When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm installing Holley's Terminator EFI in my 69 big block this winter. One of the things I wanted to try was to switch my ignition to a coil near plug CNP style complete with crank trigger and cam sync distributor.
I've hit my first snag. I got Holley's 556-111 big block crank trigger kit and started to install it. Since the car has power steering I have to install it on the right side of the block. I had to take the water pump loose just to install the bracket since the bolts would not clear the neck of the water pump outlet. But now that I've got the bracket installed I have a bigger problem. There is no way the sensor will fit into the bracket. The crossmember is in the way right where the lower a arm support is welded in. Has anyone else run into this? Is there a different crank trigger bracket that would fit?
Do you have access to or a friend with a welder? Assuming the trigger offset angle is adjustable in the terminator you can put it anywhere you have real estate. If not, you may need to drill a new set of holes to mount the trigger wheel re-indexed. Making a bracket to hold a trigger is fairly trivial. I doesn't have to support any real weight, but you want it to not be easily bent or to vibrate like a ruler half off of a desk.
I've got a 383, but this is what I came up with. The little wedge is the timing pointer. It braces the water pump to the PS pump. It's just .190" hot rolled, powder coated.
I've got Holley's EFI on mine using their sensor. Seems like I had to do some small mods to the bracket to fit...can't remember exactly what....but it does fine. Very tight in there...but clears...just barely.
BTW...it's mounted in right side in my car too. I have PS also.
JIM
Jim,
any pics you have would be very helpful.
It's hard to get a good angle with my camera, but here are a few shots illustrating what little room I have. The sensor really needs to be mounted up higher to clear the crossmember.
Can get the sensor bracket in all the way due to the crossmember
Even if I could get the sensor bracket in, the sensor itself will hit the lower a arm mount
I have the Moroso bracket and ground back the bottom of it to clear lower a-arm mount. My bracket looks similar to yours.
I'm glad I took the pic, because there isn't near the clearance I thought I had. I think I'll just cut the bottom off when I pull it back out as I don't need to adjust it that far down.
I grabbed a couple of quick shots. Excuse the dirt...she hasn't had a bath since being abused all summer!
I don't remember all I did to make it clear...but I did have to grind on the bracket and bend over the corner lip on oil pan so it could come over against the block. I used flush head bolts from hardware store also to give a little more adjustment so it could slide a little more. Also seems like I redrilled the mounting hole for the sensor hold screw to rotate sensor a little out of the way.
It's close on the harness...but it clears fine with no issues.
JIM
Last edited by 427Hotrod; Jan 24, 2016 at 10:58 PM.
Thought I would close out this thread with an update. Unfortunately no amount of grinding on the Holley bracket would provide enough clearance to mount the sensor so I ended up making my own out of .5" aluminum. The result isn't pretty, but fits perfectly. The gap between the trigger wheel and the sensor is .033" all the way around.
It was all done with an angle grinder cutoff wheel and drill press.
I also had to reverse how the sensor is mounted to the sensor bracket.
Crank trigger bracket that fits big blocks
