Poor Mans HEI

[shaggimo]

 I thought about doing the MUI upgrade, however, the motorcraft module (which seems to be a bad seed, from what I've read) is still in the system. I thought about just dropping an MSD box in and calling it a day, but, my 6AL I normally run in my malibu puked out a couple of weeks ago (not happy BTW). So what to do? I see it's possible to get a new (or reman) GM HEI distributor to drop in, but you need a special gear, plus it's kinda pricey. While searching the net for options for my malibu (stock doesn't cut it after having MSD), I stumbled on a link to "Junk Yard Genius", the name alone was intriguing, it posted "stealth HEI for jeep".  Basically, you take an old motorcraft duraspark module, gut it, saving only the pigtails and housing. You need a little diode, heat sink compound, a heat sink, some wire, and a GM 4 pin HEI module. I had a spare HEI module laying around, the diode and heat sink compound cost a tick under $5, the in-op duraspark module mailed to my door for less than $10 (Thanks simpson).
 So I printed out the directions along with the diagram to try this set up. Gathered all I needed, and here's what I did.
We all know what a stock box looks like, lol.

first step gut the module.

It's a royal pain but, there's a few different methods, I used map gas, burned and pryed it apart, haha. Should end up with this.

Use care with the pigtails, you need them, I got carried away with the torch and had to cut them shorter than I would have liked, here they are lengthened and ready for hook up.

This is the first attempt, that didn't go over so well, the spare module I had kicking around was a cheap Chinese junk aftermarket one  . If there's no name on it (GM, WELLS, etc) , then that means the company is too embarrassed of their product to own up to it, in other words it's junk don't use it!!

As you can see blank module wired in and fastened to my heat sink (1/4 steel plate, until I can scrounge up a chunk of aluminum or copper). That white ooze you see it the heat sink compound, the diode goes in the white wire that hooks in with the red wire, I ran the red directly to the spade, and then crimped the with to the reds' terminal (it was a double crimp type). The Orange and Violet wires MUST be twisted to gether and kept away from the red and white.

Assembled stealth module, I cut another groove in the ford box just to be certain the red/white stayed away from the violet/orange.

For the record I'm running an MSD Blaster 2 coil, mounted in the factory location, with the noise suppressor in the factory location as well.


The results, I tried to fire up the car, it fired instantly, then stalled, I tried again it ran like a top fuel dragster blump.......blump.......blump, I hit the gas and cahpoo (stupid nameless junk module). So being that my malibu is dead in the driveway with a bad starter/solenoid (royal pain to get to, BTW), I robbed the WELLS HEI module out of it (Old Reliable has been in every carbureted HEI vehicle I have had, haha). Took about five minutes to change the module out, put the box back in the factory location hooked up the wires, and the car fired up almost as quick as the starter engaged  , ran smooth as could be, throttle response seemed great. I took it out for a little test drive around the block, and the car ran better than it ever had for me, BTW I thought the Eagle ran good before, I was just leery on the motorcraft box. I don't know the long term part of this, or if it will last, or anything. The really good thing about this upgrade, is if you start with a good running duraspark setup, then remove it keep it in the car, go with the modified HEI set up, You have a back up ignition on hand if the HEI mod fails. Just plug the old back in, put the stock coil back on, and you're back to driving  , because no mods were made to the vehicle itself. Not to mention HEI modules are easy to find at any parts store, and there are plenty of HP versions as well.  All together this mod cost me $15, some spare parts (MSD coil is a spare for the malibu, haha), and a little more than a couple hours total.


So has anyone else tried this? How did it work for you?

[wagoneerhauler]

Thanks for posting this.  I wish I had known about it years ago.  Could have eliminated the cruddy stock system on our Jeep GW.  I think I'll give this a shot on the SX/4.

What is the web page where you found the original instructions?

[shaggimo]

Whoops, I forgot to post that, lol.
Here it is, very simple directions to boot.

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


Like I said, I'm not sure about longevity, but I'm going to keep the stock box and coil in the glove box for a "just in case". I was going to wait until I had more info on life span to post this, but I noticed it had been mentioned before but didn't have any follow up, and I've noticed a sudden surge of others having module problems, lol.

[wagoneerhauler]

Great and thanks.  I must have had used maybe 3 or 4 (at the least) different modules during the 8-9 years we ran the grand wag.  Some being used but others new.

I have a stock pile of different heat sinks and if we meet up to work on the EG eagle collection I'm sure we can find one that would work well for ya.

[shaggimo]

Cool, sounds good thanks!

[IowaEagle]

Thanks for anothe solution and for the Rambler Mentality involved.

[mudkicker715]

Just for the record msd will fix there 6al or 6a for under $90. I called them about a year ago for a junk one I have. 
Your idea or find is much better however

[shaggimo]

I thought about shipping my msd box back to them to fix, but, I dunno I've heard lots of good about the DUI set ups, for the module and coil (comes with cap and rotor) it's something like $128 for a GM type.  I may try it on my malibu, if I like it, I could add the module to the Eagles modified box too the module is only $49.

[shaggimo]

A little follow up note to this ignition mod, I have put about 250 miles total on the Eagle since the swap, about 200 of them were this past weekend. Car ran great with the upgrade, no acting up what so ever ignition wise, very pleased. I will update every now and again for a while to prove its reliability, and also will keep track of fuel milage when all other bugs are worked out.

[IowaEagle]

That will be much appreciated.

[shaggimo]

Ok, so an update is due since I kept track of milage, first tank ran through the car: about 16 mpg, but keep in mind this car sat dormant for 15 years before I awoke it last year, also car had a weak pressure plate (clutch was slipping a bit). Tank #2 close to 20, this was mainly the trip down to Eaglegrouch's which was a very hilly, curvy drive down, I took highway back, but haven't had to put gas in it yet, lol, so I'm thinking it's steadily on the rise from tank #1. Will report back on tank #3.

[shaggimo]

Oh yeah forgot to add, if the ignition module were going to overheat, I honestly think it would have done so on Sunday, I ran the car hard for a very long time and it was very hot out, normally I wouldn't put an old car through those motions, but I wanted set what the ole bird was made of, needless to say I'm impressed, temp even stayed at or under 200 all day  .

[ericarmstrong]

I love this mod! If my engine is ok I'm going to do this as soon as I find a bad  AMC printed IM. I like my GM tbi setup, but the less GM it looks the better.

[Jurjen]

This is a good alternative for the Motorcraft unit.
I like the way you build it in the old casing.
There are more links discribing this ignition, here is one:
http://www.carbdford.com/tech/HEI/hei.htm

[shaggimo]

Yup that's the same exact thing, I chose to use the factory case and harness just in case it does have a problem, I'll have no guess work on the side of the road, all I have to plug in the original unit and coil, and I'm back on the road, lol. And if any one ever looks, most will never know there's GM lurking in that ford box, haha.

Oh in that link, It's funny they show the WELLS module (what I used) as opposed to a factory GM.