I have just changed the motor in my 49 sedan, and I've got a couple of minor issue's, one of which is the ignition. My old motor had a typical distributor/points/coil set-up, which was easy to wire up. My new 235 motor, however, has this:- is it a HEI distributor? any suggestions as to how it might be wired up? please bear in mind that my wiring loom is set up for the old coil/points set-up. Thanks in advance Taff
That is definitely an HEI set-up! Have you already converted the '49 to 12 volts? You will need to to run this distributor! Not sure how to wire the HEI but I'm sure somebody will help with that... Are you sure the engine is a 235 and not a later model 250? I think the HEI distributor must have come from a 250-inch six, did not know you could just drop a later model distributor in a 235... If it is a 235 and wiring the HEI turns-out to be too big a hassle for you I can tell you that the original points condenser from a 235 (12 volt) can be updated with a Pertronix module. I put one in my '67 283 Delco points distributor and it works real good, have been thinking of getting one for my '55 235 also! Good luck!
That's a 235 in the picture. All you have to do to use an H.E.I. in an early six is relocate the drive gear and grind the locating collar off the housing.
hi guy's Yup, the car has already been converted to 12v, 6v is hard work over here with our damp winters The engine number confirms that it is a 235, dated as 1957 vintage. It was previously fitted into a 52 pick-up, and ran great. I think it might have been a car engine originally, as I needed to drill the fron motor plate to fit it into my chassis/mounts (which are standard). It also has a longer-nosed water pump than I ecpected, and I will need to play mix and match to get one that clears my radiator. It came with this distributor already fitted, the clamp looks a little ropey but like I said, it ran fine, so I'm not going to mess with it. Any clue's on wiring up a HEI? it's only got two wires, but I don't want to hook them up wrong and do some damage in there. Will I need to run a ballast resistor with this set-up? Thanks again, Taff
I swapped one out in a truck I had a few years ago. It was pretty simple. If I remember correctly you just have two wires that go from the coil to the HEI module in the distributor and then one wire from the ignition switch to the coil. No resistor. It's been a while, I'm sure someone else will chime in with some better info soon.
I just looked at your pictures again. Can't really tell for sure but it looks like the plug that you show are the wires coming from the distributor? If that's the case that's the two wires that connect to the HEI module inside the distributor. Looks like all you will have to do is plug that to your coil and then run one wire from the ignition switch to the + side of the coil.
the coil is the odd square-ish thing bolted to the side of the engine? i thought so. any idea which side is live? it doesn't appear to be marked :-( thanks for your advice
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