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HEI conversions supply voltage

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Old Apr 6, 2021 | 01:36 PM
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Default HEI conversions supply voltage

Looking into an HEI tach drive conversion. One vendor says you supply 12 volts to the distributor, another says 13.7 volts.
I wrenched on HEI's almost exclusively in the 80's, and I remember only running a keyed 12v to the distributor.
Is this really the same thing, just running voltage vs static voltage?

Thanks.
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Old Apr 6, 2021 | 01:48 PM
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I've always ran the keyed +12 voltage to supply the distributor. That is what's required. You get your 13.7 volts (to everything) when the alternator is charging.
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Old Apr 6, 2021 | 01:51 PM
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You didn't post year of car, If yours has the ballast resistor, tap from the infeed side of resistor (not the distributor side)
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Old Apr 6, 2021 | 01:51 PM
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Look at your fuse box.
You have an unused space marked IGN that's where you get power for the HEI.
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Old Apr 6, 2021 | 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by MelWff
Look at your fuse box.
You have an unused space marked IGN that's where you get power for the HEI.

And make sure to use a 12ga wire.......a common mistake is to use a smaller gauge and it will get hot and eventually damage the wire. It draws a fair amount of constant current.

Jebby

Last edited by Jebbysan; Apr 6, 2021 at 02:28 PM.
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Old Apr 6, 2021 | 02:35 PM
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Nope, I would take it straight from the key if possible (ignition switch or ignition switch side of the ballast resistor or comb connector on the steering column). Reason: all switched power goes through the ignition switch. There are many consumers of switched power and having as close to a dedicated line as possible is a good thing.
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Old Apr 6, 2021 | 05:18 PM
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Thanks guys, I will be running a dedicated 12 ga wire from the IGN tab on the fuse panel.
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Old Apr 10, 2021 | 11:56 AM
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On a related note, the distributors I’m looking at have hardened steel gears. My motor has a flat tappet hydraulic cam. Won’t that distributor gear eat the cam gear?
is there an intermediate gear between hardened steel and bronze that I should be looking to swap on there?
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Old Apr 10, 2021 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by wwiiavfan
On a related note, the distributors I’m looking at have hardened steel gears. My motor has a flat tappet hydraulic cam. Won’t that distributor gear eat the cam gear?
is there an intermediate gear between hardened steel and bronze that I should be looking to swap on there?
I've always used the composite gear. It works well with all types of cams. This.......https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-12200
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Old Apr 10, 2021 | 03:14 PM
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Hmm found this on Summit’s website. Looks like hardened steel and composite are ok for all cam types.


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