advice on ignition....

My 75 CJ5 w/258 has the original prestolite electronic ignition. I've had problems in the past with engine dying while idling and also while on the road. Sometimes OLDYLR will just "cut-off". I'll coast to the shoulder, restart and everythings OK for a while. Ignition switch is fairly new.

My next project, after brakes, is ignition; and by reading this forum I am debating whether to go with MSD distributor 8519 coupled w/ MSD 6200 "box" -----or----- a CRT HEI distributor......see below

http://www.driveajeep.com/html/jeep_amc_hei_s.html


Any suggestions are welcomed ..........

 

I did the HEI and I am happy with it. I got the dis. off Ebay with the correct gear for like 80 bucks. I then purchased a Accel 45,000 coil and also picked up a set of 8mm wires. The whole thing was under 200 bucks I think. Better idle, better starts, and better mileage from what I can tell.
Good upgrade

High

 

Does every thing quit when it happens? If that is the case try locating the pyramid shaped connector in the wiring harness and putting dielectric grease on the connection that solved the problem I had that sounds alot like yours.

 

Thanks for the tip, my 75 does the same thing only when it dies sometimes it'll only be for a few seconds then it'll restart on it's own.

 

Well, I bit the bullet today and picked up a GM HEI unit off of EBay. Wasn't quite as expensive as the CRT unit and quite a bit cheaper than the MSD and DUI distributors.

Also found a rebuilt Carter YF at Autozone for $95.00 ! Should have both early next week and I'll update as the work progresses....

Any suggestions/tips regarding these two installations would be appreciated........Thanks !!

The Beav1955..........thanks for the heads-up on the connector..that will be the first thing I look at to get OLDYLR home from the shop after the brake/suspension work............

 

Does the HEI have the correct drive gear for the CJ? If not you need to pick one of them up as well. Also is it the coil in cap version or the divorced coil version?

 

yep..hope you can open this......this should be a simple matter of removing old, making sure at TDC on number 1 and inserting new distributor........at least , I Hope So !!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...d=1,1&item=7991587021&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT

 

looks like you are good to go then. Best thing about the HEI is it only requires a 12V wire hookup. You can get rid of the old ignition junk.Just make sure that the voltage is controlled by the key. So that when the key is off no voltage gets to the HEI. you get a very interesting problem of not being able to kill the engine otherwise.

 

Do one upgrade at a time and drive the thing. This way if you have problems, you will know if it is the carb or the dist.