[rude80]

I finally got my 66 coupe to fire after replacing all the electrical components including coil, regulator, alternator, points, etc, but it won't stay running when I release the key. There must be a bad wire, Any ideas?

[Cusp]

Originally Posted by rude80

I finally got my 66 coupe to fire after replacing all the electrical components including coil, regulator, alternator, points, etc, but it won't stay running when I release the key. There must be a bad wire, Any ideas?

Or a bad ignition switch. In the run position does the rest of the car's electrical things (radio for example) work?

[rude80]

The wipers, fan, and blinkers work, but the whole ignition is hanging from under the dash. I am wondering if it needs to be grounded, but I can't get it apart to put it back into the dash. The key part of the ignition is new.

[Veronica]

Hello. The switch doesn't need to be grounded. The problem that you describe is almost always one of two things. Either a factory tach that has died or an issue with the resistor wire. There should be a red wire with a green stripe coming out of the connector on the back of the ignition switch that is only a few inches long and plugs into a fat pink wire with some black insulation on it. The fat pink wire goes to the firewall connector and, on the other side of the firewall, turns back into a red wire with a green stripe that is attached to the positive post on the coil. That's how the coil gets power when the key is in the 'on' position. It could be that the pink wire got unplugged somehow, or has burned out or something, but, that's probably where the problem is.

[rude80]

I finally got her running and it sounds great. It was the pink wire which was disconnected somehow and tucked in among all the other wires. Thanks for all the help. Now it's on to some bodywork.

[Print Dad]

Hello rude80,
Don't you just love this forum?

I am glad you got her going. I think you were smart to start a new thread and it seems as though the solution came quick.

What I love here is that there people that know so much about so many things.

Just wanted to say good going and good luck with the next phase.... Print Dad