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Upgrading to HEI

Started by uglywilly, March 06, 2014, 02:05:17 PM

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uglywilly

I'm having a spark issue on a wagon I just got. The PO replaced dang near everything with no luck, so I going to go to the bone yard and get an HEI. The Q is do I get a distributer from a Chevy straight 6, or find one off of a Cherokee or Comanche?  Thanks in advance!

Draekon

You'll be looking for a HEI off of a 6 cyl Chevy motor.  You'll need to replace the distributor gear, though.  I believe you want to replace it with a gear for an AMC v8.

carnuck

straight 6. 4.3 V6 won't fit. It could also be the stupid horseshoe connector on your coil.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

uglywilly

It just got worse, now it won't turn over :banghead:

Amc1320

Did you do the HEI and then it would,tn turn over? Or have you not done it yet?
Rob c
84 Eagle Limited Wagon (driven everyday)
81 Eagle Kammback
81 Spirit (undergoing surgery)
83 Spirit (parts car giving it all to keep the rest going)
Manchester, TN

eaglefreek

If you don't have a volt meter, it would be best to buy one and make sure you have power going to the right places. It would be better than throwing parts at it and hope it starts.
1986 AMC Eagle Wagon 4.2L/4.0L head, AW4,NP242, Chrysler 8.25" rear.
1981 AMC Eagle Wagon As Seen On TV  Lost In Transmission




"I know he'd be a poorer man, if he never saw an eagle fly,
Rocky mountain high"  John Denver
Click for Fayetteville,TN Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

Nightpath

Voltmeter can help fix a lot of issues. My whole ignition system toasted itself...I mean the WHOLE thing. Solenoid, stock AMC box (name eludes me), distributor...all died. It would sometimes start, usually not though.

Swapped it for an HEI from Skip White Performance and the problem was solved.

If anyone can remember the problems I had for 4 months over on Evo, they can attest to it. I dumped so much money into useless parts.

It's the best $50 fix AND upgrade I did to that car.

uglywilly

Electrical stuff is my krypton!  The OP replaced starter, solenoid,  coil, and the ECM I believe it's called,but it is a cun and splice butcher job.  I'm gonna do the White HEI just to make it simpler for me.  Another Q, is the neutral safety switch on the tranny?



Thanks!

Prafeston

ICM, Ignition Control Module. I believe.
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

IowaEagle

Good point about the NSS -- how is that done with this set up, or is it just grounded?
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/IA/Toledo.html?bannertypeclick=miniStates">Click for Toledo, IA Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150 [/url]  


Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

vangremlin

The neutral safety switch is on the transmission, with a wire leading to the bottom post on the solenoid (this is for an automatic transmission).  It shouldn't impact your new distributor.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

IowaEagle

Duh!  What was I thinking.  Yes the  starter solenoid remains in place.  Boy am I getting bad or what?
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/IA/Toledo.html?bannertypeclick=miniStates">Click for Toledo, IA Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150 [/url]  


Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

uglywilly

The engine won't turn over now and I noticed the PO has the bare end of a wire wrapped around a brass post on the bottom of the starter solenoid with the other end bare wire and unplugged, what a butcher job! So if that goes to the NSS, I've got to figure out which wire he had it twisted onto to get the engine to turn over again, right? Or can I just ground that wire to make it easier?

Thanks in advance!

Brant

vangremlin

You can just ground the wire to make things easier.  Just don't forget to have it in park or neutral when you go to start it.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

uglywilly

After I ground the little brass nub thing on the solenoid, do I need to do anything with other end coming from the switch ( where ever it is)?

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