HEI distributor

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alg

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I put a points to electronic ignition conversion kit in a 71 demon w a 318. Am considering an HEI distributor. Anyone done this? How involved was it? What product did you use?

Thanks.
 
I have one of the small cap HEI it my 88 dodge d250....works great...
 
Yep, we have performance recurved and total timing limit adjustable distributors as well as the HEI ignition conversion kits.
If you want something that can just plug in to replace the factory type ignition system I can point you to that also.

Just message me if you have questions.
 
70aarcuda said:
I have one of the small cap HEI it my 88 dodge d250....works great...
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Any tips for installing a small cap Hei on an 86w250? Did you use the one from KMJ performance? Just got mine and the instructions are worded like you've already got one and you're just replacing it. I've got the dual pick up dizzy now. Just wondering what all you had to do to install yours since you've got similar truck. Mines a daily work vehicle so looking to save any unnecessary down time. Thanks for any tips you could share
 
I had completely rewired the 88 d250 to get rid of the TBI.....I used a 30 amp circuit breaker that provides the power to the coil.. power has to be provided during the start and run circuit.....outside of that the red wire to the plus side of the coil and black to negative side of the coil.....You should use an E coil also...and you do not use any ballast resistor..the coil must see the full 12 volts

I think I got mine from Skip White...but they are all the same...
 
The way I understood it you eliminate the ballast and stock ecu, but after looking at KMJs website the only diagram I found was a very simple drawing with the 2 wires going to coil, and 12v from a switch to the + side of coil. Seems simple but you're right, these trucks have starting voltage and running voltage for the dual pick up distributor. Il have to study my chiltons a little I guess. I've got the e,core coil too btw. Did you notice much performance gain by the conversion?
 
performance gain...LOL...after I removed the old TBI and all the smog crap and single exhaust...put a eddy performer intake and carb...header with dual exhaust...

Yes..I noticed a performance gain...LOL

88 d250 with 318/4 speed
 
Same here. Pulled smog crap off old stocker and built dual exhaust, big difference right there even with the qjet. Got mild 360, 2.02 j heads,headers, intake and Quick Fuel 600. Runs good but hoping a perfomance type distributor will help. I know they're cheap import parts, but for the price Il give it a try. Thanks for the input. Gonna try to get it in tomorrow after work
 
Search "ready-to-run" HEI distributor 318 340 on ebay (SkipWhite and others). By Ningbao of China. Hard to beat the ~$50 price. Integral ECU. They also sell an e-core coil which you need to make it work best.
 
Got the Chinese distributor from Assault Racing and the e-core coil. Just need to study my chiltons diagram and get the multi meter out. Instructions were pretty vague. Pretty much says pull out your distributor,put this one in! Going in an 86pick up with dual pick up distributor
 
Dartish said:
... Instructions were pretty vague.
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Dartish,
The Ningbao distributor needs full ~13.6 V to operate best. A simple way is to bypass your ballast resistor. To not hack the factory wiring, use a male-male spade terminal (or jumper). But, assure you get full IGN running voltage at coil+. Many cars get too much drop thru the key switch and bulkhead connector. Better is to wire a relay that turns on w/ IGN to apply full voltage under the hood.

Same deal w/ all HEI, including my 2002 Chrysler. The coil (or coils) get IGN at coil+ and coil- is switched to ground by the ECU. The 1970's Mopar ECU also switched the coil on the low-side, but needed the ballast to limit coil current and another to protect the ECU (5th pin). That was because they are a simple transistor w/ no dwell control. Pertronix Ignitor is similar, w/ Ignitor II more like HEI.
 
Is this the same one you're referring to?
0102171639a.jpg
 
I did the HEI conversion on my 87 Ramcharger, from the lean burn system. You cannot use the existing coil wires directly to the new E-CORE coil. it is a resistor wire and you will burn up a coil and or module. (i learned the hard way) Along the driver's fender, near the lean burn module, there is a 3 prong-female connector that I used. Key on it has 11.6-ish volts, but when running will have 13.8-14.1V. at least that is what mine is producing. Been running mine from that connector for thousands of miles and zero issues once I started using that power source.
 
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