help replacing engine wiring harness and pertronix

[stupidwhitecat]

I am replacing the engine wiring harness in my 74 targa. The harness has a lot of splicing and was in pretty rough shape. I am also changing out the points to a pertronix ignitor 2 so I figured I would replace both at the same time. I bought a new harness from partsclassic that is already pre-wired for a pertronix. I have a few questions since the current harness is not quite original and the new harness isn't either.

1. Going from the distributor is a black/purple wire that I understand is the tach pick up. This was attached to the distributor with a dual spade connector that was connected to the points. The current harness has a white wire connected to the dual spade connection on the distributor with the black/purple wire and then a ground wire going over to the fan shroud. With the new harness there is a black and red wire connection for the pertronix and a ground. Should I connect the black/purple tach wire to the black wire from the pertronix?

2. The other end of the new harness terminates as a blue wire (originally white I think). I believe this connects to the + on the coil with a ground to the fan shroud bolt the coil mounts to. As far as the negative terminal on the coil, just run a wire to ground on the other mounting bolt?

[timmy2]

Short answer... yes

[dreichman]

Have you removed your points yet and installed the new Pertronix points replacement? If so how did you route the wire? I did so a few months ago on my ‘73 and was not happy because the wire touched the vacuum switch for the timing advance/retard. I think it hangs up sometimes on it. If you have replaced your points I’d like to hear your thoughts. Photographs would be helpful too. Thanks in advance!

[stupidwhitecat]

Originally Posted by dreichman

Have you removed your points yet and installed the new Pertronix points replacement? If so how did you route the wire? I did so a few months ago on my ‘73 and was not happy because the wire touched the vacuum switch for the timing advance/retard. I think it hangs up sometimes on it. If you have replaced your points I’d like to hear your thoughts. Photographs would be helpful too. Thanks in advance!

Yes, I've installed the pertronix module. I'm honestly note sure what distributor you have in your 73. I've got a Bosch. The vacuum advance lever sits under the petronix module mounting plate. It's pretty much out of the way of everything. The grommet pretty much keeps the wires at a distance from any moving part as far as i can tell.

[dreichman]

Mine is Bosch too. Thanks, very helpful

[Charles Freeborn]

I've got the same car with pertronix. I'll get some snaps of it . But,... there's always a but.. I also have a MSD 6AL so the wiring is not going to match yours. The stock CDI is a fine unit, but they do age. Rebuilding is completely do-able - it's usually only the main capacitor (approx $25 part) inside that fails. Not a terribly hard fix with relatively basic tools.

[stupidwhitecat]

Thanks, I'd appreciate pics if you get a second. The previous owner sent out the CDI a little over a year ago to have it bench tested and rebuilt, so it should be in good shape.

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

I've got the same car with pertronix. I'll get some snaps of it . But,... there's always a but.. I also have a MSD 6AL so the wiring is not going to match yours. The stock CDI is a fine unit, but they do age. Rebuilding is completely do-able - it's usually only the main capacitor (approx $25 part) inside that fails. Not a terribly hard fix with relatively basic tools.

[stupidwhitecat]

Finished it up today. Got everything routed and connected. Adjusted the timing. Seems to be running good. Here's a few pics of how everything turned out, and the ratty harness I replaced.