Distributor power wire gauge

[CharlieC]

I recently swapped out my '74 OE HEI distributor which was fed by an Accel Supercoil, for a new FAST branded dist. I got NIB off FB, truck is running great. I thought it was odd the power wire for the dist was such a small gauge (original wire in the harness), like 18 gauge or so. Would have expected something larger, but I guess the coil doesn't need alot of juice to make a spark?

Since these trucks are getting some age, it pays to look in your wiring covers/tubing to check on wire health now and again All of the wiring feeding my Accel coil mentioned above, had the insulation pretty much all deteriorated off, I don't see how current was still flowing and not shorting.

Charlie

 

[500$k5]

Originally a 74 would have been a points distributor. The coil power wire on a 74 would have been a single strand resistor wire. It was made to drop the voltage down while running. The new wire should be installed from the firewall connector out to the dist. I would use a 12 gauge wire.

 

[CharlieC]

The current power wire is definitely a multi-strand wire. I did my engine rebuild in 1987 and don't remember swapping out points for HEI when reinstalling everything. I will do the wire swap, thanks.

Charlie

 

[Wes Harden]

1st year for HEI is 1973, with infamous black burned through rotors that gave them a bad rep for a few years. I do believe is should be at least 12ga I like 10ga

 

[Capt Ron]

Originally a 74 would have been a points distributor. The coil power wire on a 74 would have been a single strand resistor wire. It was made to drop the voltage down while running. The new wire should be installed from the firewall connector out to the dist. I would use a 12 gauge wire.

1st year for HEI is 1973, with infamous black burned through rotors that gave them a bad rep for a few years. I do believe is should be at least 12ga I like 10ga

Memory is foggy but I was thinking some GM passenger cars {Buicks/Pontiacs}? got HEI in 1974 and trucks in 1975.
My 73 GMC is points from factory.

 

[500$k5]

Memory is foggy but I was thinking some GM passenger cars {Buicks/Pontiacs}? got HEI in 1974 and trucks in 1975.
My 73 GMC is points from factory.

Yes my brothers 74 K5 was points, and we changed it over to HEI

 

[Big Ray]

10 ga. Get a nice fat flow of electrons to it.

 

[Wes Harden]

My memory very well may be too. The failure of early hei had many converting back to points
As I write, I cannot for the life of remember what ign I used on my 73 El Camino. It was purchased with the engine in pieces in the bed. Didn't go back together as stock 73. Made engine into a 64 327 to skirt smog laws back then.

 

[MrHappy]

I had a 73 Jimmy came with points, and after getting tired of taking dist. cap off and drying off points. Out having fun after big rain storms, I had swapped it out with HEI, BEST Damn decision I ever made !! It was like I put a new motor in it, better all around performance as well as economy too.