HEI Wiring - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

justinburnett · 03-02-2011, 02:57 PM

Well, I've got another question for you guys.

Doing an engine swap from an older (1973) 350 to a newer (1987) one. The new one has HEI but my old distributor was a points style. Just wondering where the power should be coming from to the new coil. It has a thick (12g or even 10g) red wire coming off of it, but I don't know where to pull power from. It should be switched, I assume, but the old wire going to the coil was only maybe an 18g resistor wire. Should I be putting a whole 12v to the new coil? Let me know. I'll check my phone from time to time while I work. Thanks.

monte0185 · 03-02-2011, 04:00 PM

I would run a switched power from a relay. You can power the relay from the battery and the switching power from the fuse box. Simple and also makes sure your HEI has a full 12 volts whenever the truck is running.

justinburnett · 03-02-2011, 04:49 PM

Okay. Just making sure it was supposed to be a full 12 volts.
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justinburnett · 03-02-2011, 09:34 PM

Well, good news, it runs! Of course now the head gasket is blown. I love my life.
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monte0185 · 03-02-2011, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinburnett

Well, good news, it runs! Of course now the head gasket is blown. I love my life.
Posted via Mobile Device

Yeah thats usually the way mine goes too. Sorry to hear about that but look at the bright side now you have an excuse to build a bigger better motor.

justinburnett · 03-02-2011, 10:30 PM

Yeah, I was planning on a 383 with roller cam/rockers. Problem is I've sunk about every spare dime I've got in this thing. Hopefully it'll drive for a while like it is.
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monte0185 · 03-02-2011, 10:45 PM

A head gasket and intake set is not alot. I would fix it if you plan on driving it. I prolly have a extra set laying around somewhere.

justinburnett · 03-02-2011, 11:19 PM

I'll probably fix it. It just sucks with everything that's gone wrong lately.
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justinburnett · 03-03-2011, 11:23 AM

I've never pulled heads before on a V engine. I did it once on a little 4cyl datsun and it was fairly easy, but is it a pretty simple thing, or is there anything i should be worried about?

monte0185 · 03-03-2011, 11:40 AM

Nope pretty straight forward. start from the top and work your way down. Pull your accessories and brackets first. then pull the distributor and wires and wiring. valve covers. Then your intake and carb and unbolt the offending sides exhaust manifold and loosen your rockers and pull the push rods and then take out all your bolts holding your head on. Clean head surface run a straight edge from corner to corner to check for warping (usually not an issue) check combustion chamber for cracks and then reinstall with new gaskets.

justinburnett · 03-05-2011, 12:27 PM

Thanks. Hope this works out.

03-02-2011, 02:57 PM	#1
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	HEI Wiring Well, I've got another question for you guys. Doing an engine swap from an older (1973) 350 to a newer (1987) one. The new one has HEI but my old distributor was a points style. Just wondering where the power should be coming from to the new coil. It has a thick (12g or even 10g) red wire coming off of it, but I don't know where to pull power from. It should be switched, I assume, but the old wire going to the coil was only maybe an 18g resistor wire. Should I be putting a whole 12v to the new coil? Let me know. I'll check my phone from time to time while I work. Thanks.

03-02-2011, 04:00 PM	#2
monte0185 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Brighton, TN Posts: 1,267	Re: HEI Wiring I would run a switched power from a relay. You can power the relay from the battery and the switching power from the fuse box. Simple and also makes sure your HEI has a full 12 volts whenever the truck is running. __________________ A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together. Last edited by monte0185; 03-02-2011 at 04:00 PM.

03-02-2011, 04:49 PM	#3
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	Re: HEI Wiring Okay. Just making sure it was supposed to be a full 12 volts. Posted via Mobile Device

03-02-2011, 09:34 PM	#4
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	Re: HEI Wiring Well, good news, it runs! Of course now the head gasket is blown. I love my life. Posted via Mobile Device

03-02-2011, 10:30 PM	#6
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	Re: HEI Wiring Yeah, I was planning on a 383 with roller cam/rockers. Problem is I've sunk about every spare dime I've got in this thing. Hopefully it'll drive for a while like it is. Posted via Mobile Device

03-02-2011, 10:45 PM	#7
monte0185 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Brighton, TN Posts: 1,267	Re: HEI Wiring A head gasket and intake set is not alot. I would fix it if you plan on driving it. I prolly have a extra set laying around somewhere. __________________ A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together.

03-02-2011, 11:19 PM	#8
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	Re: HEI Wiring I'll probably fix it. It just sucks with everything that's gone wrong lately. Posted via Mobile Device

03-03-2011, 11:23 AM	#9
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	Re: HEI Wiring I've never pulled heads before on a V engine. I did it once on a little 4cyl datsun and it was fairly easy, but is it a pretty simple thing, or is there anything i should be worried about?

03-03-2011, 11:40 AM	#10
monte0185 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Brighton, TN Posts: 1,267	Re: HEI Wiring Nope pretty straight forward. start from the top and work your way down. Pull your accessories and brackets first. then pull the distributor and wires and wiring. valve covers. Then your intake and carb and unbolt the offending sides exhaust manifold and loosen your rockers and pull the push rods and then take out all your bolts holding your head on. Clean head surface run a straight edge from corner to corner to check for warping (usually not an issue) check combustion chamber for cracks and then reinstall with new gaskets. __________________ A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together.

03-05-2011, 12:27 PM	#11
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	Re: HEI Wiring Thanks. Hope this works out.

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