The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Starter wiring 12v w/Alt 1953 chevy 3100

Not sure I have this right - but this is what I see listed

Battery --> Starter
Starter --> Ammeter neg terminal
Starter --> Coil Pos Terminal

then the coil goes to ign switch
Horn Rely and Alternator come off the Ammeter pos term

that seem right?

Just a suggestion: I would run from the Starter to the ignition switch. Then to the + side of the coil. That way you have no power at the coil until you turn on the switch. Just seems safer that way. No way to burn points and no spark with out switch. Putting that much wire on the ground side will put more resistance in to the points and might make for a "live" ignition if any thing gets shorted. Just a thought... but that is the way it came.

I am convinced the instructions classic parts supplied are inaccurate. Seems the power going to the ignition is going through the resistor(not 12 volts).

Got all electrical working but bypassed the resistor. Will probably run

Starter--> ammeter
Ammeter --> alternator and ignition

Then ign to coil

Hy BSCowboy, you are oversimplifying your description in the extreme! Which terminals on the starter are you attaching which wires to? Do you have a solenoid activated starter or a foot activated one? Are you using your original six volt starter and running it on twelve volts?

Yes it is a foot starter and I replaced the top piece on the starter that has a side terminal one

Then instructions say to run

Starter switch to plus side of coil
Then ignition with a resistor in middle to plus side of coil


Seems odd

Hy BSCowboy, those directions are correct, the terminal on the side of the starter switch is only connected to anything when you depress the plunger in the cab to activate the starter, that action allows a full twelve volts to go to the coil while the engine is being cranked to start. When the engine starts and you release the plunger in the cab, the terminal on the side of the starter switch is no longer connected to the twelve volt source inside the starter switch. You will get a reading of the coils resisted voltage at that terminal while the engine is running, but the terminal is not connected to anything inside the starter switch, hope that helps.

ok the instructions are correct - I found that one of my ammeter posts on the guage was loose and that was dropping the charge.

all systems go for 6/22/13 launch