HEI wiring question?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
HEI wiring question?
I'm attempting to wire up my new HEI distributor that is on my ZZ4. The old points ignition used a resistor type wire running to the coil so the power is reduced to about 9 volts, which is too low for HEI. Where is a good source of keyed 12 volt power for the HEI distributor?
I've looked at the fuse panel there is a terminal labled IGN, currently there are a pair of 18 gauge pink wires attached to this terminal. Is this a good place to get a good solid 12 volts for my HEI?
I've looked at the fuse panel there is a terminal labled IGN, currently there are a pair of 18 gauge pink wires attached to this terminal. Is this a good place to get a good solid 12 volts for my HEI?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
Likes: 3
From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: HEI wiring question? (Smokehouse69)
You should be able to use that same wire, just tap in before the resistor, or just remove the resistor and extend the wire.
If you do run a new wire, you will need to make it hot in the "run" and "start" positions. Not many are hot in the "start". If needed you can run a wire from the post on the starter.
If you do run a new wire, you will need to make it hot in the "run" and "start" positions. Not many are hot in the "start". If needed you can run a wire from the post on the starter.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: HEI wiring question? (BSeery)
The problem is that the wire itself seems to be a resistor and it disappears through the firewall, and behind the dash. I haven't tried to trace it behind the dash yet, that will come tomorrow (I have to pull the center cluster to attach the new oil pressure line) maybe I can find it then and just tap into the source before the resistor portion starts.
Since this was originally a "points" car, there already is a separate line coming from the solenoid to provide 12 volt to the coil during cranking. Since it is only hot when the solenoid is engaging the Bendix, it can't be depended on it for constant 12 v.
Since this was originally a "points" car, there already is a separate line coming from the solenoid to provide 12 volt to the coil during cranking. Since it is only hot when the solenoid is engaging the Bendix, it can't be depended on it for constant 12 v.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
Likes: 3
From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: HEI wiring question? (Smokehouse69)
there already is a separate line coming from the solenoid to provide 12 volt to the coil during cranking. Since it is only hot when the solenoid is engaging the Bendix, it can't be depended on it for constant 12 v.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: HEI wiring question? (Smokehouse69)
Yes, the pink wires....on the load side of the fuse....I can't remember just exactly....but the resistor wire goes into the bulkhead plug behind the fuse block....take a 3/8? socket to the bolt in center of connector under brakes...and pull entire connector...it WILL come apart into two pieces, one from the lighting and one from engine section....but glued pretty good with tar from factory....makes it simpler to work on.....just trace the black wire with steel core....
GENE
GENE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: HEI wiring question? (Smokehouse69)
make sure you use at least #12 gage wire. you can also use a relay,wiring the HEI to the battery and turn the relay off and on using you present ignition wiring. :chevy
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: HEI wiring question? (clem zahrobsky)
Great suggestion Clem, I'll do just that. I have a spare solenoid and plenty of 12 gauge primary wire. I'm still searching for a plug that will fit the HEI distributor, I don't like the idea of using plain slip on terminals that close together. I checked every autoparts store in this podunk town I live in and none of them had a clue. Zwede said that they are available at Pep Boy's, but we don't have a Pep Boy's here, I guess I'll check in Austin on Friday.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
Likes: 3
From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: HEI wiring question? (Smokehouse69)
Summit Racing sells the original style clip-in wires for HEI power input.
It's either in the electrical section or with the distributor parts. About $5.00.
I ordered one for my truck when I changed to HEI and it's a nice quality connector. http://www.painlesswiring.com may have it also.
It's either in the electrical section or with the distributor parts. About $5.00.
I ordered one for my truck when I changed to HEI and it's a nice quality connector. http://www.painlesswiring.com may have it also.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
Re: HEI wiring question? (Smokehouse69)
When I swapped to HEI on my '71 I replaced the resistor wire with a regular wire. The resistor wire is quite long and goes to the bulkhead connector. It does not extend through the firewall. The bulkhead connector is on the engine side of the firewall on the other side of the under-dash fusebox. I popped the terminal out of the bulkhead with the resistor wire still attached. I then soldered a regular wire to the terminal and re-inserted it into the bulkhead connector.
Hope you find some HEI connectors. I would just go to pep-boys and get you some and mail it to you, but my company sent me to Europe for 3 months and I won't be back until early january.
Summit has the HEI power connector, but not the tach one. You can get 2 of the power connectors and modify one of them to fit into the tach slot.
Hope you find some HEI connectors. I would just go to pep-boys and get you some and mail it to you, but my company sent me to Europe for 3 months and I won't be back until early january.
Summit has the HEI power connector, but not the tach one. You can get 2 of the power connectors and modify one of them to fit into the tach slot.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Riockwall Texas
Re: HEI wiring question? (zwede)
Factory wire to the HEI is 10 Gauge. If you use a relay, remember that a relay is a high failure rate item, and you are dependent on it for the car to run. Best bet is an Ignition Switched terminal on the fuse block. Run a one piece, 10 Ga. wire (Red) fron the terminal block to the power input to the HEI. The HEI uses around 10 Amps of power in the run mode, so the fuse should be at least twice running current or 20 Amps. You can use terminals which are totally insulated if you can't find a HEI connector (Try a Chevy dealer of junkyard)