[jasrking]

I have a small block 283. I have what I believe to be a points style distributor. The distributor has a single black wiring that states B+ (battery positive?)...am I safe to assume this needs to hook directly to the positive side of the battery?...or does it connect to the starter/silenoid somewhere?
Thanks

[barnym17]

Are you sure it's points?, pull the cap and look.You hook battery + up to points and you will have a smoke show.Points open and close the ground circuit of the primary system.

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by jasrking

The distributor has a single black wiring that states B+ (battery positive

It should go to the "-" side of the coil.

Where does it say "B+"? Is this tagged onto the wire, or stamped on the distributor, or?

[jasrking]

stamped on the distributor

[jasrking]

my coil has three hook ups...the large positive battery hook up..another smaller wire hook up coming off the positive wire....i assumed the distributor wire went on the remaining smaller wire hook up on the coil......the motor cranks..sounds like it starts for just a brief moment then nothing...tried adjusting the timing without luck....just wanted to make sure i have this wire in the correct spot before i moved on to more problem solving

[T-bucket23]

Ok lets start at the beginning.
What brand and model distributor is it and what brand of coil. I have never seen a coil with a direct battery hookup.

[jasrking]

i think i miss-spoke/typed.....in that i believe the wire may attach to the third spot on the starter.. secondly i noticed that the B+ is in small letters while in larger letters it says attach to battery(which i assume would have to be the positive side)

it is a delco-remy...it has a selinoid attached to the cap..one wire coming off of it

i am going to take out the distributor..find tdc and rewire the plugs in the mean time

thanks

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by jasrking

I have what I believe to be a points style distributor.

Got photos you can post of it w/cap OFF?

Photos of the coil plus the cap? This might help matters...

[jasrking]

The best pictures i could do...the black conduit contains the one wire coming from the distributor..i currently have it connected to the third terminal on the starter(assuming it is constant hot?)

i found TDC..made sure distributor pointed towards #1, made sure plugs were ran correctly and it cranked well and came very close to starting....so i am assuming i have it wired correctly...thinking its a carb issue now perhaps..but i could be wrong..if that distributor wire is not staying hot it will obviously stop creating spark once you let off the key correct???

thanks again

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by jasrking

The best pictures i could do

Yet they speak volumes.

You have an HEI distributor.

Take a look HERE.

[jasrking]

thanks cobalt....after that great article it appears the wire does go to the outer most post on the starter correct?

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by jasrking

thanks cobalt....after that great article it appears the wire does go to the outer most post on the starter correct?

I wouldn't use the starter for the "hot" wire to power the HEI.

Instead, if the car originally had a "points type" distributor, follow the wire that originally went to the coil "+" terminal back to the firewall.

Cut the wire a couple inches from the back of the fuse box at the firewall and splice in a non-resistor wire (any good, insulated 12 g. wire will do, either pink or brown was usually used by the factory), and use that wire to the 12VDC terminal of the HEI.

Otherwise, find a switched circuit that is on when key is at "START", "ON" or "RUN", off when key is at "OFF" OR "ACC".

Just be sure the circuit can handle the additional amperage drawn by the HEI. Most fuse boxes will have auxiliary circuits already wired but not used- if you can, use one of those.

[T-bucket23]

Originally Posted by jasrking

The best pictures i could do...the black conduit contains the one wire coming from the distributor..i currently have it connected to the third terminal on the starter(assuming it is constant hot?)

i found TDC..made sure distributor pointed towards #1, made sure plugs were ran correctly and it cranked well and came very close to starting....so i am assuming i have it wired correctly...thinking its a carb issue now perhaps..but i could be wrong..if that distributor wire is not staying hot it will obviously stop creating spark once you let off the key correct???

thanks again

For testing you can run a temporary wire from the battery to the b+ terminal and see if it starts. Those HEI units do require full battery voltage. If it is "trying" to start your timing could be off just a little or maybe your choke is not functioning properly.