Switched Hot Wire in Engine Bay

[Dave Yaros]

For those who may ever have a need to locate a switched hot wire in the engine compartment of their Vair, I thought I would pass on the helpful info I received on the Corvair Center Forum.

First off, a "switched hot wire" is one that carries current ONLY when the key is on. When the key is turned off, the wire goes dead.

On the driver side of the engine bay, at the back (you have to remove the air cleaner to see it) is the entry point of the wire harness. The harness wires end in a multi-terminal plug with a male end. (I forget now how many wires there are in the plug, but at least 10.)

At Terminal Position #1 is a brown wire. It connects to a white cloth-covered wire in the female plug. This is the coil resistance wire.

The BROWN wire is the switched hot wire you are seeking. If you are in need of a switched source of power in the engine compartment, the BROWN wire is the one you want to tap into.

IMPORTANT -- DO NOT TAP INTO the white cloth covered wire that the brown wire mates with in the female plug. TAP INTO THE BROWN WIRE before it goes into the male end of the plug.

[CAVEAT] The above is what works on the 1963 Corvair Monza. I do not vouch for other years/models. When in doubt, do refer to your wiring diagram!

Hope this helps someone, sometime . . . .

[eddowds]

The "running" power for the coil comes from the front of the car via a black/pink wire (65) or a pink wire (66-69). It goes from the front of the car to the BODY side of the engine compartment 12 pin connector. That connector is near the bottom mount of the engine compartment prop.
This is where one would get 12 volts if they wanted it for their
Pertronics or to switch a relay for 12 volts to an HEI conversion.
On the ENGINE side of this connector a resistance wire (coated with a fabric which is white with a red stripe and possibly a black stripe) which runs from this large connector to the smaller 2 conductor connector for the starter. At this connector it joins with the black with yellow stripe (65) or yellow (66-69) wire that goes to the positive side (+) of the coil.

[Dave Yaros]

Ed,

Good info! It is obvious we are talking about the same wire, just different years. Am sure it will be of help to others.

[Dave Yaros]

Here is a pic of why I needed to locate a switched hotwire in the engine compartment of my 63 Vair. It was needed to hook up a voltmeter and engine hours gauge:

[scotts]

Hobbs meter is a great idea- I'm going to add that and an oil pressure guage to the engine compartment.

Dwell meters are so cheap now I have even thought about wiring a small one in

<img src ="http://moodle.student.cnwl.ac.uk/moodledata_shared/CDX%">

[scotts]

[Dave Yaros]

Let me know how your installs go. I would be interested in learning more about installing a dwell meter; make/model of gauge and wiring hookup.