Aftermarket HEI

I really want to install a new HEI distributor in my 75 CJ5.
I have a 304. There seems to be a variety available on Ebay for around $100. Also JEGGS has a Mallory for about $160.
Has anyone had any luck with these?
Also, do you need to set the dwell or is there an advance curve to adjust, or do you just set the timing.

 

Search on here. I posted a writeup a while back using the $100 HEI.



long story short, it works great 1 year later BUT I took the old drive gear off of my old dist and didnt use the one that came with the new dist.

there are horror stories of people's cams getting eaten up by using the gear that came with the new HEI.

 

got mine off e bay, wires too, for about 100.00 . Plug and play! Best thing I ever did for that motor, been over 2 yrs. No problem.

 

"Search on here. I posted a writeup a while back using the $100 HEI."



I thought the writeup was in the techinal section but I just checked and didn't see it there.

I have one I got more than a year ago from 4 WD hardware $99 with free shipping, I like it just fine

 

I've got the $100. one it's great. All GM internals and one wire hookup

 

it still exists, just not currently on the tech page...
http://earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57029


be sure to read the update on the 2nd page.

 

Just a comment - The Ford Duraspark distributors used in Jeeps from 1978 on use the same trigger principle as the HEI (variable reluctance, VR). You can buy a reman Jeep distributor for about $50, pair that with a GM HEI module (mounted externally) and have basically the same thing as a GM HEI distributor, albeit without the 1-wire hookup. This distributor uses OEM quality parts and will have an advance curve tailored to the Jeep engines.

I mention this because there have been many cautionary tales posted about the imported HEI distributors. If you search, you will find plenty of material about low parts quality, badly tailored advance curves, and cam-gear-eating drive gears on the internet. Plus, the whole concept of putting so much HT (high tension, high voltage) circuitry inside the distributor cap seems kind of dumb to me. Air is an excellent insulator, and putting as much air as possible around the HT lines seems like a rather obvious design component.

I'm sure there are plenty of buyers who are happy with the aftermarket HEI, but there were also plenty of instances of ruined cam gears reported. So, for the cost of single wire hookup, I think you are taking a lot more risk re the success of your installation. I don't see much advantage to the HEI, beyond the single-wire feature.

 

We'll for over a year now, I've been really happy with mine. I used the original AMC cam gear, and I've pulled it once or twice for inspection and haven't had any problems.

Throttle response is better, cold starts are better, hot starts are better.

I can understand the theoretical advantage to the coil being elsewhere. The practical reality is even a cheap HEI, done with some care, is a definite performance upgrade when compared to the stock ingnition system. It may not be the BEST upgrade, but its still a good upgrade. GM used the HEI for decades with good results.

 

ANYTHING BEATS BREAKER POINTS!

And just about anything beats Prestolite!

I'm the 'TeamRush' of the 'TeamRush Upgrade' and if you are pulling breaker points or Prestolite, then GM style HEI is a viable upgrade...

If you are pulling a Jeep/Motorcraft distirbutor, then it's a move sideways at best from one factory electronic ignition to another factory electronic ignition with a different set of problems.

I prefer the Jeep/Motorcraft distirbutor simply because it's all around a better unit then GM HEI distributors.

Better in design, better in function, better in longevity.
Easily upgradeable and VERY cost effective at around $50 for a Reman off the shelf.

But like I said,
If you are removing BREAKER POINT or Prestolite,
The HEI distributor, especially in the I-6 engines, is a perfectly viable upgrade over either!
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The HEI clones are either VERY CHEAP MADE,
Or they are factory units modified to work with the AMC engines (I-6 engines)

There was NEVER a GM Factory HEI distributor made to work in an AMC V-8 engine,
So you are stuck with Jeep/Motorcraft or HEI Aftermarket Clone,
And the clones can be QUITE DANGEROUS for your engines.

MSD & DUI are the only ones I've seen that even remotely tailor the advance curve to work with your AMC engine...
All the others just blast wide open with the WRONG vacuum advance for your AMC vacuum source,
And they have shoddy parts most of the time,
Drive gears being one, and weak/soft shafts being another...

If you have an I-6 engine, you can pick up a HEI from a 250 CID I-6 CHEVY for about $100 at the parts stores and change the gear to match your AMC camshaft.

If you have a V-8 engine, you are stuck with aftermarket, CLONE HEI's,
Or,
The very well designed Jeep/Motorcraft distributor that was intended for your engine.

 

I hope I did not sound too negative in my previous post. I just wanted to point out an alternative which, from my POV, seems more attractive for someone who has not already invested in the HEI distributor.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not crazy about HEI's either,
but they are more dependable than Prestolite!
And just about as easy to work on as breaker points...
(Which is good, since you ARE going to need to work on an HEI in an AMC engine!)

Nothing beats the Jeep/Motorcraft distirbutor with upgraded cap, rotor and plug wires so far for reliability, durability, price, ease of tuning, and compatibility with most factory and aftermarket hardware...

BUT,
If you are converting over a Prestolite or Breaker Point engine,
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S AN I-6 engine,
Then GM HEI (not a clone) is perfectly viable to use,
(Especially if you can get one from the salvage yard for $15 or so!)

Now, if you have to pay $100 for the distirbutor,
$50 for a good gear,
Another $35 for good cap and rotor,

Then you are MUCH better off using the $50 Jeep/Motorcraft distributor and a $140 CDI module that will increase your spark energy by AT LEAST 500%!

It's all 'Plug & Play', so there are no wiring issues,
And it's so much stronger than the factory type ignitions it justifies the added expense (if any in the final tally)...

I have an open mind, and there is a place for much of this stuff,
What most people don't understand is,
The HEI or HEI Clones are not a 'Cure All', and they don't fit every application.

Some people have real good luck with them,
But a significant number of people have had really crappy luck, and sustained engine damage,
So you have to take that all into consideration when doing your vehicle...

APPLICATION, APPLICATION, APPLICATION...
I like to use 'Off The Shelf Parts' when I can so I can get replacements at 8:00 PM on Sunday at the local discount parts sore
(and no, I didn't misspell 'Store')
When something breaks on the trail or when I'm out of town...

I supplement that with CAREFULLY SELECTED aftermarket parts & modifications so I don't screw myself in the long run!
(which I FAMOUS for! But you 'Live & Learn'!)

If you buy a $100 distributor, you are taking a BIG chance with your engine.
If you buy a $400 DUI or $500 MSD distirbutor,
They usually work FINE out of the box,

But for $400 to $500, they darn sure better work great!

The irony of that is,
For less than the $400 or $500 you could have a Jeep/Motorcraft distributor, good coil, cap, rotor, plug wires and CDI module,
And have an ignition that was a MINIMUM OF 500% STRONGER than the HEI/HEI Clones!

Anyway, to each there own, and I'm not going to tell anyone what to use,
I will tell them what their options are, and what works best in most cases,
But the final decision is up to them!

 

My DUI (Considerably more expensive, but shinier...) has worked like a charm.

 

DUI makes a fair product.
Nothing special, but the parts are quality enough to make the unit run like it's supposed to.

They don't have gear issues, bending shafts, advance WAY to large for the average AMC engine, ect.
DUI is also $400...

You can't count on ANY of that with the discount E-bay units!
--------------

If I'm spending $400, it's going to be on a unit that gives me MUCH more spark energy and better control of the timing than an HEI unit can produce...

I'm going with a factory Jeep/Motorcraft distributor and CDI unit to increase spark energy by 500% or more.
--------------------

To each their own,
DUI and MSD are the two I have yet to hear any verifiable complaints about.

 

I have the mollory HEI in my 360 great unit but the cap top that covers the coil has the wire holder all as onenot a good design 'basicly if you donit ever touch it your good ,use good wires from the get go don't ask .