1973 C10, what is this part near the coil

[jontsa]

A stupid question but here goes

1973 C10 with a 454. The engine should be original though I haven't verified this yet. On the coil mounting bracket there is a small one wire thingy-ma-bob that is not connected to anything. What is it for and where should it be connected to?

[hatzie]

Radio noise suppression condenser (capacitor).

[jontsa]

And this connects to the positive terminal in the coil?

[timthescarrd]

it would connect to the Tachometer signal wire if you have a tach, it's designed to reduce "noise" and thus keep the tachometer more smooth

[jontsa]

it would connect to the Tachometer signal wire if you have a tach, it's designed to reduce "noise" and thus keep the tachometer more smooth

The car has the original tach, though it's not working. The distributor doesn't have separate tach signal and the tach is connected to the negative terminal in the coil.

[Captain Swampy]

It keeps the points from arcing or burning. It has nothing to do with the tach or radio interference

[bd]

It keeps the points from arcing or burning. It has nothing to do with the tach or radio interference

On the contrary, the capacitor (condenser) that buffers arcing across the points is located inside the distributor near the points.  The externally mounted capacitor in the image is intended as a noise suppression filter as previously stated.

[VileZambonie]

Yup and they were also installed on fan blower assemblies too

[hatzie]

It keeps the points from arcing or burning. It has nothing to do with the tach or radio interference

On the contrary, the capacitor (condenser) that buffers arcing across the points is located inside the distributor near the points.  The externally mounted capacitor in the image is intended as a noise suppression filter as previously stated.

Beat me to it.  The noise suppression cap is on the positive terminal of the coil.
It's for the tach and the radio.

From orbit on my Android.

[jontsa]

This cleared it up. Thanks for all the answers