Another FSJ TFI conversion complete

[WudreauxTWW]

Thanks to the great info from IRbob, I knocked out the TFI conversion this weekend to my Wagoneer. It took me a little longer than the reported 2 hours because I relocated the coil to the driver side fender. I don't know about everybody else, but I can bearly see my motor for all of the wires & hoses running across the thing. I'm on a crusade to clean some of that stuff up and getting the coil out of there was the first step.
As far as performance improvement goes, after the first 50 miles, I feel like it was money well spent. Low RPM idle is considerably smoother and it feels a bit more responsive off the line. Now if I can see a noticable increase in fuel economy, I will really be happy.
Thanks again IRBob, having a list of part numbers to take to the parts store really helped.

[2j20's]

HOW MUCH ON THE TOTAL COST

[Dome]

I did it for less than $100

WudreauxTWW : Did you run an extra wire from your ignition module to the coil? Some people I have seen have done this (to bypass some resistor or something), but I didn't do it, seems to run good, just wondering what other did.

Adam

[ August 27, 2001: Message edited by: Adamstrator ]

[WudreauxTWW]

I did the upgrade for right at $110. I don't have the luxury of an Autozone around here, so I had to scramble a little to find all the right pieces... hence, a few more $$$. It is still well worth it though.

Adam, I just traced the + wire (red) from the old coil through the wiring harness back to the firewall and spliced (solder connection) in a new wire and ran it over to the new coil. I was able to just pull the - wire (green) through the wiring harness and connect it to the new coil. Since I didn't change any of the existing wiring, I'm pretty sure the place I spliced into is electrically the same as original. On my rig, the + wire goes through the wiring harness and splits with one wire going to the coil and the other continuing to the starter solenoid. Effectively all I did, was move the location of the split. At least that is what I think I did. Bottom line... it works! smile.gif

[ August 28, 2001: Message edited by: WudreauxTWW ]

[irbob]

Oh yes, another TFI powered FSJeep. :D Glad to be of service to yea and glad it worked out.

Good idea on relocating the coil. As you can see buy my site, I just modified the can style bracket and left it in the same spot. I don't like it there in all that heat so one of these days it will get relocated. My Dakota's TFI style coil is mounted on the right front of the engine block in about the same place as our alternators are located. Strange spot but it is being directly cooled buy the fan. Take care.

[Dome]

Hmmm. irbob, did you add any extra wires. What I was told is apparently in the + wire that goes from the ignition module to the coil, somewhere in between is a resistor so that the coil (old one) actually only got 9 or so volts while running (only got 12 at startup). I guess I'll have to bust out the old Chiltons and look at the wiring diagram. What people were doing is splicing a wire into the + @ the ignition module and then back at the coil, so it bypasses this resistor. Does this sound familiar at all??

Adam

[reddog]

Adam, I was told by the guy who sells the TFI kits online (don't recall the site) to leave the resistor wire in place so I left it. As I recall I get just under 12 volts at the coil while running. My plugs are gapped at about 42-44 thou and it runs great. Your right there is a bypass of the resistor at startup to give it full voltage.

Kerry

[ August 29, 2001: Message edited by: reddog ]

[dfitz]

reddog,
would that have been Cape Conversions that sells the kit? did you buy and were you satisfied? It doesn't look too bad at $129, especially if your as lazy as I am and don't want to run to parts stores.