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Hot Rods timing light ???

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by jeff47wl, Mar 19, 2025.

  1. jeff47wl
    Joined: Apr 30, 2010
    Posts: 22

    jeff47wl
    Member
    from sunnyvale

    My battery is under the floorboard and is a little difficult to get to.
    Is there some other place to land the positive and negative timing light clips to power the timing light.
    Can I just land the black gator clip on any grounded area? Where would be a good place to get the red gator clip hooked up to. Can I hook it up to the coil or alternator lead?

    jeff
     
  2. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 34,784

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    hook the red one to the power terminal on the alternator, and black to any ground
     
    MARKDTN, 19Eddy30, jaracer and 2 others like this.
  3. Althebass
    Joined: Nov 29, 2023
    Posts: 4

    Althebass

    Either coil + or alternator would be fine then a stud or bolt on the engine for the earth.

    A separate battery is fine too, I have a small motorbike 12v one which I use sometimes.
     
  4. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,251

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If you have a cigarette lighter socket to plug things in (or use as a lighter) in the car the plugin and cord off an old plug in 12 volt thing that no longer works does pretty well to get 12 V to something like that timing light.

    I've done the alternator Bat post thing on my 51 Merc back when I was driving it because the battery was in the trunk on it. Ground is just a good bare metal clean ground spot.
     
  5. Happydaze
    Joined: Aug 21, 2009
    Posts: 2,205

    Happydaze
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    X2 on separate battery if the hookup is awkward.

    Chris
     
  6. I've clipped to the big battery post on the starter for power. Ground to the engine.
     
    lostone and Paul like this.
  7. 50chevytx
    Joined: Feb 4, 2018
    Posts: 60

    50chevytx
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Maybe time for these IMG_2920.png
     
  8. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,069

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    Just in case your car is 6 V and you have a digital timing light You can use an extra 12 V battery outside of the car to power it like I do on my 55 Plymouth.
     
    rattlecanrods and mrspeedyt like this.
  9. bobj49f2
    Joined: Jun 1, 2008
    Posts: 1,959

    bobj49f2
    Member

    When I set the timing on my '49 Ford pickup, stock 6 volt, I connect to the 12 volt battery in my daily driver.
     
  10. jaracer
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 2,824

    jaracer
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I had to do that on the sprint car as it had no real electrical system. Other than plug wires, the only other wire was to the ground switch for the mag. I had to push start it in a parking lot and pull up to a waiting battery and timing light. The timing mark was inside a hole in the in and out box.
     
  11. '29 Gizmo
    Joined: Nov 6, 2022
    Posts: 1,084

    '29 Gizmo
    Member
    from UK

    Battery terminal on the starter, coil lead or even the power terminal on the electric choke if you have one. Negative can go anywhere on the motor that's not painted.
     
  12. Doublepumper
    Joined: Jun 26, 2016
    Posts: 1,685

    Doublepumper
    Member
    from WA-OR, USA

    I like to the use the battery (Batt) terminal on the regulator for power, then ground to the regulator's ground connection. My heap has the regulator up on the firewall, so connecting there helps keep the light leads away from heat and things that spin.
     

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