Electrical help please
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 85
From: Mesa, Arizona
Electrical help please Hey guys I have a little dilemma. I took over a half started swap for someone and from what I'm seeing I have no wire to use off column ignition switch that is hot in both key on AND cranking position. Original coil wire was already removed and I believe they actually had 2 hot wires going to them so the coil got +12 in cranking and then in run position it had less voltage for longer life.
My question is can I use my pink ignition hot wire and parallel it with another wire fed off a relay triggered by solenoid cranking wire so I get +12 in both key positions? Is there an easier way?
My question is can I use my pink ignition hot wire and parallel it with another wire fed off a relay triggered by solenoid cranking wire so I get +12 in both key positions? Is there an easier way?
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 271
From: Bossier City, Louisiana
See if the original voltage regulator wire is still intact or maybe the oil pressure wire. On my 70 Catalina, both of those wires are hot in the Run position and during cranking with a measured voltage of between 13 and 13.5 volts on a well charged battery. In my case, there appears to be plenty of amps available in either of these wires and it doesn't take much to boot up a Gen 3 PCM - maybe 2-3 amps required.
Rick
Rick
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 85
From: Mesa, Arizona
They are no longer in place but also if nothing off of ignition switch provides power in both positions then nothing in the car will have it right? The switch itself is what controls it all.
Last edited by 1964SS; Sep 13, 2025 at 11:18 AM.
If memory serves me correct the key switch just activates a rod that goes to the bottom of the column where the electrical terminals are. Search online for a wiring diagram for this switch. It carries all the electrics for start, run, acc. A new switch is under $15 if the old one is bad or missing.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 534
Being the Debby downer like I am but if the wiring harness that came with the car originally IMO it's time for a new wiring harness from the folks at AAW or Painless.
To make a LS swap the run the best it needs super good grounds and clean 12 volt positive connections. No old nasty hacked up old wiring.
To make a LS swap the run the best it needs super good grounds and clean 12 volt positive connections. No old nasty hacked up old wiring.
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