360 Swap - Ignition Question

Picked up the 360 today and it has everything that was on the engine...accessories, brackets, ac pump, alternator, ps pump, air pump, etc. etc...and also the engine wiring harness and Electronic Control Module (Brain?). Any thoughts on the value of trying to use the existing ignition etc. or would it be better to install a later model HEI or something else? The engine is from a 1979 Wagoneer. It has tons of the old '79 era smog control junk on it, some of which probably provides input to the brain. If I try to use the existing ignition/wiring I'll need a decoder ring to figure out the wiring.
Oh yeah, everything except a starter. Will the starter from the 232 work (it bolts up to the bell housing and not the engine)?

 

...Or this forum:





That is for the MotorCraft. I've got the ones for the Pertronix around here somewhere if you need them.

 

You can use the Motorcraft distributor with the later TFI cap, rotor, wires and coil, and either keep its ignition module or use a GM HEI module, mounted on the fender. Lots of articles on the net about this.

I think the 232 starter is different - but I'm not certain. If you go to a site like napaonline.com and both apps point to the same part number, then you're probably ok. Otherwise, probably not.

 

Unbelievable. This forum, and the people using it are great! Thanks Clint...and Tim. I'll check the thing and see if it is a Motorcraft...pretty sure that it is. This brings back memories of trouble shooting ignition problems on a '78 Cougar (maybe same ignition?) when the dealership told me it was a bad module. Problems continued, checked it myself and was a bad magnetic pickup assembly. Made the dealership refund my money and give my old module back.
Thanks for the help.

 

According to O'Reilly Autoparts website it's the same starter. So I should be able to use the ignition from the Wagoneer and my old starter.
If so it'll be one of the few times so far on this project that I've saved a dime or two! Thanks again for the help.

 

I already have an HEI on my six so when I do the same swap you are I'm going HEI on it for ease of install. I can't wait as the 360 is in parts in my garage

High5

 

I went with the HEI ignition on my 360 because it was cheap and simple. I would have prefered the ford setup but didn't have any of it to start with. From what I have read the motorcraft is a stronger ignition? The upgrades to the motorcraft are bolt on factory parts.

 

I'll give the Motorcraft a try...since I already have it. But after doing some looking I sure like the simplicity, and lack of clutter on the GM HEI....I just don't want to spend another couple of hundred bucks on the jeep when I don't have to..at least not yet.

 

yeah, the hei is simple and very little under hood clutter

 

I went with the motocraft set up (larger cap and rotor ) that was scored form a pickup truck. I also got a thin film coil from a ford Tauris . This set up produces arcs easly over a inch long. Lots of spark cheap and reliable.