Going to HEI

[BigOrange401]

Im about to put a HEI into my waggy and wondering which one is the best to use? Are the ebay store HEI worth running? I will be going in a 77 with the 401.

[Elliott]

Yeah, buy cheap, buy Chinese.... ;) Do you own any Chinese tools that you like?

[billyrb]

buy an american-made, non-ebay unit. You'll be happier.

[BigOrange401]

Sounds good to me. Can I reuse the old dist. gear?

[Jeepguy77]

Sounds good to me. Can I reuse the old dist. gear? Yes, you can use your stock gear, in fact your supposed to. If you use a new gear with an old one they will both self destruct.

[Brizio]

When you do it, post some spec here..

[Heckofadeal]

I got a proform one and a mallory one from BJ's. The Proform was a lot easier to install. Just change out the gears and put it in. The mallory one has to have the shaft drilled out for the roll pin. Not really hard just kinda a pain. They both work great.

[freeincolorado]

Not sure if you can do it on your year, but have you considered tfi?

[fulsizjeep]

77 would have Prestilote ignition, no TFI upgrade option unless you switch to Duraspark ignition. The Mallory HEI we put in Krista's Waggy last month did not require any drilling to install the dizzy gear.

[freeincolorado]

77 would have Prestilote ignition, no TFI upgrade option unless you switch to Duraspark ignition. The Mallory HEI we put in Krista's Waggy last month did not require any drilling to install the dizzy gear.


Well dang...I guess you learn something new everyday.:)

[jaber]

Well dang...I guess you learn something new everyday.:) The change over was in '78. I used the engine harness from a '78 Cherk to swap dizzys and go TFI in my '77 J-10. I had all the parts, so was cheaper then buying new.

[leostevo]

I installed a new Mallory HEI w/ the coil. I did need to drill the shaft for installing the gear. My only words of caution are to take time to line it up the best you can with a drill press.

I used a new gear for installing in a rebuilt motor. The gear was only drilled on one side and I messed up and installed the gear upside down. When I removed the pin and re-installed it properly, the pin only lined up one way. (I really lucked out that it lined up at all) My point is that if your reusing your old gear, then make sure you line it up perfectly for drilling the shaft, otherwise you may drill out the bottom side of the gear and have an oval-shaped hole which the pin may not fit tightly enough.

Otherwise, my Mallory is working well and I can't fault them for my screw-up. Also, very easy wiring.

[grand_wag_85]

Not sure if you can do it on your year, but have you considered tfi?

It can be done with an Ebay unit if the gear is swappd. I had the HEI on your 401 for a little while:)

[newtojeeps]

the one I bought off the Bay is made in LA. 79.00 2 yrs old and works great. Ineed to retard it though I think 16 advance is a little much.

[freeincolorado]

It can be done with an Ebay unit if the gear is swappd. I had the HEI on your 401 for a little while:)

I'm debating going with HEI or keeping the Motorcraft distributor on it. I'm thinking that an HEI distributor would help with swapping in TBI in the future.:thumbsup:

[jaber]

I'm debating going with HEI or keeping the Motorcraft distributor on it. I'm thinking that an HEI distributor would help with swapping in TBI in the future.:thumbsup:
IMHO, the motor craft is easier to adapt to the computer. The TFI works great with the TBI control.

[freeincolorado]

IMHO, the motor craft is easier to adapt to the computer. The TFI works great with the TBI control.

I was discussing this with my bother (former GM Dealer tech) and we were not sure if the ECM could pick up the signal from the Motorcraft distributor. I would prefer to not buy an HEI setup.

[grand_wag_85]

I'm debating going with HEI or keeping the Motorcraft distributor on it. I'm thinking that an HEI distributor would help with swapping in TBI in the future.:thumbsup:

It ran like a bat out of hell with the Prestolite and the HEI really added to it. I think you can get just about the same results from a healthy TFI setup.

[Jeepguy77]

I bought the Mallory HEI, I had to drill out the shaft but I didnt have a drill press, so I went to a machine shop and had them do it. After I installed it I havent noticed much of a power increase, but it does run smoother and cold starts are easier. BTW I think the mallory has a 50,000v coil vs what 30,000v stock.

[BigOrange401]

Ill probably get one from BJs then. Im tired of looking at it sit there waiting on me to get the parts together to fix it. Should have everything new years.

[jaber]

I was discussing this with my bother (former GM Dealer tech) and we were not sure if the ECM could pick up the signal from the Motorcraft distributor. I would prefer to not buy an HEI setup.

Here read this.

http://www.junkyardgenius.com/ignition/jeep/HEI01.html

It replaces the Motorcraft ignition mod with the Chevy. When you switch to TBI, half the work is done. No dealing with the module inside the dizzy and converting it to an ECM controllable one.

[freeincolorado]

Here read this.

http://www.junkyardgenius.com/ignition/jeep/HEI01.html

It replaces the Motorcraft ignition mod with the Chevy. When you switch to TBI, half the work is done. No dealing with the module inside the dizzy and converting it to an ECM controllable one.

Now that is sweet!:thumbsup:

[BigOrange401]

Ok now Im getting torn between HEI and TFI. Have all the parts to do TBI left over from my DD so it might happen this summer when I get bored.

[freeincolorado]

Ok now Im getting torn between HEI and TFI. Have all the parts to do TBI left over from my DD so it might happen this summer when I get bored.

I am certainly impressed with my TFI setup but I don't think I would be able to tell by the old seat of the pants TFI from HEI. I'd go with whichever is cheaper/easier. In my case it was TFI. I am looking to do TBI on my Jeep this next summer that I'm sure will be great.

[FSJ Guy]

I'm debating going with HEI or keeping the Motorcraft distributor on it. I'm thinking that an HEI distributor would help with swapping in TBI in the future.:thumbsup:

Either distributor will work with a GM ECM. They both have similar triggering mechanisms. To get ECM spark control, you will change out the ignition module for a GM ignition module and (ideally) utilize GM's version of the "TFI" coil. (Looks like the Ford coil but has different connectors)

[zmjeeps]

The Mallory HEI we put in Krista's Waggy last month did not require any drilling to install the dizzy gear.



That's because the place you bought it predrills the shafts before they send them out...

Zack