Expert: Brad Sears - 1/21/2010

Question
Hi Vern,
 I hope you can help me , if not can you forward my question to another catagory. I have a 1963 Chevy Impala ignition swith that I am going to (hopefully) wire into an educational project that includes a 1964 Chevy 283 cu. in. engine The engine is on a secure engine stand. The back of the ignition sw. has these terminals, SOL. BAT. IGN. GRD. ACC. I am using a original 1964 single point distributor & a original 1957 ballast resistor. Does the "IGN" terminal of the ign. sw. connect to one side of the ballast resistor & the other side of the ballast resistor connect to the plus side of the coil???? Correct??? Can you also advise me as to where & how I wire the other terminals of the ign. sw.??? There is an "S" & a "R" terminal on the solenoid of the original starter. Can you help me with the hook up of the "GRD", "SOL", "BAT", "ACC" terminals on the ign. sw. Thanks so much. If you need more information I will certainly try to provide it.
Al

Answer
Hi Al: This is Brad Sears and I have built many of these test demonstration engines over the years. In the set up that you are using the IGN terminal is connected to the resistor and then to the + side of the coil. You must also use a 4 terminal starter Solenoid. One terminal connected to the battery, one to the starter itself, one (the bigger of the two smaller terminals) to the SOL terminal of the switch (use a 12 gage wire) and the last one to the + side of the coil.  This is the ignition bypass for starting. GRD is to ground, and ACC to any accessories that you install including instrumentation. If you need more information please let me know.
Brad