HEI conversion help

[trail rate this]

I did a lot of searching with no results. Now I need some help from the experts.

I bought a 88 Grand Waggy. The engine harness is hacked. It came loose from the fire wall and hit the exhaust.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh68/trailratethis/0415001332.jpg

From what I've read it may be easier and more reliable to do a HEI setup. I know the HEI dizzy wont just drop in.

What are the parts and modifications needed to do this, and what of this wire mess will it eliminate?

I've tried to go through this mess and straighten it out. I'm getting no spark. The pickup coil in the stock dizzy is working. The coil isn't discharging. Any help this matter is welcome too.

Thanks for looking and helping.

[fulsizjeep]

Wow, that's is sorta what it looks like under the hood of my 88. I am going to install a Mallory HEI when I make the fix and share what is removed and how I power the HEI. You might want to look under the dash around the ignition switch on the middle area of steering column. Mine fried all the way to the switch. :banghead:

[HD_JEEP]

I did a lot of searching with no results. Now I need some help from the experts.

I bought a 88 Grand Waggy. The engine harness is hacked. It came loose from the fire wall and hit the exhaust.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh68/trailratethis/0415001332.jpg

From what I've read it may be easier and more reliable to do a HEI setup. I know the HEI dizzy wont just drop in.

What are the parts and modifications needed to do this, and what of this wire mess will it eliminate?

I've tried to go through this mess and straighten it out. I'm getting no spark. The pickup coil in the stock dizzy is working. The coil isn't discharging. Any help this matter is welcome too.

Thanks for looking and helping.

Wow there has to a bird in that nest of wires somewhere? Good luck after you get it straightened out take an after shot and post so we can compare the two. A before and after...:confused:

[Casey]

Oh my! :eek:

You have a task in front of you!

I'm a big fan of HEI. Worth the money, time and effort. It's actually quite easy to install.

You'll need the dist. for an AMC V-8 and the correct wires.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/rcasey/Warf%20Rat/008-Copy.jpg


The dist. does just drop in. One word of advice, use the gear off of your stock distributor on the new HEI and throw the one that came with it in your parts bin or trash.

Mark the stock dist. rotor orientation and #1 spark plug wire, take the old one out, remove the gear, install it on the HEI dist., drop the HEI in place (may have to mess with the shims a little to get it to mesh just right) making sure to orient it as the old one was.
Find 12v constant power to the ign key switch and hook it to the HEI hot lead. That's it really.
My wiring harness was so fouled up that I couldn't find a constant 12v from the key switch so I added an aux. powerblock and a toggle switch to send power to the ignition. The key starts it and the switch kills or sends power to it.

I had fuel line issues as the line was in the way of the vacuum advance..had to modify the fuel line out from the pump. When the HEI is installed the vac. adv. will be right up against the power steering pump.

After it's installed, fire it up and check your timing with a timing light. That's it.

The stock ign. wiring and ign. module is no longer used or needed!

[The Colonel]

Wow, love the wire nuts :rolleyes:.

The HEI drops right in, it's self contained. You need to swap your current dizz gear over to your new HEI to prevent dizzy gear wear issues.

The HEI only requires a switched power wire. I would run a wire from the ignition switch and wire in a relay and get power right from the battery....the HEI can draw a lot of current. (not using wire nuts of course:p)

edit: forgot to add you will need the correct spark plug wires to fit the HEI.

[HD_JEEP]

Spark plug gap changed also .45 is the suggested gap with the HEI.

[trail rate this]

Thanks for the help. I'm more of a junk yard upgrade person. What Year, Make, Model, and other parts needed to use junk yard parts?

[joe]

A stock GM V8 HEI won't just drop in. The dizzy requires some machining so you need to have that done or buy a new made for AMC unit fron Z&M or others. If you go junkyard dizzy the Buick version seems to be prefered(prolly less machining needed.)

[trail rate this]

awesome this is what I'm looking for. How much machining and where?

[Casey]

awesome this is what I'm looking for. How much machining and where?
Dude, seriously, the things sell for around a c-note brand new.

[trail rate this]

Dude, seriously, the things sell for around a c-note brand new.

Ok, links of where your finding them for $100 set up for a 360.

[The Colonel]

Ok, links of where your finding them for $100 set up for a 360.

ebay

[GI-John]

Ok, links of where your finding them for $100 set up for a 360.

Around 50-75 on da bay nowadays.:eek:

I bought mine from skipwhite. FWIW, the dizzy gear is NOT swappable with a motorcraft dizzy gear.:banghead:

[trail rate this]

Around 50-75 on da bay nowadays.:eek:

I bought mine from skipwhite. FWIW, the dizzy gear is NOT swappable with a motorcraft dizzy gear.:banghead:

was it plug and play or did you have to change/modify it?

[vintagetrks]

It's like Casey said they are under a C note and fairly easy to install. Heres the link to the one Casey has.

http://www.crtperformance.com/html/credit_card_orders.html

You can also get the Mallory HEI's through BJ's but they a pretty pricey. Just remember to remove the gear off your original dizzy and put it on the HEI unit.
All those wire nuts under your hood look kinda like a string of christmas light. LOL

[Skeeter74]

was it plug and play or did you have to change/modify it?

Plug and play. I did mine with new plugs, wires and dizzy in a couple of lazy hours.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMC-JEEP-LATE-MODEL-HEI-DISTRIBUTOR-290-360-390-401-V8_W0QQitemZ170468401164QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_ Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item27b0b5600c
This is the one I have.

Do not use the hot wire from your coil as it is not 12 volts when running due to the resistor. I used the larger guage red wire from the now unused ignition module. Just cut, splice and wire to the power on the new dizzy.

[hotjimmy]

Around 50-75 on da bay nowadays.:eek:

I bought mine from skipwhite. FWIW, the dizzy gear is NOT swappable with a motorcraft dizzy gear.:banghead:

I have installed 2 of the skipwhite HEI's and have reused the stock dizzy both times. Once from a motorcraft dist and the other was a points dist. I did have to reuse the factory "washer" between the gears both times as well. It was too tight with the HEI's.

$53 with $10 shipping is a great deal.

I Love HEI's! My hot 401 powered CJ7 has a DUI HEI (very nice piece). My 401 rockbuggy has the Mallory HEI from Summit. My 360 Cherokee has the ebay skipwhite HEI. One note is that the skipwhite HEI is visually IDENTICAL to my Mallory that I paid about $159 for. Only thing missing is the small Mallory sticker in the center of the cap.

[hotjimmy]

http://stores.ebay.com/whiteperformance1

For the price I had to try it. I ran it for a few weeks, then ordered another for a friend and installed it.


EDIT, looks like they've gone up $4 since my purchases

[trail rate this]

So it looks like I just need to swap the dizzy caps, the gear and run a wire.

[Songman]

The folks at Skip White are great to deal with. Very friendly and a good product too.

[Casey]

So it looks like I just need to swap the dizzy caps, the gear and run a wire.
Um... swap caps?

You need to buy a complete HEI dist. with cap-rotor-plug wires. The only thing from the original igniton that you would reuse is the gear off of the old distributor.

;)

[trail rate this]

Um... swap caps?

You need to buy a complete HEI dist. with cap-rotor-plug wires. The only thing from the original igniton that you would reuse is the gear off of the old distributor.

;)

Thanks for clearing that up. Is there a specific year and model vehicle HEI I need to order or will any HEI work?

[vintagetrks]

Thanks for clearing that up. Is there a specific year and model vehicle HEI I need to order or will any HEI work?

You need one for the AMC V8 engine. It will cover all years of the AMC V8 IIRC. :thumbsup:

[trail rate this]

The only AMC HEI dizzy Skipwhite has is for a inline 6. All the others are chevy. Is there a similar setup for a Ford dizzy. Aren't the stock dizzys a ford.

[Casey]

The only AMC HEI dizzy Skipwhite has is for a inline 6. All the others are chevy. Is there a similar setup for a Ford dizzy. Aren't the stock dizzys a ford.
You seem a bit confused.

Some stock dist. are Delco, some are motorcrap...

The only 'HEI' is GM. And the only one that will work in an AMC V-8 is one that is made specifically for an AMC V-8.

Others:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-7560001C/

http://www.bulltear.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=HEI&x=6&y=8

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3692.m570.l1313&_nkw=AMC+HEI+distributor&_sacat=See-All-Categories

[trail rate this]

You seem a bit confused.

Some stock dist. are Delco, some are motorcrap...

The only 'HEI' is GM. And the only one that will work in an AMC V-8 is one that is made specifically for an AMC V-8.



I'm aware that HEI is GM olny. I thought Ford a similar setup called TBI (I know TBI stands for Throttle Body Injection) or something like that.

I am confused. I seem to be getting different answers. Some use HEI parts and convert the stock dizzy to an HEI. Skipwhite is coming highly recommended, but I dont see any AMC V8 HEI dizzy's on his site.

[vintagetrks]

I'm aware that HEI is GM olny. I thought Ford a similar setup called TBI (I know TBI stands for Throttle Body Injection) or something like that.

I am confused. I seem to be getting different answers. Some use HEI parts and convert the stock dizzy to an HEI. Skipwhite is coming highly recommended, but I dont see any AMC V8 HEI dizzy's on his site.

You sound like your thinking of the TFI conversion some guys do to their dizzys. If your wanting a HEI stick to the HEI. It's a simpler conversion and the cost is about the same. In my oppinion the HEI that Casey has I believe it's a CRT performance HEI is the best value and a decent rig.

http://www.crtperformance.com/html/c...rd_orders.html

http://www.crtperformance.com/assets/images/db_images/db_amcv8_hei1.jpg

[Casey]

You sound like your thinking of the TFI conversion some guys do to their dizzys. I your wanting a HEI stick to the HEI. It's a simpler conversion and the cost is about the same. In my oppinion the HEI that Casey has I believe it's a CRT performance HEI is the best value and a decent rig.

http://www.crtperformance.com/html/c...rd_orders.html

http://www.crtperformance.com/assets/images/db_images/db_amcv8_hei1.jpg

Yep. Great product. The kit I bought came with everything needed. I was more than pleased with it. The new owner of the truck has commented about how quickly it starts and smoothly it runs. The truck literally sits for a month or longer between starts/uses.

TFI is a fine upgrade, but you still use the motorcrap ign. module.

[vintagetrks]

Yep. Great product. The kit I bought came with everything needed. I was more than pleased with it. The new owner of the truck has commented about how quickly it starts and smoothly it runs. The truck literally sits for a month or longer between starts/uses.

TFI is a fine upgrade, but you still use the motorcrap ign. module.

X2 I agree. I had thought of doing the TFI but after listening to others decided that the HEI was the same cost and much less involved. I was gonna get the CRTperformance dizzy but got a deal on my HEI from a member here for $89 with 10mm wires so I'm happy. Have'nt gotten to install it yet but I know it will be a major improvement. Now I just gotta get that stubborn Freeze Plug out:banghead: .

[jeeper54]

O.K., I know I'm slow and not very bright, but what do you do with the stock wiring for coil and module since they won't be used? Taping/capping them off won't last in high heat situations and I would want to do it right.

[vintagetrks]

O.K., I know I'm slow and not very bright, but what do you do with the stock wiring for coil and module since they won't be used? Taping/capping them off won't last in high heat situations and I would want to do it right.

With the two wires for the coil I would simply cut the terminas off them then use some heat shrink tubing with a little extra to make sur the ends are covered and wont make any contact and then place them back in the wire loom. With the connection to the ignition module I would just find something to cover them as well.

[Casey]

With the two wires for the coil I would simply cut the terminas off them then use some heat shrink tubing with a little extra to make sur the ends are covered and wont make any contact and then place them back in the wire loom. With the connection to the ignition module I would just find something to cover them as well.
Just what I did. Cut them and heat shrinked over the ends, then ziptied the mess out of the way.

[vintagetrks]

Just what I did. Cut them and heat shrinked over the ends, then ziptied the mess out of the way.

Great Minds think alike. Or maybe it was the Arrrrmy training Sir. :lol: