Hi Guys

Been slowly doing some engine bay re-wiring, there is a lot of wires in there, a lot are redundant such as the idle up solonoid loom, EGR timer loom etc.
Just about to re-run some new wires to the Balast resistor but got to thinking would a new HEI distributor be a good addition.

The way I'm thinking is that the HEI unit would mean the ballast resistor, and the ignition module would no longer be required. not that those items take up a lot of space but would just be cleaner.

My only concern is when the engine is in, there is not a lot of room at the back and I seem to recall the original distributor being cramped for space.

Looking at pics of the HEI unit it seems more bulky around the base and might present a problem.

Thoughts anyone ??

 

if you are wanting to run a GM style one with internal coil i have heard you sometimes need to massage the firewall with a hammer to make it fit. if you want to run one of the ones with external coil it should fit with no clearance issues.

 

Thanks Crazzy, I can always rely on you for an answer. Yep, I think the GM style ones would be very tight, I didn't realise you could get a non GM style with external coil but will check it out.

Thanks again

 

This looks like a good fix, utilizes the stock distributor and GM ignition module

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/conv...ion-to-gm-hei/

 

ya you can buy a non gm HEI but i have heard some good and bad about some of the cheaper one. either modules or bushings going bad causing other parts in the distributor to go bad. the gm HEI module like that is another route to go. pretty much the same as dodge except no ballast resister. i have seem people mount them to the bottom of the distributor which works great unless it goes bad and have to pull the distributor to replace it. i don't know if it makes it start or run better. i have seem some people say it runs/start better but i have never tried it. stock 4 pin ignition system has never let me down and always starts just as good if not better than than a fuel injected vehicle for me.

 

Ever consider a MSD6A? Pertronix may be another idea. Putting in GM parts in my Dodge aint going to happen!

https://pertronix.com/electronic-ign...ylinder=8#auto

 

Would it be possible to use a coil from the Magnum engines, and ditch the ballast resistor?? Or would it still over heat the coil? I'm sure there is a coil out there we could use and not have to run a ballast resistor without converting to a gm ignition. I used the Mopar electronic ignition on my 360 Magnum swap, and I haven't had any trouble. I understand the ballast resistor takes away from the coil, but I haven't seen any actual data showing any truth that the gm hei is any better than Mopar, or Ford ignitions. I heard the Mopar ignition was the best around years ago, Ford guys were using it. So did the shoe change feet? I think a ballast resistor is cheaper than the module that gm uses to replace the ballast resistor, and easier to change. Most of those modules are in the distributor if you go with the full hei distributor.

 

I could be completely wrong but can't the MSD coils and the Accel coils you can find on shelf able to handle straight 12 volts? I ran a Pertronix Flame Thrower coil in a 67 Ford 352 FE I had and it ran 12V straight to the coil the entire time I owned it, never had an issue but am curious as well. I know the coil when hot would ever so slightly swell making it impossible to get out of it holder bracket, but it never cracked or failed on me.

 

I've got the Accel blaster 2 on my 91 Mag. Swap and it came with a ballast resistor I had to use in series with the ballast resistor that came with the electronic ignition. It said it could overheat the coil if got a straight 12 volts for extended periods. I have the Magnum coil that came on it, but I don't have the pigtail so I can't try it. Would be nice if they made a kit to go on the distributor to run COPs, but burning them up on the exhaust manifold/header would be a problem. Just a ground, and then the signal wire to each plug in the correct firing order. Would get the signal from reluctor wheel that the coil uses to fire. Or have it pick up from the crank sensor like the Magnum engine uses.

 

do you still have the factory coil off the 91? i think the TBI trucks may have had a coil with an internal resister which is how they look like the old ones but are able to be run with full 12v. they are usually marked if they have an internal resistor or not. i don't know why you can't run a regular full voltage coil with the stock ignition.