Rewiring W/Kit and Retaining Stock Cranking System?

[55supergirl]

Anyone ever done this? We have a 21 circuit universal wiring kit, and we took the engine harness out in tact. Left all the relays on the inner fender, etc. Have a reprint of the '55 FSM. Going to get some spools of wire and some terminals to duplicate the factory harness for this circuit. However...

The wiring in the kit is set up for traditional key-in-and-turn Ignitions.

Could we hide a modern gear reduction starter down there with this setup?

Would there be any problems switching to electronic ignition and running an generator-style alternator?

Any tips or experience you care to share?

[Zach Collie]

Are you using the original engine/ carburetor? If not, then the "Tap start" system of pushing the accelerator pedal to the floor will not work. The switch that makes that magic happen is mounted to the baseplate of the carburetor, and cannot be simply transferred to a modern carb. If you are running the original carb, and engine, then you could wire it up to work with the new harness you have. you would have to omit (tape off at it's starting point) the wire that goes to the solenoid terminal on the switch in the dash, and run a wire to the carburetor switch instead. The on/off segment of the in dash ignition switch would work as described in the wiring harness instructions.