Finally found a new tach drive HEI lots cheaper than Eckler's or others, so decided it was time to make the change. Need to know where the resistor wire is connected under the dash, and what gauge wire should I replace it with. Also, can the starter motor wire from the old coil still be used? Any other electrical considerations when converting to HEI? Tnx!

 

we have spoken in other threads about the resistor wires for the older coil distributors...and you probably already know this ... there purpose was to allow a reduced normal operating voltage for the coil , so that when the car was initailly being started while cranking, the coil would have 12 volts and produce a hotter spark...when the starter was disengaged then the coil was using the reduced voltage from the resistor circuit .....I have not done the change from a points dist to an HEI dist, but i dont think you will be using the resistor wire any more...i believe you are only supplying a straight 12 volts to the distributor and you do not use the resistor wire. so you will want to have a switched 12 volt source of power to the hei dist....i do not know if the wire from the starter solenoid is the 12 volt switched source or the resistor wire.... If i had to guess i would say it probalby is the 12 volt source of power that went to the dist to fire the coil while cranking and as soon as the starter is disengaged the power source dies. so that would not be a good one to use and probably should be disconnected, checking a schematic would be a good idea.... others forum members pls step in to help connect the dots....