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I recently purchased a HEI distributor with a cable driven tach drive. I would like to install this on my 73 L-82 can anyone tell me how to wire the distributor? I was told some of the parts vendors may sell a harness for this conversion. :steering:
The only change in wiring you need to do is change the wire that ran to the positive side of the coil. This is the switched power supply. You need to replace this wire all the way to the bulkhead connector at the firewall with a 14 gauge wire. This wire must have a full 12v to it when the ignition switch is on. That wire will plug into the + treminal on the distributor and is the only wire you need to attach to the distributor. Call this guy and tell him you need a lead for an HEI dist. and he will send you a correct gauge wire with the correct plug for the distributor end. http://gsrkartway.com/gsr.htm I beleive they are under $10.00.
I purchased it from DUI performance distributors they have a web site but can't remember the address. I am sure someone knows what it is and can post it or you can do a search. Also I beleive corvette central sells them. It was shamefully expensive just over $500.00 :steering:
Lectric Limited also makes a plug in mini harness for HEI's that looks like a factory sub-harness for only 20-30 bucks. That was for a fully electronic HEI and tach, so a harness without the tach wire connection would be less money I am sure. I bought a regular GM HEI and had my tach converted to modern electronics, but the total cost wasn't much less than the cable tach HEI, if that makes you feel any better, gr8t73.
I rigged mine up myself, I used a relay with 12 volts coming from a 12 gauge wire running from the battery. I used the original ignition coil resistor wire to latch up the relay. When the ignition key is turned to start, the 9 or so volts through the resistor wire closes the contacts on the relay which routes 12 volts to the coil. I also have an inline resistor in the 12v line going to the HEI. I found the correct connector for the HEI power and tach connection at PEP Boys.
The setup has worked faultlessly for the last 18 months.
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 CONVERSION (Smokehouse69)
Summit sells the 12V+ lead that goes into the tach. It's the correct connector and all. Look in either their electrical section, or in the area with parts for distributors. It's like 5-6 bucks.