Remote HEI Coil Connections

[Spun Bearing]

A previous owner has upgraded this truck, 1964 with 230 6 cylinder, with an HEI.
I'm not sure what side of this coil I hook the power and tach. There is not a place on the distributor cap.
I've looked on the 'net for help and can't find what I need.

Thanks

[The Rocknrod]

Here is a good example of an HEI distributor taken from a great thread explaining HEI systems: http://garage.grumpysperformance.com...gnitions.2798/

[Spun Bearing]

I meant to add a picture to my original post. It's a remote coil.
The picture is turned sideways with the front at the top.

[The Rocknrod]

That's a home made unit right there.

[Spun Bearing]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

That's a home made unit right there.

It's not home made, this style is often used in race applications. I can find several pictures, just not a diagram.
Thanks for your picture.

[1968k20]

I was always burning out modules on my 71 suburban, and I relocated the coil; never burned any up again

[ray_mcavoy]

That is a factory HEI from a 1975 - 76 or so inline 6. They changed over to the coil-in-cap (like the V8 HEI) sometime around 1977 or 78.

The 2 blade terminals toward the front of the coil (as mounted on the engine) are "coil +". One has a wire connecting it to the B terminal on the HEI module inside the distributor. The other accepts the power wire from the vehicle's ignition switch.

The 2 blade terminals toward the rear of the coil are "coil -". One has a wire connecting it to the C terminal on the HEI module. The other can accept a signal wire for a tachometer.

[Spun Bearing]

Thanks for that thorough answer Ray!

[suville]

Ray can you indicate on this pic which connector does what or where it connects to? Im also running a tach. im somewhat confused as to your explanation thanks for your time

[Spun Bearing]

It would be nice to find a new 4 position terminal for this too.
Any idears?

[suville]

I just purchased a new coil from NAPA and dist from rock auto it came with the plastic connector that snaps onto the coil. The connector will attach either way so Im unsure of the correct orientation, does it connect either way, dont seem like it would but there are no indications which terminal is what. Been searchin the answer for days then this thread popped up hope to figger this out Thanks!

[Spun Bearing]

On my coil, there is a post between the spade terminals...the connector would need to have clearance for this to fit. I'm guessing that is the foolproof way of making sure the connector goes on one way.

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by Spun Bearing

It would be nice to find a new 4 position terminal for this too.
Any idears?

Standard Motor Products part number RC-6 (or equivalent) is a replacement harness that connects the coil to the HEI module in the distributor. It includes the connectors for both the coil and module end.

However, as you can see in this pic (borrowed from RockAuto site), the connector that fits onto the coil only contains 2 terminals:


The other 2 terminals (for the power & tach wires) were originally part of the vehicle harness and they had keyed plastic connectors that fit into the 2 open cavities on that coil connector. They look similar to the power & tach connectors that plug into the coil-in-cap HEI but if I remember correctly, these remote coil versions were keyed differently. As far as I know, they are discontinued by Packard/Delphi (the original supplier) and no one reproduces them. So you'd have to salvage the plastic shells from a donor vehicle and fit them with new Packard/Delphi 56-series terminals. Of course, these will accept standard 1/4" quick connect terminals but those lack the keyed notches that prevent the wires from accidentally being plugged into the wrong spots and they don't have the little plastic latches that help keep them securely plugged into place.

Originally Posted by suville

Ray can you indicate on this pic which connector does what or where it connects to? Im also running a tach. im somewhat confused as to your explanation thanks for your time

Sure ... here's a copy of that pic with some added labels. Both the terminals I marked "+12V from ignition switch" and "to B terminal of HEI module" are internally connected together to the + side of the coil. So you could interchange these 2 wires and not make any difference. Similarly, both the terminals I marked "signal wire to tach" and "to C terminal of HEI module" are internally connected together to the - side of the coil. So these 2 wires could also be interchanged. Although, as mentioned earlier, when using all of the factory type connectors, they are keyed with various bumps/notches in the plastic so things should only plug in one way.

[suville]

A HUGE TY ! just what I needed.