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.


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.

[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.


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...

[Casey]

Oh my!

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.




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 .

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)

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

[HD_JEEP]

SPARK PLUG GAP

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.

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

[trail rate this]

Around 50-75 on da bay nowadays.

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

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