Hello All,



The previous owner had already put in a GM HEI distributor. It ran when I got the car.

In the midst of a total tear-down and rebuild, I have installed a new engine harness from American Auto Wire. (old harness was ragged, and like an idiot, I discarded it when I tore the car down)

The guys at AAW said to cut the big pink wire on the back of the ignition switch, splice it and run one wire to the "Batt" side of the HEI, and another wire to "R" on the starter solenoid. Said it would start. I did this and got nothing....it didn't look right to me.

Also I noticed that I am not getting current with the test light on two fuses on my fuse block. The two fuses on the bottom right corner....

Any expertise would be appreciated...

Thanks,
PV

R on the starter is for the resistance in standard ignition. With hei ignition you dont use this. Secong thing, if you have the resistance in your circuit for ignition it must be remove.

Can you slowly walk me thru this?
(thanks for your help!)

I have cut the big pink wire. Reconnecting it solved my fuse panel problem.

So as far a s the HEI.....
Is it OK to splice in to the pink wire for that?
What do I send to the starter solenoid and where will it connect there? And from where?

And where will I find the resistor you mentioned?
I thought it was the resistance wire??? (which is no longer connected.)


THANKS!!!!

resistor is the resistance wire ( same thing this is ok)
You have 2 connectors on the Hei Tach and B+
On the starter Solenoid you shoud have 2 small screws. One name R that you wont use and one name S that must receive 12 volts only when your ignition switch is on Start position. I think it's purple Check this wire with a test light and make sure the light bulb go on only on start position. Hope this help. For your ignition check to see if you have a black and pink. Make sure you have power on this wire when the ignition switch is on the run position

OK.......

So here's what I have...I spliced in to the BIG Pink wire on the back of the ignition switch. I ran a 10g wire to the HEI "B+", checked it with my multimeter and connected it. It is supplying 12 volts.

I removed the wire from "R" on the starter solenoid.
Now there is nothing there.

The "S" terminal has the purple wire. But there is no voltage at all, and I tried it with the key in EVERY position. I understand that it should only energize when the key is in "crank" position, otherwise the starter would stay on, right?

As far as the "resistance" wire, it is run parallel with the yellow wire that was connected to "R" on the solenoid. The yellow wire is what I disconnected form "R", so it is dead. The resistance wire is 12 volts all the time, with the key in all positions except off. (this is a light gauge pink wire with the words "resistance cable, do not cut" all over it.) It's not connected to anything.

So...correct me if I am wrong, but all I need is power to my purple wire on the solenoid "S" terminal, and it should start, right? So why is it not getting power?

Any ideas?
Thanks,
PV

The purple wire shoud pass tru a neutral switch is the car automatic or manual???. If automatic look at the base of the steering column the neutral switch shoud be there make sure the switch is ajusted correctly

Here's the update.......


So I spent most of the day tracing down wiring. Still no luck, so I decided to try jumping the starter with a hot wire. No luck.

Took the starter off and back to the store I bought it from. Traded for a new starter, put it on and it is turning over fine.

I have oil pressure and everything looks good. I only tried to let her fire briefly, and decided that was enough for today. I will get it running tomorrow.

Thanks for the help. I am thankful that it is turning over.

I bought the starter NEW in January and haven't tried it till yesterday. Probably made in China or Mexico. They bench tested it and it was DOA. I guess it was my luck to get that one, in the midst of wiring from scratch. I have a few more gray hairs now. And I consider myself educated in HEI wiring! lol...

PV

good, have fun now driving the car

good luck

If you have cranking but it is not yet running, use a timing light to determine if you have spark before cranking too much and washing your cylinders with gasoline.

If not, quit cranking and ensure you have a 12v power source to the HEI B+ when the key is in the START and RUN positions.

Thanks Yellowbird!

If you cannot find a convenient source for 12v while cranking, put the wire back on to the starter S terminal and splice it to the wire that is hot when the ignition is on.

I had similar issues with a project car bought after at least two abandonments. The wiring harness looked like a pot of spaghetti and the car would not crank, start or run. I had to probe and trace until I had power in the right places at the right time; from there, it was merely a matter of setting timing and fuel.

Then I had to fix the shifting issue...they cut the column shift lever off the bottom of the column because it hit the headers. Converted to console shift to make it easy.

Hey Yellowbird,


Tried to send you a PM, but it says you are over limit. How can I reach you? I have a question or two for you.....
Thanks,
PV

I cleared a few messages out. You can also reach me at yellowbird@thefirstgensite.com