HEI power wire - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

REEDS 72 · 03-26-2014, 11:42 AM

I am running a power wire from my ING spot on my fuse block inside my cab to my hei and was thinking if it would be a good idea to put a 30 amp inline fuse on that wire to help protect it?

geezer#99 · 03-26-2014, 12:11 PM

Some say you don't need it, but I always have. Better than a melt down.

**mr48chev** · 03-26-2014, 12:26 PM

As he said, it won't hurt but isn't actually needed.

One thing I found on the one on my 71 is that you really need the correct wire end fitting for an HEI to connect to the HEI bat pin and a top quality female slide connector on the fuse block end. That along with the proper gauge wire.

I had a regular female slide on the distributor end of the wire and it slipped just enough going down the road to break the connection and cause the truck to stall. It did that in two different rain storms on the way to work at 04:00 am and I went hunting the correct end.

**kwmech** · 03-26-2014, 12:47 PM

Why do you have to go all the way to the fuse block?, just replace the yellow wire at the bulkhead connector

**FirstOwner69** · 03-26-2014, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwmech

Why do you have to go all the way to the fuse block?, just replace the yellow wire at the bulkhead connector

That's what I did. There are many threads on this topic. I used a wire and connector I stripped from a 70s/80s GM truck in the junkyard. It's a 12 Gauge wire as I recall.

Here's a great thread with pictures that shows how to replace the resistor wire at the bulkhead connector. Start reading at post 11.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=148346

**kwmech** · 03-26-2014, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

That's what I did.

Here's a great thread with pictures that shows how to replace the resistor wire at the bulkhead connector. Start reading at post 11.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=148346

Same here, cleaner install, less clutter

Sammy · 03-27-2014, 11:28 AM

You can also use that fuse as a kill switch by removing it. Always a good idea to have a hidden kill switch to keep ur truck outta the greedy hands of some. I think using a fuse is a good idea. These trucks burn up quickly.

71tahoe · 03-27-2014, 02:17 PM

Just my 2cents...

1. A 30 amp fuse is way too high to get much benefit. Try something smaller like 10 or less. I doubt the HEI will pull much more than an aftermarket high power radio.

2. I think the yellow wire is less than 12 volts and any HEI connected to that would be worse than points.

03-26-2014, 11:42 AM	#1
REEDS 72 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: AMERICAN FORK, UTAH Posts: 535	HEI power wire I am running a power wire from my ING spot on my fuse block inside my cab to my hei and was thinking if it would be a good idea to put a 30 amp inline fuse on that wire to help protect it?

03-26-2014, 12:11 PM	#2
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,712	Re: HEI power wire Some say you don't need it, but I always have. Better than a melt down.

03-26-2014, 12:26 PM	#3
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,640	Re: HEI power wire As he said, it won't hurt but isn't actually needed. One thing I found on the one on my 71 is that you really need the correct wire end fitting for an HEI to connect to the HEI bat pin and a top quality female slide connector on the fuse block end. That along with the proper gauge wire. I had a regular female slide on the distributor end of the wire and it slipped just enough going down the road to break the connection and cause the truck to stall. It did that in two different rain storms on the way to work at 04:00 am and I went hunting the correct end. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

03-26-2014, 12:47 PM	#4
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,599	Re: HEI power wire Why do you have to go all the way to the fuse block?, just replace the yellow wire at the bulkhead connector

03-27-2014, 11:28 AM	#7
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	Re: HEI power wire You can also use that fuse as a kill switch by removing it. Always a good idea to have a hidden kill switch to keep ur truck outta the greedy hands of some. I think using a fuse is a good idea. These trucks burn up quickly. __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629"

03-27-2014, 02:17 PM	#8
71tahoe Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jonesboro, AR Posts: 916	Re: HEI power wire Just my 2cents... 1. A 30 amp fuse is way too high to get much benefit. Try something smaller like 10 or less. I doubt the HEI will pull much more than an aftermarket high power radio. 2. I think the yellow wire is less than 12 volts and any HEI connected to that would be worse than points.



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