Mopar had 12v at crank (start) which bypasses the ballast resister. Then when the key goes back to run after starting, it goes through the ballast to run on around 8v. You have to make sure you have 12v both at crank and run with the key.
Mopar had 12v at crank (start) which bypasses the ballast resister. Then when the key goes back to run after starting, it goes through the ballast to run on around 8v. You have to make sure you have 12v both at crank and run with the key.
The engine came with the big GM HEI distributor with the coil in cap. That’s why I was asking about the those wires. The 2 wires that were plugged into the old distributor I believe plug into the Gm hei. One is hot and the other I think is or was a tach. It does have an after market tach.hey...take a look at that dipstick, @Johnny Mac
what distributor came with that engine?
The engine came with the big GM HEI distributor with the coil in cap. That’s why I was asking about the those wires. The 2 wires that were plugged into the old distributor I believe plug into the Gm hei. One is hot and the other I think is or was a tach. It does have an after market tach.
see post 27.The engine came with the big GM HEI distributor with the coil in cap. That’s why I was asking about the those wires. The 2 wires that were plugged into the old distributor I believe plug into the Gm hei. One is hot and the other I think is or was a tach. It does have an after market tach.
Well it looks like they had 2 blacks coming off off the ballast. I’m not sure they were even functioning. The old distributor had a brown and orange coming off of it. Thanks for the info on the pigtail.Those do sometimes go out with the big cap. Sounds like we're all pretty sure thats what he has. Yes, it IS as simple as putting a 12V keyed source to it.
get one of these. red is 12V, green is tach output.
HEI DISTRIBUTOR 1 PIECE POWER & TACHOMETER PIGTAIL HARNESS
View attachment 1715526796
you can put the 12V feed on a toggle switch, OR there are 2 wires on a mopar that need tied together to get a 12V from the key, in crank AND run. Someone can probably remind me what those are, before i am able to find it. Is it the Blue and Brown off the ballast?
Well it looks like they had 2 blacks coming off off the ballast. I’m not sure they were even functioning. The old distributor had a brown and orange coming off of it. Thanks for the info on the pigtail.
That’s what I will do , thanks.the way to test is to put a volt meter on there
check them one at a time
IF the ballast is working as it should, one of those should read 8 volt with the key in "run"
the other should read 12 volt with the key in "crank"
then check the two wires going into the ballast, one should have 12 volt in "run" the other 12 volt in "run"
you could technically grab those two wires going into the ballast resistor,twist them together and run a single wire from there to the distributor