Someone please help me, I'm filling out the spec sheet for Dave and I need help with this question. For all HEI systems, length of feed wires, in inches. This dimension is the distance the wires from where the coil is to be mounted, to the distributor. (if you have questions on this, please e/mail me): I will have the coil in the stock location but I don't have my motor available to do any measurements. I'm guessing 12 inches would be adequate but if someone can measure and let me know, I'd appreciate it. Allen allioop108@aol.com
Are you planning on using an aftermarket coil and mounting it remotely on the engine where the points coil went? The stock HEI coil is in the distributor cap and you only need 4 or five inches of wire for that. I haven't had the stock points coil on my car in 15 years so I can't give a measurement for that. I've heard of some people using a remote coil on HEI's but I don't understand why. If you don't like the OEM HEI coil, there are aftermarket coils that go in the stock location. IMHO, the stock HEI coil makes plenty of spark for a gas/street application.
Allen, I'm sure if you tell Dave you plan to put the coil in the stock location, he will know how long to make the feed wires. That question is for people who want to mount their coil somewhere else. The distributor and coil are right next to one another, so 12" might be too long IMO. Andy, I think we are talking about one of Daves HEI conversions, so we are talking small cap here. Running a big cap coil isn't an option. The separate coil is superior anyway, it runs cooler, and that's always a good thing. HEI in cap coils are all epoxy filled. They retain more heat for that reason, and because they are sealed inside the cap. The conventional coils are oil filled, they run cooler. MSD makes a Big HEI cap with a provision to run a separate coil. Some HEI users had problems with spark above 4500 RPM(due to heat buildup). I think this has been addressed by the aftermarket modules and coils, and it probably is a non issue today.
allen so,Allen where are you mounting the module? i am using the stock coil location,but thinking of mounting the module on the firewall.
I'm not sure what you are refering to by module. I will have the MSD box on the firewall right above the heater assemble. The coil I want in its stock location. Allen
Allen, In your first post, you asked about Daves HEI conversion. If you are running an MSD box, you want Daves magnetic trigger conversion(that's all you need), and your question about the length of the HEI feed wires is irrelevant. On Daves HEI conversion, he mounts the HEI module to the bottom of the small cap distributor. It is possible to mount the module elsewhere(like on the firewall) Dave Shaker(Gritty Kitty, Buickbuddy)has done just that. In that case, the feed wires would need to be quite a bit longer. In your case though, you don't need to provide Dave with any measurments. The MSD magnetic trigger wires plug into a seperate cable that comes with the MSD box.
on my application(340)dave says the module wont fit on the bottom of distributor.so i figured i would mount it on the firewall,and enclose the wires in the main harness.
I mounted mine with a heat sink on the firewall. Dave made me longer wires for it. They were the perfect length to run it along with the main harness. I didn't have time when I built the car to tape them to the harness. But this winter I will reroute the module and gauge wires together with the harness. :TU:
Thanks but now I'm feeling self-conscience about what a mess the wiring looks like. LOL!!! I need to get in there and rework it. p p
Thanks Guys, buickbuddy, the pic of your module looks good, I wasn't aware you could set it up as such. Well my distributor is boxed and ready to go to post office tomorrow. Its great that everything is finally moving, motor is almost done, just need to find a welder still. Allen allioop108@aol.com
thats the ticket! good call on the heatsink Dave i am going to use the heatsink out of an old rectifier and mount it behind the module pretty much like yours.i was even thinking of using an old generator cover,cutting slats in it to cover the module so you wouldnt see it :bglasses: but then again,that would defeat the cooling idea uzzled:
