Trouble w/ EZ-wiring Harness and SBC

It's the first time that I have attempted to use an EZ-wiring harness..... and apparently it isn't as "EZ" as they claim. I'm trying to use their 21-circuit version and because they are set up for later model vehicles, I'm having a lot of trouble.....and maybe it isn't the harness.

Basically what I've got is a 4 prong ignition switch. I have the wire labled "starter" going to the ST on the switch. the other labled starter to the Mini Starter. I have the main power from the battery going to the Batt prong. I have the wire labled accesories going to the ACC prong and I have the two wires labled "coil pwr" and "Pwr to ignition" going to the IGN. prong on the switch. I also have a coil wire coming off my starter solenoid , going to the coil.

I am using a Mallory Uni-lite distributor.

So what my problem is, is that when I turn the key to Start, the motor will fire up, but when I let off the starter the motor will die. As if the coil is not continuing to get power after the starter is disengaged. I'm assuming that I am missing something with the harness, or I have something wired wrong at the solenoid. I messed with a bunch of combinations this afternoon and none of them solved the problem.... any ideas? Thanks.

Here is what you should have it hooked up like:

1) The wire labeled "starter" is ok going to the ST on the switch. You are ok there. The other end of that wire should go to the skinny post on the Chevy solenoid that is to the right of the fat post, where you connected your positive battery lead. Since it is cranking, it looks like you have done this correctly.

2) Where you goofed up is that you connected the one that said "coil power" to the switch, along with the other one that says "power to ignition", on the same terminal. Leave the "power to ignition" alone, and move the "coil power" to the same + terminal on the coil where you hooked up the one from the starter solenoid.

You may have to run this one through a resistor (see what the instructions say, or it may already be a resistor type wire.

What is happening is, you are getting 12 volts from the solenoid to fire the coil while cranking, but when you are releasing the key to the run position, no power is going to the coil to keep it going.

I think you are one wire away from having it be ok.


Don

Great. I hope that's it. In the past I just followed a diagram and went with it.... I can't tell how this harness was assembled.... and 21 cicuits definitely is intimidating. I'll be trying this bright and early tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks.

got it working, but did it a different way. I kept having 30A fuses blow, so I disconnected the wire from the starter to the coil, put in a 40A fuse, a resistor in the power wire to the cable and everything seems to be hunky doory.


we'll see. I have been taxing Mallory's tech support group because I have a uni-lite module that fails their trigger test, yet the car still runs. Both parties are baffled.