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  • March 28, 2024, 12:58:59 PM

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Author Topic: HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11  (Read 9077 times)

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Offline 83Eagle!

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HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11
« on: February 19, 2011, 10:08:13 PM »
Hello,
I just ordered the same HEI distributor that thereverendbill got on that big auction site.  It should be here in a couple of days.  

Now I am looking for plug wires, plugs and the other stuff needed.  

I am interested in this upgrade because I hear you can get rid of the ICM, solenoid and the coil doing this upgrade.  Is that true?  If so I am game for this upgrade, because it sounds like a lot of benefit for very little headache.

thereverendbill has offered to help me with this upgrade at the meet this September.  However, I think I am going to get too impatient once the distributor arrives.  

I want to order everything I need.  

Brandon
« Last Edit: March 08, 2011, 03:59:14 PM by 83Eagle! »
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1983 Eagle Wagon
2003 Saturn LW200
2007 Saturn Ion
1985 Mallard Class C motor home

After our fiasco with the Toyota Corolla I got for my wife I believe I am done with Japanese vehicles.

Dude you are preaching to a choir member that is close to becoming an AMC Minister if you know what I mean.


Offline Jurjen

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Re: HEI Upgrade-more info wanted
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2011, 04:49:09 AM »
Yes, you can get rid of the coil and ICM.
It only needs a + from the ingintion switch.
That would be the yellow wire that is now going to the ICM.

It needs to be driven as well, so possibly you will have to swap the gear from the old distributor to the HEI dizzy.

As soon as it is installed, timing will have to corrected.

Do you have someone to help you, who has done this before?
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Offline Eagleearl

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Re: HEI Upgrade-more info wanted
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2011, 10:08:44 AM »
You would need the distributor from a late 70's or early 80's Chevy250 or 292 straight six along with the plug wires.
They have the ICM and coil inside. It's a one wire hookup so it cleans up the engine compartment a lot.
You also need an AMC drive gear for the distributor and get them changed out. 

wagoneerhauler

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Re: HEI Upgrade-more info wanted
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2011, 06:59:50 PM »
The HEI is great because it gets rid of the unreliable and failure prone motorcrap ignition module.

Offline 83Eagle!

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Re: HEI Upgrade-more info wanted
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2011, 09:55:13 PM »
Standard champions seem to work great  ;).

What is the part number for the Champion plus?
What gap should be used?
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"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they
are genuine."

- Abraham Lincoln


1983 Eagle Wagon
2003 Saturn LW200
2007 Saturn Ion
1985 Mallard Class C motor home

After our fiasco with the Toyota Corolla I got for my wife I believe I am done with Japanese vehicles.

Dude you are preaching to a choir member that is close to becoming an AMC Minister if you know what I mean.


Offline shaggimo

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Re: HEI Upgrade-more info wanted
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2011, 07:25:20 AM »
I think I'm at .045 with the sx, as far as part number  ???, I just had the parts store look them up in their book for the stock application.
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Offline 83Eagle!

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Re: HEI Upgrade-more info wanted
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2011, 07:34:25 AM »
I think I'm at .045 with the sx, as far as part number  ???, I just had the parts store look them up in their book for the stock application.

Okay.  I will do that.  I should be ordering some of the stuff for the HEI upgrade today.
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"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they
are genuine."

- Abraham Lincoln


1983 Eagle Wagon
2003 Saturn LW200
2007 Saturn Ion
1985 Mallard Class C motor home

After our fiasco with the Toyota Corolla I got for my wife I believe I am done with Japanese vehicles.

Dude you are preaching to a choir member that is close to becoming an AMC Minister if you know what I mean.


Offline thereverendbill

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Re: HEI Upgrade-more info wanted
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2011, 07:41:23 AM »
I was told 0.45 and 0.50 for the plug gap so i ran mine right at 0.48.  I will be pulling the plugs here soon to check them and I may set them to 0.45 and run it another 150 miles and see if i can pick anything more up out f it
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Offline 83Eagle!

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Re: HEI Upgrade - Update 3/08/11
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2011, 03:58:54 PM »
I think I am going to go with the standard Champion spark plugs, since there have been a number of recommendations for those.  Hopefully I will get to the parts store Thursday. 

I thought I had parts numbers for the plug wires I need.  And I do not.  I had it, but my wife went on a cleaning binge.  Everything she did not recognize she threw away.  I am thankful that she could not get to the garage.  Guess I will have to keep all my notes and stuff out there. 

I found a set like this on The Big Auction site... 


They are 8 mm plugs for a GM V8.  $29.99 shipped.

I want to find some at Autozone because I have $20 in rewards points there.  Can someone help me find the right ones.  I have tried to search the 80's Chevy 250 as I have seen recommended in another post, but I cannot get anything to come up.  Guess I don't really know what engines came in what vehicles in the 80's Chevys. 

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"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they
are genuine."

- Abraham Lincoln


1983 Eagle Wagon
2003 Saturn LW200
2007 Saturn Ion
1985 Mallard Class C motor home

After our fiasco with the Toyota Corolla I got for my wife I believe I am done with Japanese vehicles.

Dude you are preaching to a choir member that is close to becoming an AMC Minister if you know what I mean.


Offline 83Eagle!

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Re: HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2011, 04:06:15 PM »
thereverendbill sent me a picture of this plug that I need.  As stated before I had notes on where I need to get this from, but they were tossed.  I know I can get it from any 80's GM V6 or V8.  That shouldn't be too hard to find around here. 



I assume it is around the distributor.  To save me a trip to the 'yard (which will probably be next week) is there anything else I should grab from the donor vehicle?
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"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they
are genuine."

- Abraham Lincoln


1983 Eagle Wagon
2003 Saturn LW200
2007 Saturn Ion
1985 Mallard Class C motor home

After our fiasco with the Toyota Corolla I got for my wife I believe I am done with Japanese vehicles.

Dude you are preaching to a choir member that is close to becoming an AMC Minister if you know what I mean.


Offline 83Eagle!

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Re: HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2011, 07:34:42 AM »
I have the HEI distributor.  I have had it for about a week.  I am really hoping to do this upgrade soon.  I have my parts list ready.  I am just waiting to hear how much the repair for the lift system on the camper is going to be.  I took it to a guy Monday because the lift system is not level.  I also may have a repair to make on the Saturn that might take priority.  We will see.  Hopefully going to have the Saturn looked at this week.
Click for La_Vista, Ne Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they
are genuine."

- Abraham Lincoln


1983 Eagle Wagon
2003 Saturn LW200
2007 Saturn Ion
1985 Mallard Class C motor home

After our fiasco with the Toyota Corolla I got for my wife I believe I am done with Japanese vehicles.

Dude you are preaching to a choir member that is close to becoming an AMC Minister if you know what I mean.


Offline 83Eagle!

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Re: HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2011, 05:59:11 PM »
Well, I got my last piece of the puzzle in the mail today. 

Here's the HEI electrical pigtail.  I ordered it from Summit.  It was a couple dollars cheaper than Autozone even after shipping.


I also have the HEI distributor from Skip White Performance, 6 Champion spark plus and a set of Accel 8.8 plug wires.  I think I have everything I need.  Now just need to find the time to get it done. 
Click for La_Vista, Ne Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they
are genuine."

- Abraham Lincoln


1983 Eagle Wagon
2003 Saturn LW200
2007 Saturn Ion
1985 Mallard Class C motor home

After our fiasco with the Toyota Corolla I got for my wife I believe I am done with Japanese vehicles.

Dude you are preaching to a choir member that is close to becoming an AMC Minister if you know what I mean.


Offline eagle503

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Re: HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11
« Reply #12 on: September 16, 2012, 11:24:57 PM »
I know this is an old thread but I am curious how the distributor worked out. I just ordered one from skip white. Do you have a part number for the correct plug wires?
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Offline 83Eagle!

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Re: HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2012, 12:35:10 AM »
Never been able to install it. Did the motorcraft carb upgrade this summer and have been too busy with school and my new job to do anything else. Have had the heir stuff over a year and have not been able to do it. Too busy.
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"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they
are genuine."

- Abraham Lincoln


1983 Eagle Wagon
2003 Saturn LW200
2007 Saturn Ion
1985 Mallard Class C motor home

After our fiasco with the Toyota Corolla I got for my wife I believe I am done with Japanese vehicles.

Dude you are preaching to a choir member that is close to becoming an AMC Minister if you know what I mean.


Offline thereverendbill

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Re: HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2012, 07:53:34 AM »
the skip white dist is AWESOME!!!! I had one in my wagon and I installed one in a fellow member's SX/4.  The one thing you NEED to check and make sure is that the rotor is tight.  When I installed mine on the wagon it wasn't due, to shipping or a QC person but I never checked it and it ruined the rotor and cap.  I replaced both pieces on my dime cause it was somethign I should have checked and i didn't want to call and sound like a dummy to them  :rotfl:
1980 Eagle 2 door sedan (future solid axle swap)
1981 Eagle Kammback (restoration in progress)
1983 SX/4 SOLD
1983 Eagle Limited wagon  *For Sale* SOLD
1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer (daily driver)
Click for YOUR TOWN, STATE Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

another amc forum
www.amcevolution.com

Offline eagle503

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Re: HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11
« Reply #15 on: September 17, 2012, 11:53:53 AM »
Can I just walk in Napa and get plug wires for a GM inline six or do I need something special? The local parts guys give me a hard time if I don't know exactly what I need. A part number for the wires would be awesome. I have the hei all installed and all the old junk out so all I am waiting on is plug wires.
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Offline shaggimo

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Re: HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11
« Reply #16 on: September 17, 2012, 01:57:56 PM »
Nothing special needed, same era ford inline 6 would do too.
88 xj cherokee- ((4)(4))2
81 malibu 4dr- Identity Crisis
81 SX4- gf's
84 Eagle 4dr sedan- it followed me home... ::)
http://www.cardomain.com/id/Oldsmoletic
CNY

Offline 83Eagle!

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Re: HEI Upgrade Help- Update 3/08/11
« Reply #17 on: September 17, 2012, 06:26:17 PM »
I think my plug wires were listed under Chevy Nova with an inline 6. 
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"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they
are genuine."

- Abraham Lincoln


1983 Eagle Wagon
2003 Saturn LW200
2007 Saturn Ion
1985 Mallard Class C motor home

After our fiasco with the Toyota Corolla I got for my wife I believe I am done with Japanese vehicles.

Dude you are preaching to a choir member that is close to becoming an AMC Minister if you know what I mean.


 

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