Hei problem

Hello thanks to everyone for giving assistance to my daughters boyfriend on his hei problem we installed an hei 1 wire hook up used the starter terminal (blue wire) key on positve worked great at first then would stay running with key off I would unplug hei wire to shut off checked voltage at wire 0 volts key off then I installed relay 25 amp utilizing starter wire same result then tried using original resistor wire to initite relay same result noticed 4.73 volts at relay key off engine running disconnected reistor wire engine shut off voltage at resistor wire 0 volts thinking at this point hei causing all of the problem should I ditch the hei and just go pertronics we were just looking for better reliability than points    Hey everybody a big Thankyou to all who responded the young man sold a real problematic honda accord and bought this rambler not to many 18 year olds want an old rambler these days im proud of him

Anthony2622 wrote: Ok so here is the deal. With my 1968 Rambler American straight 6, we have installed an HEI distributer to better the startup ect. We then had to install a relay to the frame because the hei was taking too much voltage to crank the starter. The car now started but we think that the hei is holding too much power an it is keeping the relay on. Whenever we turn the key to the off position the car stays running. The only way we can shut the car off is when we disconnect power to the battery or remove the hei wire from the relay to the battery. Any ideas what could be keeping the car on?

It's not "holding" power, you have it wired to constant hot, instead of keyed hot. Wire to fuse panel power on when ignition is in on position. HEI is supper simple, only needs 12v keyed hot.


Edited by 73hornut - Aug/28/2015 at 9:51pm

Your posts are somewhat confusing. First you say that the HEI is connected to the fuse panel. WHERE on the fuse panel did you make the connection? Then you say it is connected to a relay and not a direct connection to the starter. Why would you want to hook up a distributor to the starter???

Anthony2622 wrote: We wired the hei to the fuse panel as in held the wire connected to it an the car still only shut off when we removed the connection an not with the key switch. As for it being keyed constant "hot" we dont have that as the hei is connected to a relay an not a direct connection to the starter.

Some posts on the fuse panel, are constant hot, look for one that is only hot, when the key is in the run position. A light tester will tell you.

EagleFreek wrote: I know with an MSD ignition, it is common for engine run on and the fix is to install a diode after the alternator. Maybe that might fix your problem. http://www.msdignition.com/page.aspx?id=3296 A one amp 100v diode from Radio Shack should be sufficient.

FYI I heard on the radio yesterday that Radio Shack is no longer so don't know where you could find one now?

It did sound like the relay was wired wrong?
Use the old wire that went to the stock coil as the "switching" wire on the relay.
12 volt power all the time to power the HEI.
Ground wire to relay.

As other said never heard of others having issues wiring up an HEI dist.
Dave ----