73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Electrical => Topic started by: bcstingray on March 29, 2016, 05:48:29 pm

Title: Points Conversiom
Post by: bcstingray on March 29, 2016, 05:48:29 pm
I switching out my point distributor for an after market electronic distributor. For those that have already done this, did you get the power needed from the fuse box or of the steering column ignition switch?
Title: Re: Points Conversiom
Post by: VileZambonie on March 29, 2016, 05:52:42 pm
Run a new circuit from the ign fuse
Title: Re: Points Conversiom
Post by: hatzie on March 29, 2016, 08:12:12 pm
Run one new Red 12ga SXL Circuit 3 wire from the Firewall Junction Block to replace the resistance wire.
You'll need the wiring manual for your rig.  They are linked below in my signature.

It'll be a Packard 56 Female on the Distributor end and a Packard 56 or Packard 59 on the firewall block end.  Not sure which gender or series # is on the firewall block...  I believe it's Male and a #56 but I could be wrong on this.

Be sure the aftermarket distributor uses stock GM style HEI pickup and module not, re-engineered for cheapness not reliability, Chinese parts.
Title: Re: Points Conversiom
Post by: bcstingray on March 30, 2016, 06:21:30 am
I'm not using a stock GM type distributor. I bought an aftermarket complete MSD distributor with the smaller cap and E-Coil. It will be using just 1 wire for the switched power source.
Title: Re: Points Conversiom
Post by: hatzie on March 30, 2016, 12:45:23 pm
I'm not using a stock GM type distributor. I bought an aftermarket complete MSD distributor with the smaller cap and E-Coil. It will be using just 1 wire for the switched power source.

Look in your year wiring diagram for Circuit 3 in the firewall plug.  That's the ignition coil power hookup point in the engine bay.  The points coil ballast wire is in that position.
Run a 12ga SXL wire from the bulkhead plug to the connector for your coil.  That firewall plug has a mix of 56 & 59 terminals.  Packard 59 has a wider blade than the 56 terminals.  Not sure which you'll find in the circuit 3 position.
Title: Re: Points Conversiom
Post by: bcstingray on March 31, 2016, 08:45:09 am
I'll be running my power source from the fuse box.
Title: Re: Points Conversiom
Post by: hatzie on March 31, 2016, 12:52:01 pm
I'll be running my power source from the fuse box.

You could avoid snaking a longer wire through a hole into the cab and run it from the stock ignition power position on the firewall plug.  Your choice. ::)
Title: Re: Points Conversiom
Post by: VileZambonie on April 04, 2016, 07:28:16 pm
Hatzie,

Which connector are you referring to? The junction block on the firewall is hot at all times?
Title: Re: Points Conversiom
Post by: hatzie on April 04, 2016, 08:23:21 pm
Hatzie,

Which connector are you referring to? The junction block on the firewall is hot at all times?
The square firewall passthrough plug.  It's smaller on the 73 & 74 chassis but it's there.  Only the red circuit 2 wire(s) in that plug that run from the starter or J stud block, depending on the year, is hot all the time.

Sent from my SM-P605V using Tapatalk