[406_70_velle]

I actually started my car the other day with a friend that knows way more than i do. I founf that most of the wiring I did was wrong (not dangerous but wrong just the same). We used this contraption sends 12 volts to the distributor and bypasses the ignition. It sounded good between the backfires, Can't wait to get this studd straightend out

I found the 12 volt key source in the engine compartment (orange wire about 10 guage) I am assuming this goes to the little stud on the engine side of the starter.

I was told to run the wires back to the battery for the msd. But if I put the hot wire to the main stud and ground the neg would that be the same thing?

Now that leaves me with a total of 3 wires to the starter: my msd hot (main terminal), the battery cable (main terminal) and the orange wire (small stud on the motor side of starter) is that correct? Also some proper terminology would be great to.

thanks guys…



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1970 chevelle
406 - TH-350 - soon to be 411's
engine
Interior

"I didn't get pulled over for going over the speed limit, i got pulled over for getting there faster than anyone else"

 

[John_Muha]

"I found the 12 volt key source in the engine compartment (orange wire about 10 guage) I am assuming this goes to the little stud on the engine side of the starter."

There's no orange wire on the starter. Inside terminal (S) has only a purple wire on it. Don't have a 70 schematic handy and can't think of a large orange offhand. Post some more information about where it is or appears to come from. Someone should be able to track it down for you.

"I was told to run the wires back to the battery for the msd. But if I put the hot wire to the main stud and ground the neg would that be the same thing?"

I'm far from an MSD expert. Would recommend that you follow the MSD instructions. The instructions are downloadable. They have a tech support group that will tell you how to wire their product if there are questions.

Now that leaves me with a total of 3 wires to the starter: my msd hot (main terminal), the battery cable (main terminal) and the orange wire (small stud on the motor side of starter) is that correct? Also some proper terminology would be great to."

No. Not quite right. Orange doesn't go here but should have a purple. MSD box does not go here. Add-on equipment never goes to the starter.
If I typed it right here is MSD's site. www.msdignition.com

 

[406_70_velle]

Ok the guy before me re-wired the iginition from the column to the dash with an external switch. It looks like the switch in the column busted and he never fixed it. I plan on changing it I'm just trying to get the motor started and idling for the moment. I'm not wire savy enough to tell you how he did this but he some how bypassed the purple wire all together. I'll test the purple wire when I get to the garage later on tonight to make sure that its dead but almost possitive.

The orange wire with the ignition on is hot. It's on the outer fuse block (inner=under master). My headlights work with the wire not connected to anything and so does everything else.

If I have 12 volts from the orange wire why wouldn't it work? Not argueing with you just curious.

The MSD manual says to run the heavy red and heavy black to the battery. One of my friends (who is a mechanic) said I could put the heavy red to the starter and that would be the equivalant of the pos terminal. Then if I ground out the ground anywhere it would also be the same as the neg terminal. Just wanted to touch base on this one.

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1970 chevelle
406 - TH-350 - soon to be 411's
engine
Interior

"I didn't get pulled over for going over the speed limit, i got pulled over for getting there faster than anyone else"

 

[John_Muha]

"The orange wire with the ignition on is hot. It's on the outer fuse block (inner=under master). My headlights work with the wire not connected to anything and so does everything else."

I'm not aware of an outer fuse block. Maybe someone else can add to this.

"If I have 12 volts from the orange wire why wouldn't it work? Not argueing with you just curious."

Nor am I arguing with you. From where I sit I try to "see" what you are seeing. A lot of guys out there have thousands of dollars under the hood. The last thing I want to do is suggest something that may cause an electrical fire under the hood. I'm not sure about the orange wire. Beginning to suspect it's something someone slipped in. The correct wire is a purple wire from the neutral start switch since you have an automatic. Just being as cautious with your car as if it was mine.

"The MSD manual says to run the heavy red and heavy black to the battery. One of my friends (who is a mechanic) said I could put the heavy red to the starter and that would be the equivalant of the pos terminal."

The key word in here is equivalent. Your friend is correct. It is the same as running it to the starter. Nobody I know does that. The wires that already run down to the starter have problems from heat. Also the wires should go to the best source which is the battery. Positive line should be fused in accordance with MSD's recommended instructions. Just my opinion.

 

[Peter F.]

Don't you have a trunk mounted battery or am I comfusing you with someone else? If so, then the starter solenoid would be the easiest place to connect the MSD.

By Key Source do you mean power in the start position only. The inner terminal of the starter should be powered when the key is in the Start position, not when the key is on.

I think there's an orange wire for the heater motor. Can anyone confirm this??? See if it goes off when you disconnect the heater speed switch.

Peter

 

[charbilly2001]

orange wire = heater blower motor.

 

[406_70_velle]

Thanks for the help so far guys I appreciate it as always, The orange wire is my new 12 volt source. He tranfered the column jey to a dash and the ignition switch stands alone on the dash.

I have the battery mounted (someone been paying attention

) in the trunk so running wires all the way up wouldn't really be all that cool in my book. If I have to I will though. John I do see what your saying about following MSD istructions but they are talking about ideal situations which i am not in with my wiring.

My thought here is the orange wire (12 vlts) should go to the msd box as its 12 volt source when i turn the key. My distributor is not geting spark so it would make sense, right?

Then I can follow prety much the same set up as the msd diagram.

I thought the orange wire was my heater motor originally but found that one and this wire to my mistake (sorry guys) is not coming out of the fuse block but from through the firewall.

Thanks again for the help I appreciate it. If I can get this wiring/ignition thing figured out I can get my car starting on its own will

thanks again.



------------------
1970 chevelle
406 - TH-350 - soon to be 411's
engine
Interior

"I didn't get pulled over for going over the speed limit, i got pulled over for getting there faster than anyone else"

 

[Peter F.]

If I'm not mistaken, the ignition switch is mounted on the column under the dash and antivated by a wire from the tumbler (standard GM configuration). You don't even have to go into the column to access it. If the tumbler part turns OK it should be easy to put a new switch into it and fix-up the wiring harness. That'd be my first suggestion. Go through the harness and remove any extra hacked-on stuff and put it back to origional. Use heatshrink and solder if possible.

As is, the orange wire could be used but I would be wary of the hacked harness you have.

Peter

The battery in the trunk was a lucky guess I guess.

 

[406_70_velle]

Good suggestion, the original switch is still in the column so I am assuming that the tumbler would have to be changed. Is this hard? Di I have to remove the column?

------------------
1970 chevelle
406 - TH-350 - soon to be 411's
engine
Interior

"I didn't get pulled over for going over the speed limit, i got pulled over for getting there faster than anyone else"

 

[John_Muha]

As Peter mentioned the ignition switch is down on top of the column. It's not by the tumbler. A search (and a little memory) brought up some basic instructions on how to change it. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum22/HTML/001101.html