Quick question for ignition wiring gurus - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**jmader** · 02-27-2018, 03:14 PM

My first time installing a complete wiring harness and I’m a little stuck. I’m putting a AAW classic update harness into a truck with a pertronix igniter unit in the distributor. The instructions say to run the pink wire (12v) to the positive side of the distributor cap. I’m assuming I just run it to the + side of the coil and hook up the red wire from the pertronix to the + coil also?

**HO455** · 02-27-2018, 04:29 PM

That sounds correct. There's an obvious typo as there is no wire connection to the distributor cap. Depending on what Pertronix unit you have it may want 12 volts or 6 volts.

rapid49 · 02-27-2018, 04:58 PM

Sounds like instructions for a H.E.I.

**jmader** · 02-27-2018, 10:19 PM

Here's a link of the instructions. I talked to AAW and they said the harness will work wit the Pertronix unit as long as it is straight ignition 12 volts which Pertrnix verified and said no resistor is needed.
https://www.americanautowire.com/PDF...20IN%201.0.pdf

**jmader** · 03-01-2018, 12:20 PM

Anyone have thoughts on this? I don’t want to fry anything if I hook it up wrong...

**jmader** · 03-03-2018, 10:44 AM

Anyone?

**kwmech** · 03-03-2018, 11:27 AM

Personally I would eliminate the Pertronix unit and go with the HEI. I feel the HEI is a more reliable unit

**jmader** · 03-03-2018, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwmech

Personally I would eliminate the Pertronix unit and go with the HEI. I feel the HEI is a more reliable unit

I would if I wasn’t doing a stock restoration plus it’s a 4x4 truck so I don’t really have the room

hjewell2 · 03-03-2018, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwmech

Personally I would eliminate the Pertronix unit and go with the HEI. I feel the HEI is a more reliable unit

Darn tootin!!

davepl · 03-03-2018, 12:35 PM

I'm running a Pertronix Ingnitor III module because I wanted to run a stock body distributor cap. I'm using an M&H harness that I ordered custom without a resistor wire.

Presuming you have eliminated your resistor wire or have otherwise provided an unmodified 12V ignition path, just follow the hookup instructions and all will be fine.

If you have a tach you might notice it reads high at low RPM due to the multiple spark feature.

**kwmech** · 03-03-2018, 02:17 PM

The HEI will fit in a 4wd unless your body mounts are trashed. I just installed one in a 72 K5 for a customer. I can get my finger tips behind the cap. It's tight but it clears.

Tiger Joe · 03-04-2018, 09:28 AM

Your wiring is correct. 12v to coil +. Pertronix connects there as well.

I know guys have had issues with pertronix but i personally have one in a chevelle- going on 3rd season with no issues. And when I was a kid my dad installed one in a gto when they first were the hot item, that was probably mid to late 90s and it’s still going strong

**jmader** · 03-04-2018, 12:02 PM

OK thanks for the help guys. I'm not too worried about performance since it won't be on the road all that often. I just want to keep the stock look because that's the look I prefer

davepl · 03-04-2018, 02:58 PM

I think the GM HEI is a nice reliable unit. The Chinese HEIs not so much. But it doesn't help him or me because we both want stock-bodied Delco style distributors.

Pertronix offers a ready-to-run Delco small cap distributor and I bought that for my truck, but on my current car restoration I'm using the module so I can keep the original date coded distributor.

02-27-2018, 03:14 PM	#1
jmader Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Grand Island, NE Posts: 1,485	Quick question for ignition wiring gurus My first time installing a complete wiring harness and I’m a little stuck. I’m putting a AAW classic update harness into a truck with a pertronix igniter unit in the distributor. The instructions say to run the pink wire (12v) to the positive side of the distributor cap. I’m assuming I just run it to the + side of the coil and hook up the red wire from the pertronix to the + coil also? __________________ 1949 Chevy 3100 Five Window 1964 Chevy C10 Lambrecht Auction project 1967 Chevy SWB K10 1967 GMC K15 Project Build thread- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...72#post6502772 1968 Chevy Anniversary K10 1991 K5 4" Lift 35's (the wife's toy)

02-27-2018, 04:29 PM	#2
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 10,783	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus That sounds correct. There's an obvious typo as there is no wire connection to the distributor cap. Depending on what Pertronix unit you have it may want 12 volts or 6 volts. __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban the WMB,1991 S(stink)-10 Blazer,1969 GTO, 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird. 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

02-27-2018, 04:58 PM	#3
rapid49 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: New Orleans La. Posts: 82	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus Sounds like instructions for a H.E.I. __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=740665

02-27-2018, 10:19 PM	#4
jmader Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Grand Island, NE Posts: 1,485	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus Here's a link of the instructions. I talked to AAW and they said the harness will work wit the Pertronix unit as long as it is straight ignition 12 volts which Pertrnix verified and said no resistor is needed. https://www.americanautowire.com/PDF...20IN%201.0.pdf __________________ 1949 Chevy 3100 Five Window 1964 Chevy C10 Lambrecht Auction project 1967 Chevy SWB K10 1967 GMC K15 Project Build thread- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...72#post6502772 1968 Chevy Anniversary K10 1991 K5 4" Lift 35's (the wife's toy)

03-01-2018, 12:20 PM	#5
jmader Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Grand Island, NE Posts: 1,485	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus Anyone have thoughts on this? I don’t want to fry anything if I hook it up wrong... __________________ 1949 Chevy 3100 Five Window 1964 Chevy C10 Lambrecht Auction project 1967 Chevy SWB K10 1967 GMC K15 Project Build thread- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...72#post6502772 1968 Chevy Anniversary K10 1991 K5 4" Lift 35's (the wife's toy)

03-03-2018, 10:44 AM	#6
jmader Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Grand Island, NE Posts: 1,485	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus Anyone? __________________ 1949 Chevy 3100 Five Window 1964 Chevy C10 Lambrecht Auction project 1967 Chevy SWB K10 1967 GMC K15 Project Build thread- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...72#post6502772 1968 Chevy Anniversary K10 1991 K5 4" Lift 35's (the wife's toy)

03-03-2018, 11:27 AM	#7
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,387	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus Personally I would eliminate the Pertronix unit and go with the HEI. I feel the HEI is a more reliable unit

03-03-2018, 12:35 PM	#10
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,332	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus I'm running a Pertronix Ingnitor III module because I wanted to run a stock body distributor cap. I'm using an M&H harness that I ordered custom without a resistor wire. Presuming you have eliminated your resistor wire or have otherwise provided an unmodified 12V ignition path, just follow the hookup instructions and all will be fine. If you have a tach you might notice it reads high at low RPM due to the multiple spark feature. __________________ 1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible

03-03-2018, 02:17 PM	#11
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,387	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus The HEI will fit in a 4wd unless your body mounts are trashed. I just installed one in a 72 K5 for a customer. I can get my finger tips behind the cap. It's tight but it clears.

03-04-2018, 09:28 AM	#12
Tiger Joe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: South of Pittsburgh Posts: 425	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus Your wiring is correct. 12v to coil +. Pertronix connects there as well. I know guys have had issues with pertronix but i personally have one in a chevelle- going on 3rd season with no issues. And when I was a kid my dad installed one in a gto when they first were the hot item, that was probably mid to late 90s and it’s still going strong

03-04-2018, 12:02 PM	#13
jmader Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Grand Island, NE Posts: 1,485	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus OK thanks for the help guys. I'm not too worried about performance since it won't be on the road all that often. I just want to keep the stock look because that's the look I prefer __________________ 1949 Chevy 3100 Five Window 1964 Chevy C10 Lambrecht Auction project 1967 Chevy SWB K10 1967 GMC K15 Project Build thread- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...72#post6502772 1968 Chevy Anniversary K10 1991 K5 4" Lift 35's (the wife's toy)

03-04-2018, 02:58 PM	#14
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,332	Re: Quick question for ignition wiring gurus I think the GM HEI is a nice reliable unit. The Chinese HEIs not so much. But it doesn't help him or me because we both want stock-bodied Delco style distributors. Pertronix offers a ready-to-run Delco small cap distributor and I bought that for my truck, but on my current car restoration I'm using the module so I can keep the original date coded distributor. __________________ 1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible

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