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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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For helping keep this great
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| | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,186 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,186 | I'm getting ready to fire up my newest acquisition of a 1954 261. What do I need to do to get this to run? I reinstalled a radiator, starter, generator and will add a battery. I'm swaping out a clean carburator for the crusty looking one on it now. I'm not really an engine or electrical guy (or body guy, paint guy, mechanical guy, tire guy, glass guy or pretty much anything guy) I'm pretty sure I need to rig up some sort of ignition switch but have no idea how or where. Any help rigging something up would save me from swearing like a sailor in a couple days.
Bruce | | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 575 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 575 | If you're asking about ignition connections specifically: Connect the negative terminal on the coil to the side connector on the distributor The positive battery terminal to the starter post. I used a light switch as my "key" so I didn't have constant power to the point. To wire that you have a second wire to the positive batteey terminal (or piggy backed on the starter) that goes to one cnonection in the light switch, and the other connection goes to the + connection of the coil. The engine needs to be grounded as well to the battery for the starter to work. The battery was usually grounded to the frame, with a copper braided wire from the bell housing to the frame. PIC | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,186 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,186 | Thanks Bigtonka, your instructions worked great.
Bruce | | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 |
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 575 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 575 | Nicely done!
I love the nice clean rebuilt carb amongst the rest of the "patina" engine! | | | | | Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 1,966 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 1,966 | Sweet!! 
Professional Novice
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