The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Wiring Langdon HEI distributor

I have iLangdon's HEI distributor installed on my 1959 261. The truck's wiring is mostly original except for the alternator. I got the engine running temporarily by "hot wiring" it with one wire going from the starter terminal and terminating at a toggle switch. The other side of the toggle switch is wired to the coil. Where should the two wires on my temporary toggle switch be terminated for a proper installation? Ignition switch? If so, which terminal? Ammeter?
All help is appreciated as it is obvious that wiring is not my forte'.

Can you identify the wires that were connected to your original coil? (maybe they are still there with tape over the terminals?)

Originally, your 1959 Apache would have a resistance wire between the ignition switch and the coil. The resistance wire is not used with a HEI setup; it has to be bypassed or replaced.

I use would because who knows what has been done to the wiring over the last 60 years. You will have to do some tracing. If you have a VOM, that will be a help.

I have a Langdon's HEI distributor on my '61 235. I ran a new wire from the coil all the way back to the ignition switch.

-Kevin

I think I finally figured out the wiring. I ran 1 wire from the coil back to the with terminal that originally had 2 green wires attached. The other wire goes from the battery terminal on the starter to the AMP gauge. Please let me know if this will not work.

Thanks,

Can you say that a little more clear and check spelling?


To run HEI you just need a wire from the Ignition "ON" terminal to the HEI. No ballast resistor used with HEI.
The 59 cars had resistance wire. The trucks had a ballast resistor.
Seems like you have a 1 ton Apache. According to Jim Carter, 261 came in 2 ton's.

Well, that makes it easy!

Sorry bartamos. It looks as though I hit "Post Reply" before I proofed my poor typing. I'll try again:

My questions concern my 1959 3800 with a 261 engine into which I have installed Langdon's HEI distributor and coil. I ran 1 wire from the terminal on the starter which also has the positive lead from the battery to the amp gauge. The other wire goes from the ignition switch terminal which originally had 2 green wires to the coil. As stated earlier I had the truck running with the HEI temporarily by routing the 2 wires from the coil and hot starter terminal through a toggle switch; effectively "hot wiring" it.

Am I wiring this correctly?

Thanks

So, even though bartamos gave a thumbs up to my wiring scheme, I still dislike doing wiring under the dash. Having the seat out and a big piece of foam on the floor did help my aching back though.

Thanks bartamos.