can I start my motor without the engine harness

[DanielRobert]

Hi guys, 1972 Charger  fresh 440 with electronic ignition.  Can I fire this thing up with bypassing the engine harness? My dash is in the basement and I want to break the motor in ....I know to give the coil power, but what about the distributor? How can I do this? BTW the engine harness is there...just not plugged into the inside of the dash cuz I'm not ready for the dash yet.
Thanks

[XH29N0G]

I am pretty sure you can if you get power to the coil, and the ignition and then jump the starter.  I only know the old points style and the MSD, but someone will be able to guide you through it.  I would also bet there will be some precautions to take.

[Nacho-RT74]

without engine harness ? no... you need the spread the power all around so you need an engine harness anyway.

Now withouth dash harness ? yes. Just source batt straight to ballast ( Blue side better ) and jump out the starter relay between stud and IGN terminal ( remove once engine started up ), you will be done. The Ballast Bypass throught the brown circuit is set to start up the engine faster, but don't worry, will start up too still being feeded just on blue circuit.

without dash harness you'll be just sourcing the engine with batt. You can jump out also the alt stud with battery ( or starter relay stud ) and will keep battery charged

[Paul G]

It can be done just like Nacho explained. You need to power up the ignition system and have a fuel supply and it will run on a pallet.
https://youtu.be/xlvgTrSLkXU

[justcruisin]

If your breaking in a new engine just do as said - hook a power supply to your ignition and hook up a button between the starter exciter wire and battery positive. I would not run it without a temp and oil gauge hooked up, best way to go would be to plumb in some mechanical gauges.

[DanielRobert]

So I power up the actual blue wire or un plug it and power that side of the ballast?

[DanielRobert]

and just to clarify....I supply the power to the ballast and It'll power up the distributor and the coil? or do I still power up the coil?

Thanks for the help!

[Nacho-RT74]

Just feed the ballast at the blue plug end. Don't disconect the ballast, keep both plugs in place.

Recomended: unplug voltage regulator too if you don't jump out alternator stud and battery too to keep battery charged because regulator will be sensing battery low while engine is spinning. There is no need for that if the alternator power is not going anywhere. But would be better to add a jumper wire betwen alt stud and batt to keep it charged if you are going to keep engine on for long time.

[DanielRobert]

ok....we"ll see how this works this weekend! Thanks