a yellow like cloth covered wire coming from ignition source to the + coil post. This wire reduces the voltage to the coil from 12 volts to 9 volts, so your coil doesn't burn out. Dodge products use a ballast resistor on the firewall to accomplish the same purpose. I went to a wrecker and found an old 60's GM car and took the cloth covered resistor wire. Othewise buy a ballast resistor to reduce your voltage to 9 volts to the coil when engine is running. However, be aware that to start the car, GM decided it would be a good thing to send a full 12 volts to the coil during initial fire up. They accomplished this by running an ordinary wire from the post on the starter solenoid that is not used to start the car. It sends 12 volts only when the starter is engaged. Run a wire from this post on the starter to the positive post on the coil. YOu now will have 2 wires on the positive coil post, the cloth covered resistor wire that delivers 9 volts all the time, and this additional wire that sends full 12 volts only when the starter is turning. Now your ready to start the engine. As stated previously, send power from a push button switch to the S post on the starter and it will turn.NOTE ALSO, I would have a garden hose nearby to cool the rad in case of overheat. It happened to me, as my thermostat didn't open. Almost cooked the engine. Great idea to hook up temp gauge and oil guage. Just drop a hose into a pail of gas. Your fuel pump will pull all the gas you need.