HEI ignition swap upgrade 1969 Pontiac LeMans

old 350 getting some love and a better ignition needed badly. MPG testing soon !

[@MrRocizmXNU]

It took me 2 years to get my carb and intake. I still have to do my top, but I'll test drive it the way it looks now if these two wires are what I need for power and tach. 1969 LeMans.

[@CORVAIRWILD]

1st view. I know the HEI inside out. Now all China parts

[@MrRocizmXNU]

So that wire with the U shaped metal connector was for the power? Which was for the tach? I have a green wire with a single female terminal plug that I thought went to the sensor on the driver side head. 6x.

[@OneManGarage]

Howdy. The wire your referring as a U shape is off old original positive side of the coil and just not wanting to cut it to go into HEI where its marked BAT which is basically key or switch controlled power for HEI to work and needs to be 12V .. As far as tach wire unless a 69 has a factory tach there is no wire until you run a new one which on old style coil like original would be to the Negative side of the coil like where the original points wire goes that would come out of distributer. With HEI it is labeled Tach next to BAT which is where you run ypur new tach wire from. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching

[@MrRocizmXNU]

@@OneManGarage Thank you so much. Does it need the tach connected to run or can I go without it until I add the tach??? And what is the sensor on the heads called? One of mine is blocked off, the driver side has the sensor. Most likely temp sensor????

[@OneManGarage]

The HEI tach position does not need to be hooked up to run. Only 12 volts to BAT term required. Sensor in head is water temperature and usually used driver side amd blocked on passenger side with pipe plug. Unless you use the intake water crossover for the temperature. Tbey didn't move the sensor to head on Pontiacs till around 1973. I guess you have 4x or 6x heads?

[@MrRocizmXNU]

@@OneManGarage Yes 6x. Which ones gives the most power? This motor is out a 75 Grandville. 185 hp but headers, intake, 4 barrel and hei should give it some extra umf. I just need her in my life and I'll accept her as she is.......for now.

[@OneManGarage]

A complete 6x head 400 is pretty low compression ratio so best thing is more cubes added with a stroker kit down the road but they are for good power on pump gas. On a 400 its only needing regular 87 octane but put 6x on a 455 and your at 91-94 octane to be safe. The 350 version of 6x marked with a -4 stamp is the best. Thwy hace the smaller chamber versus the -8 stamped 6x 400 head

[@mayeg3099]

Alright HEI ignition power! Good thing you have plenty of room back there to replace the whole distributor. ⚡🧰🔧

[@mayeg3099]

It smokes em now! 🚙💨💨💨💨💨💨