[68grandprix]

I bought a small toolbox from the DI(Deseret Industries, Mormon Salvation Army basically)a few months back. It had a compression tester, remote starter, piece of chalk, and THESE inside. I figured they were old timing lights. The only writing is on the wires(which I figure are spark plug wires)and says "Hypalon 7mm". How do you use these, and what might they be worth?
On an unrelated note, I sold my '71 LeMans I needed money and a truck to haul my motorcycle and other belongings back to Iowa, where my mom is battling liver cancer). It was hard to let that car go, especially since I built it from the ground up and only got about half what I had into it. But I'm a Pontiac man for life, and hopefully I'll get another in Iowa soon. Jim

[vidguy]

I think that's what they are..
Sorry that you had to sell and pack up.. Let's hope you and your Mom have some good times together as best you can. I think there are a few Pontiac fellas on the board..
Good luck to you.,.

[Jack Gifford]

Those appear to be the early "crude" timing lights which operated solely from the ignition secondary, taking power to flash the lamp from #1 sparkplug lead. More modern ones have their own internal high voltage supply (for the lamp) built in (using 12v battery power input), using the sparkplug signal merely to trigger the lamp. The old ones (first used more than a half-century ago) were only useful in very dim ambient lighting.

It's also possible that they are just low voltage test lamps, either 6v or 12v, with unusually well-insulated leads. If an ohmmeter reading across the leads shows infinity (open circuit), then they're timing lights (or burned-out-bulb test lamps!).

[Simple Man]

Sorry to hear about your mom, hope things work out for you.

[Bob Dillon]

It's a timing light. The red and black clamps go, respectively, to the positive and negative battery terminals. The other clamp was (usually) clamped to a safety pin stuck into the spark plug wire on #1 cylinder.

The remote starter switch is attached to the starter solenoid. A PITA on GM cars as it was mounted down low on the starter; easier on cars with remote solenoids (Ford, Mopar, etc.)

Boy, I feel old.

(Shut up, Baker)

[mike nixon]

Originally Posted by Bob Dillon

It's a timing light. The red and black clamps go, respectively, to the positive and negative battery terminals. The other clamp was (usually) clamped to a safety pin stuck into the spark plug wire on #1 cylinder.

The remote starter switch is attached to the starter solenoid. A PITA on GM cars as it was mounted down low on the starter; easier on cars with remote solenoids (Ford, Mopar, etc.)

Boy, I feel old.

(Shut up, Baker)

Dammit Dillon you ARE OLD!

Problem is my Dad taught me how to use those and I think I still have one of his around here also. Guess that puts me right behind you!

Pat, Sorry to hear about your Mom. Good luck to you all.

[Bob Dillon]

Originally Posted by mike nixon

Dammit Dillon you ARE OLD!

Shaddap.

[mike nixon]

Originally Posted by Bob Dillon

Shaddap.

ROTFLMAO! Bob, have an Ensure and enjoy your morning!

[Bob Dillon]

Originally Posted by mike nixon

ROTFLMAO! Bob, have an Ensure and enjoy your morning!

It's my favorite drink now. I add a coupla jiggers of Wild Turkey, though.

[mike nixon]

Originally Posted by Bob Dillon

It's my favorite drink now. I add a coupla jiggers of Wild Turkey, though.

I must not be aged enough for Ensure. Kids brought some home and I tasted it. Reminded me of wallpaper paste. I prefer Crown Royal but have been known to talk turkey once in a while.

[68grandprix]

Actually, they only have two leads each. That's why I wondered how they worked. I tried connecting the leads to their respective terminals to see if they were just huge test lights, but they didn't work. The bulbs are weird spiral-looking things. And the best whiskey I ever had was a hip bottle of Old Thompson, when I was 19. That stuff was smooth(well, compared to Jack Daniel's anyway). I am looking forward to seeing my mom and little bother and sister (18 and 19). They're kinda lost without me, and me without them, even though they drive me nuts. Jim

[68grandprix]

But man it sucked to sell my car. Every time I drove it I got thumbs up, people yelling cool car, and little kids jumping up and down on the sidewalk. I mostlyt miss the power though. I replaced it with a '96 extended-cad Chevy K1500, with the Vortec 350. I wish I could have afforded a '99-up, with the LS motor. But I'm still planning on souping up this big piece. At least is spins the 33"s.

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by 68grandprix

... I tried connecting the leads to their respective terminals to see if they were just huge test lights...

On the slim chance they had been six volt test lamps, I expressly advised using an ohmmeter, to keep you from blowing an ancient bulb (you DID mention your concern for their dollar value).

[2002Z4CSS]

I too have one of those timing lights I got from my wife's dad who got it from his dad. Looks to be made from bakelite material. I would like to sell mine since I really don't collect this kind of stuff.

[68grandprix]

Meh, I got em for next to nothing and no one seems to want them. When I move cross country(which I've done a few time) I usually try to sell things and end up giving them away. Like right now I'm trying to sell a disassembled '71 P350 from a LeMans. It just needs cam bearings, I have a new gasket set and new rod bearings, for $250! And no takers. All the parts were kept in proper order, bolts bagged and tagged, etc. It's looking like I'm gonna have to haul this thing 1200 miles in my pickup bed.

[68grandprix]

And I hooked em to a batt long before I posted on here Jack. No worries.