Running an engine without a wiring harness

[Highbanked Hauler]

   What is the best way to run an engine  in the car with the least amount of wires and keep the alternator charging ??   I am looking to run the 440 for  half to an hour and the radiator is in and trans is connected.  I understand its not a good idea to power a coil off the battery for any length of time, is this true    

[richRTSE]

Not sure about the charging, but for the coil question I think it depends on what you're using for ignition. If using a stock chrysler ignition, then just use a ballast resistor to feed the coil. If using an MSD ignition and coil, no ballast resistor needed. The factory setup uses something like 7 volts at the coil for running the engine (12v while cranking/starting) and the MSD setup uses a constant 12v....


edit: I probably shouldn't say the MSD setup uses a constant 12volts at the coil...probably the right thing to say is the MSD box supplies the "correct voltage" to the coil, and no ballast resistor is needed...

[Chryco Psycho]

well you need 12v from the battery to the start relay & the coil to run it , short the start relay to start it .
the charging system is no harder .
For 70 up you need  12v to both the alt field & reg , the reg has to be grounded & the main output wire from the alt has to return to the battery terminal on the start relay + you need the second field wire to return to the reg [green wire]
For pre 70 you need 12v to the reg & a wire from the reg to the field wire on the alt , the output still goes back to the battery terminal on the start relay

[Highbanked Hauler]

    The Dist.  an Accel  dual point and I wondered about running the coil off the ballast resistor. I would think I could run a wire from the alternator  to the  main  wire of the starter relay and it would feed the battery.   Obviously  I would have to feed the ballast resistor too.

     Yes it is a 69 Charger

[Chryco Psycho]

yes the coil feed is better with a ballast resistor in it .
the dist connects to the neg coil terminal