Primary voltage

[Guest]

Hello, I have a simple question. On my 64 Wildcat 401cid, what should the primary voltage measure as I crank the starter?

[The Old Guy]

The primary voltage should be 12 volts or more ,depending on how hot your battery is. The voltage to the distributor should also be 12 or better during cranking ,and drop to 7-8 volts when running.

[Guest]

A little over 9 volts

[Guest]

You won't get 12 volts while cranking. The key is to check the actual drop though the circuits. Check the drop between the battery negetive terminal and the starter frame, and then the drop between the battery positive terminal and the motor side of the starter solenoid while cranking. There should be less than one and a half volts drop on the negetive side and less than three volts drop on the positive side.

[Guest]

Hook a voltmeter across the battery.take out the center coil wire.Spin the starter.Read the voltmeter while the starter is turnimg over Try this on several cars There you have your answer!