72 Oldsmobile Cutlass 350 4-Barrel

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chendri - 31 Jul 2006 01:56 GMT

I have the original distributor and coil that I am removing and replacing
with a newer distributor with electronic ingitions. Where can I find the
wiring diagram or how would I go about converting which wires into my new
distributor.

Thanks,

Charles

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Kim_Jong_Il@volcanomail.com - 31 Jul 2006 02:18 GMT

> I have the original distributor and coil that I am removing and replacing
> with a newer distributor with electronic ingitions. Where can I find the
> wiring diagram or how would I go about converting which wires into my new
> distributor.

How new?

I seem to recall that the HEI system became standard in 1973. Shouldn't
a distributor/coil unit from, say, a 1973-1976 Cutlass or other GM
A-body or similar car drop directly into place on the engine? It seems
to me all you need is B+ from the ignition lead, and that's it. I
believe it still has vacuum advance; electronic advance did not come
along until later.

If your car has a tachometer, there will be a lead for that too.

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chendri - 31 Jul 2006 18:06 GMT

Thaqnks for yur assistance.

I haven't bought the distributor yet. I want to do away with the coil type
and do electronic. Any suggestion on the year of distributor I put in? The
motor is original and it's a 72 Oldsmobile.

>> I have the original distributor and coil that I am removing and replacing
>> with a newer distributor with electronic ingitions. Where can I find the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>If your car has a tachometer, there will be a lead for that too.

Signature

Charles
The 72 Cutlass Dude

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Kim_Jong_Il@volcanomail.com - 31 Jul 2006 22:22 GMT

> Any suggestion on the year of distributor I put in? The
> motor is original and it's a 72 Oldsmobile.

I have a '76 with an Olds 350. The distributor from that should drop
into place on a '72 motor, I think. My guess is that anything up until
about 1981 or so ought to work. The big deciding factor is the method
by which advance is accomplished. If you stick with a vacuum advance,
then you should have no difficulty. If you attempt to upgrade to an
electronically actuated advance, then you have to have some sort of
sensor to provide the actuating voltage.

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chendri - 31 Jul 2006 22:55 GMT

My current has the vacuum advance. Would teh new one have the advance or do i
need to try and remove the one off of my current distrubtor?

>> Any suggestion on the year of distributor I put in? The
>> motor is original and it's a 72 Oldsmobile.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>electronically actuated advance, then you have to have some sort of
>sensor to provide the actuating voltage.

Signature

Charles
The 72 Cutlass Dude

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Shep - 31 Jul 2006 23:26 GMT

You really need a refresher course in basic ignition systems, plenty of
books out there, or pay someone!!!

> My current has the vacuum advance. Would teh new one have the advance or
> do i
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>>electronically actuated advance, then you have to have some sort of
>>sensor to provide the actuating voltage.

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Kim_Jong_Il@volcanomail.com - 01 Aug 2006 04:42 GMT

> My current has the vacuum advance. Would teh new one have the advance or do i
> need to try and remove the one off of my current distrubtor?

The replacement distributor will have the vacuum advance motor on the
side. All you have to do is plug it into the hose from the carburetor.

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Eightupman - 04 Aug 2006 22:34 GMT

>> I have the original distributor and coil that I am removing and replacing
>> with a newer distributor with electronic ingitions. Where can I find the
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> If your car has a tachometer, there will be a lead for that too.

Wrongo!!! You cannot use the lead off the existing coil to run an HEI
system. There is a voltage drop that will cause the HEI not to run at higher
speeds. You also MUST use an OLDSMOBILE HEI because it has a hexagontal oil
pump drive shaft, and Chebies have a slot. You must use a lead (plug) off
of the donor HEI system, and then splice in a large gauge wire (maybe a 12
or 14 gauge) and run it right to a hot lead ON THE FUSE BOX!! There should
be an open teminal that will be hot when the key is in the "ON" and "RUN"
position, and no power in the "OFF" position. You will be able to drop it
right in place, HOWEVER be sure that you line up #1 and reference the rotor
to a point on the motor that will not move. When you drop in the new dist,
make sure the rotor aligns with that reference point. Grab the new set of
wires (because the old ones are NOT the same)(and may as well throw in new
plugs at this point too) and route them accordingly. Toss your old (stock)
air cleaner in the garage (for when you cant figure out the mess you made
and want to go back), because it too will not fit with the new HEI system.
Find one off a 73 or a 74 Olds with the snorkel out the same side. Vacuum
advance line goes in the same place as the old one.....

This whole operation should not take more than 1 hour. ( I did mine in 30
minutes just cause I had half a clue.)

Good Luck!!

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