HEI and gauge questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jtminton · 07-06-2005, 12:24 PM

Three questions:

1) I just put in an HEI (some of you may remember the wacky hijinks that turned out to be). The truck starts and idles great. It's like a whole new truck. Even the exhaust smells better. However, it just doesn't seem to have the same get-up-and-go that it used to on acceleration. I have the timing set to 8, and regapped the plugs to .45 if that helps any. Any suggestions?

2) Still trying to diagnose my temp gauge. If I unplug the sender, and hook one wire from a multimeter to the sender, and ground one out with the key off, should there be a circuit (not sure what the correct multimeter-ish term is)? Mine does. I'm thinking that may mean there's a short, but I wanted some confirmation.

3) I know you can buy a new resistor for the amp and temp gauge, but is there the same kind of rebuilt-type kit for a factory tach? Mine jumps all over the place, and usually will stop working completely on hard accelleration. I was hoping there was a cheaper fix than just buying a new one. I know the tach is plugged in all the way, and I just replaced the connection on the other end that plugs into the HEI.

Thanks!

JimKshortstep4x4 · 07-06-2005, 08:39 PM

On your HEI, I would bump the timing up to 10-12 degrees btdc. Also, you need to make sure the mechanical advance is working.

The temp gauge has a resistor on it so the multimeter might see this as a "circuit". With the key on and grounding the green wire (off of the sending unit), the gauge should go to hot.

Did your tach work on the points distributor? If it did it should work on the HEI with no problem.

Jim

*Randy70C-10* · 07-06-2005, 08:41 PM

You re-gapped the plugs that you used with points? You need to buy new plugs, AC Delco R45TS.

kaycee · 07-06-2005, 11:11 PM

Did you run new plug wires 8mm or better?Are you sure the vacum can is working properly,I just went through this on mine(weak acceleration) and found the vacum can was going screwy on me.

jtminton · 07-07-2005, 10:18 AM

The tach was doing the same thing with the points dist.

When I hook up the sender and turn on the they key, the gauge pegs on hot.

New plug wires (8mm Accel) and the same plugs as before.

07-06-2005, 12:24 PM	#1
jtminton II Timothy 4:2 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 361	HEI and gauge questions Three questions: 1) I just put in an HEI (some of you may remember the wacky hijinks that turned out to be). The truck starts and idles great. It's like a whole new truck. Even the exhaust smells better. However, it just doesn't seem to have the same get-up-and-go that it used to on acceleration. I have the timing set to 8, and regapped the plugs to .45 if that helps any. Any suggestions? 2) Still trying to diagnose my temp gauge. If I unplug the sender, and hook one wire from a multimeter to the sender, and ground one out with the key off, should there be a circuit (not sure what the correct multimeter-ish term is)? Mine does. I'm thinking that may mean there's a short, but I wanted some confirmation. 3) I know you can buy a new resistor for the amp and temp gauge, but is there the same kind of rebuilt-type kit for a factory tach? Mine jumps all over the place, and usually will stop working completely on hard accelleration. I was hoping there was a cheaper fix than just buying a new one. I know the tach is plugged in all the way, and I just replaced the connection on the other end that plugs into the HEI. Thanks! __________________ 72 C-20 2WD LWB Custom Camper Deluxe 350 4 Speed "Project Lazarus" MY TRUE PRIDE AND JOY "Dangit, Bobby, people will see that oil stain and think I'm a drunk."

07-06-2005, 08:41 PM	#3
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	You re-gapped the plugs that you used with points? You need to buy new plugs, AC Delco R45TS. Last edited by Randy70C-10; 07-06-2005 at 08:42 PM.

07-06-2005, 11:11 PM	#4
kaycee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 2,453	Did you run new plug wires 8mm or better?Are you sure the vacum can is working properly,I just went through this on mine(weak acceleration) and found the vacum can was going screwy on me. __________________ 2001 Silverado K-1500 2005 FXDWG stage3 69 CHEVY Short/Step 327/4L60 373 posi 63 IMPALA 327/4L60

07-07-2005, 10:18 AM	#5
jtminton II Timothy 4:2 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 361	The tach was doing the same thing with the points dist. When I hook up the sender and turn on the they key, the gauge pegs on hot. New plug wires (8mm Accel) and the same plugs as before. __________________ 72 C-20 2WD LWB Custom Camper Deluxe 350 4 Speed "Project Lazarus" MY TRUE PRIDE AND JOY "Dangit, Bobby, people will see that oil stain and think I'm a drunk."

07-06-2005, 08:39 PM	#2
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	On your HEI, I would bump the timing up to 10-12 degrees btdc. Also, you need to make sure the mechanical advance is working. The temp gauge has a resistor on it so the multimeter might see this as a "circuit". With the key on and grounding the green wire (off of the sending unit), the gauge should go to hot. Did your tach work on the points distributor? If it did it should work on the HEI with no problem. Jim



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.