Un-hacking ignition wiring
So I started to dive into trying to make my ignition wiring right today and found out just how strangely some previous owner butchered it. The car ran and appeared to charge when I first got it but the factory ignition module and ballast resistor were completely eliminated from the system. As was the harness and large plug (my factory manual calls it the “dash to engine connector”). The distributor appeared to be taking power from the ignition coil when the old 318 was still in the car too. And when I had hooked up the battery to wire my radio and a couple things inside the car I got no voltage when the key was in “on” or “accessory” unless I ran a jumper from the positive side of the battery to the battery wire for the alternator.
I had taken almost every scrap of wiring harness off the parts car I had before it got scrapped but not everything appears to be there. I’m also pretty sure this is a factory 40 amp alternator car. That doesn’t bode well for me. I have an electric fuel pump and plan on running an electric fan. Those 2 things alone are over half of the charging capacity.
So my questions are, where would the “dash to engine connector” go to after the ignition module side of the plug? And what would be the easiest way to upgrade the charging system to say, 100 amps? I’m seriously debating biting the bullet and just running a self contained distributor like a pertronix.
Picture of the plug I mentioned.
The large wire I’m assuming is the battery wire to the altetnator and it’s cut off after the plug and looks to have been fried. 2 of the wires I think go to the positive and negative on the coil, one goes to the temp sender and it looks like the others may go to field on the alternator and the voltage regulator? It was like this when I pulled the harness from the parts car. And I’m tired of staring at wiring diagrams scratching my head so I’m turning to the experts. Any help is really appreciated. I’m sure we have all cursed bubba the electrician when we find stuff like this on our cars.
So I started to dive into trying to make my ignition wiring right today and found out just how strangely some previous owner butchered it. The car ran and appeared to charge when I first got it but the factory ignition module and ballast resistor were completely eliminated from the system. As was the harness and large plug (my factory manual calls it the “dash to engine connector”). The distributor appeared to be taking power from the ignition coil when the old 318 was still in the car too. And when I had hooked up the battery to wire my radio and a couple things inside the car I got no voltage when the key was in “on” or “accessory” unless I ran a jumper from the positive side of the battery to the battery wire for the alternator.
I had taken almost every scrap of wiring harness off the parts car I had before it got scrapped but not everything appears to be there. I’m also pretty sure this is a factory 40 amp alternator car. That doesn’t bode well for me. I have an electric fuel pump and plan on running an electric fan. Those 2 things alone are over half of the charging capacity.
So my questions are, where would the “dash to engine connector” go to after the ignition module side of the plug? And what would be the easiest way to upgrade the charging system to say, 100 amps? I’m seriously debating biting the bullet and just running a self contained distributor like a pertronix.
Picture of the plug I mentioned.
The large wire I’m assuming is the battery wire to the altetnator and it’s cut off after the plug and looks to have been fried. 2 of the wires I think go to the positive and negative on the coil, one goes to the temp sender and it looks like the others may go to field on the alternator and the voltage regulator? It was like this when I pulled the harness from the parts car. And I’m tired of staring at wiring diagrams scratching my head so I’m turning to the experts. Any help is really appreciated. I’m sure we have all cursed bubba the electrician when we find stuff like this on our cars.
