Hei Distributor 1973 W/ 304 Help

I got a problem. Hopefully you all will be able to help.

I recently installed an HEI distributor (summit) into my Jeep. Replaced the dizzy gear, as most people said the new one would chew the cam. Easy job. Install of the dizzy went smoothly and new wires were a breeze too. Cut to fit MSD StreetFires. 12v of power straight from the starter solenoid. This is all the good.

Now the bad. First start up, went well. Went for a putts around the block and the engine was more alive and I had to feather the throttle a lot less.

The next day, I start removing all the old stuff. Coil out: removed the negative wire, but there are 2 positive wires on the coil. 1 is a resistor wire from the ignition key switch (red and probably 10gauge) and the other wire (green probably 16gauage) came from the starter solenoid. These are the 2 wires that I have no clue what to do with.

I would assume the green (16gauge) can be removed completely as I already ran a new 10 gauge from the watered solenoid to the HEI Dizzy.

The other wire, red resistor wire, what do I need to do with this wire? Again this wire runs back to the key ignition.

 

tape em up so they don't short out and leave em if you ever want to put the stock stuff back on.

 

'73 has a Delco points distributor from the factory.

What I would do - remove the coil wires and tape them up, and hide them in the loom. Run a new 16 ga wire from the ignition switch to the HEI distributor.

The resistance wire is what you normally run on with the points distributor. The original system needs the resistance to limit current through the coil and points. The green wire is only connected when the ignition switch goes to start. It supplies full current to the coil for easier starting, and then disconnects to run. The resistance wire should be connected in both the start and run position. You don't need the resistance with the HEI distributor, so you can replace it with plain copper wire.

 

Awesome. Not looking forward to running a wire from the ignition switch to the distributor though.

@timgr, can I get distributor power from the starter solenoid instead?

 

you can get it from before the resistor wire for the original coil.

 

You should be able to connect a non-resistant wire at the engine compartment plug at or very near on wire that is dotted (C38) and run new wire to distributor. As said, disconnect and tape back the un-needed resistant wire.

 

I used the resistance wire to engage a Bosch relay with a fused hot directly from the battery to power my HEI. Works like a charm.
see about 2/3 down in my write up for wiring info. (stupid photobucket blocks the pics now, sorry)

 

Thank you all for the help. I'm going to pull the resistance wire out of the connector and run a new wire from there. That will make the cleanest install I see. I'm not a wire guy.

Speaking of wires, I HATE ELECTRICAL. I don't understand that aspect of it very well. I have another problem. I am getting a juice from the battery to the ignition switch (gauges turn on). When I pull the headlight switch, everything dies (gauges turn off, no headlights). Same if I try to start the Jeep.

 

Bad ground

 

To respond to this problem. Bad ground. I ended up putting a ground post in the fender. Running the ground to the starter instead of the front of engine block.

With doing all that, I also made new battery cables (positive and ground) with welding cable. Soldered the ends on, heat shrink with glue (color coordinated). All this got the engine to turn over like a kicking mule.

Thank you all for the help. Something so simple, damn Jeep.

 

Good to hear you got it going