Poor Mans HEI

[wagoneerhauler]

Ha.  I knew I had forgot to let you look for a heat sink.  I'll go through the box and see what I find that would fit in the original case.  The best thing to do would be to use the case as the heat sink but to do that and keep it stock looking would be the challenge.  One might be able to tig some studs inside for the HEI to mount to... ?

[simsx28]

where is the box located?

[ericarmstrong]

Ha.  I knew I had forgot to let you look for a heat sink.  I'll go through the box and see what I find that would fit in the original case.  The best thing to do would be to use the case as the heat sink but to do that and keep it stock looking would be the challenge.  One might be able to tig some studs inside for the HEI to mount to... ?

Why not jb weld? It holds studs in for valve covers so I'm sure it could handle the heat from an IM.

[shaggimo]

where is the box located?

Box is in the factory location, on the passenger side inner fender.

[shaggimo]

Ha.  I knew I had forgot to let you look for a heat sink.  I'll go through the box and see what I find that would fit in the original case.  The best thing to do would be to use the case as the heat sink but to do that and keep it stock looking would be the challenge.  One might be able to tig some studs inside for the HEI to mount to... ?

LOL, yeah I forgot all about that too. There is a couple things that stick up that you can bolt to (opposite of a stud, having brain lapse right can't think of its name, haha), that's what I bolted my current heat sink to, it seems to work ok. I used 1/4 plate steel, I really don't know how much heat it carries a way as opposed to aluminum though. The thing about welding or JB welding studs in would be you would need the module to be able to sit directly on the box, and not have an air gap, that would be the toughest part. The aluminum isn't that thick so drilling and tapping is out (unless you drill though, bolt and nut it). I'll see if my set up is sufficient in the long run, I may have to come up with a better method, I'm up to suggestions too. I have a couple other ideas too, but of course that would require special tools that everyone may not have access to(trying to keep it "poor mans hei"  ).

[Smitch]

Mount it in the snorkel of the air filter housing!   

[simsx28]

where is the box located?

Box is in the factory location, on the passenger side inner fender.

Thanks I feel stupid lol I am no mechanic and what is it for.

[shaggimo]

Basically it is the brain of the ignition system, I think I am explaining this correctly when I say, It takes a signal from the distributor, on when to tell the coil to throw a spark back to the distributor. I'm bad with explaining almost anything, haha, even if I do understand it  . Hope that helps a little.

[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.

So I dropped a bit on tank three, apx 18mpg. The car spent much more time on the highway at 70 mph though, I think that was a big killer of milage, still not too shabby though.

[blackeagle]

This is a great tip! Now, in what direction should the diode be mounted?
The link to junkyardgenius is dead.

[shaggimo]

Stripe toward the HEI module, try link again, worked for for me.

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

[blackeagle]

Thanks! link wont work for me though.

[shaggimo]

Realizing I hadn't updated on this recently, I figured I'd give it a bump on the semi-long term. So far So Good! Even my temporary heat sink is doing its job, lol. I have had no problems what so ever with the upgrade, still running/starting good, still pulling 20+ mpg's. I may tinker with the timing a bit, it seems a bit on the slow side to me. Reguardless, I still would recomend this to anyone looking to eliminate the f*rd system on a tight budget.

*I checked, the instruction link is still good...

[shaggimo]

I haven't forgot about this, lol, I'm working on my revamped write up, with a proper diagram on how to do this so there will be no need to leave the site for advice, lol.

Oh, 9000 miles on the upgrade with no issues  (yeah we drove the heck out of it, lol).

[xtcinoz]

I found out that Auto Zone carries the Wells HEI module for $24.99 and it is Lifetime Guaranteed! If there isn't one near by you can order it on line autozone.com. I followed the junkyard genius directions and asked for a HEI mod for a 79 impala v-8.