HEI wiring issues.

[RaysK20]

I just did a motor trans swap on my 73 that had been sitting for ten years or so. It did have a stock points setup with the resistance wire. Anyway, I deleted the wire for the points coil and ran a 12 gauge into the cab to go to the fuse box. Problem is I have no power source on the fuse box that stays hot while cranking. So I tried to mimic the wiring of the points style and ran an additional wire off the "R" post on the starter. Seems to me thats how it was to begin with, but still no fire. any ideas?

[glock35ipsc]

I am certain there should be spots in the fuse block that stay hot while cranking, I've never owned a GM truck that didn't. I would probe everything in there again to be sure. If you still can't find one, I would think there are bigger problems in that fuse block.

At the very least, the purple wire running to the starter is hot while cranking.

[manimal]

You can trace the wire that was on the solenoid and coil back to the fuse block(on engine side of firewall) Remove the wire and connector from the harness,look at the terminal and go to the auto parts store and get a new one for 12g. Run the power wire from the HEI to this spot. Does this make sense or does it sound like I am rambling?!hahaha
The picture is what the terminal looks like.

[RaysK20]

Yep, checked several times with no hot leads during cranking. Even the terminal that held the original wire goes cold. I cannot splice in to the starter wire because then while the key was in the on position it would keep cranking the starter. Maybe I need to pull the block and clean all the connectors on back.

[87Bob]

This is just a thought. I'm out of town so I cannot check this but isn't one of the small wires that are hooked to the solenoid the feed wire that keeps the power to the ignition while cranking? Someone with schematic should be able to check this out.

[Thealien]

interested in what you find

[RaysK20]

In the assembly manual for the delco points distributor it shows the wire coming off the R terminal on the starter selenoid. Thats supposed to give it the full twelve volts during cranking. Thats how I have it wired, in addition to a 12 gauge wire going to a key on hot wire in the fuse box. However its not firing that way. I may have a selenoid problem, but I cannot check because I dont have a starter test button. Just when I thought I had seen it all with this old truck.....

[spinem]

sounds like a collum harness problem.
OR you can take advantage of this, run a hot off the bat on a switch hidden...
theves would never know what hit em.