75 CJ-5 Ignition

I have been reading all the posts and have seen numerous times that the 75 CJ-5 has electronis ignition. However my 304 has points. so I'm wondering if that was an option in 75 and would the electronis ignition from another 75 install easily in mine.

 

74 and prior V8s used a Delco point style dist
75-77 used Prestolite elec ign
Prestos were very trouble some during this period: brain box, connections, etc.
I would recommend not going back, but yes it could be done from a donor vehicle.
you might look into a Pertronix unit which replaces the points inside the Delco dist; more reliable in my opinion.
I suppose one could upgrade to the 78 and later Motocraft elec ign as well, another possibility from a donor.

 

$350 for a DUI. It's trouble-free, and you don't have to dig through the boneyard for parts!

My DUI on my 75 (258 ) has been great. Plus, you can put your wiring harness on somewhat of a diet.

 

Isn't DUI (Doug's unified ignition) the same as GM HEI? That would be a good choice if you want a plug-and-play upgrade. There are at least two other places that sell HEI for the AMC V8 - Z&M Jeep and Cape Conversions.

Pertronix is a module that's added to your existing distributor.

If you want to go the junkyard route, look for a Grand Wagoneer - that's the Motorcraft system, roughly equivalent to the GM HEI when using the upgraded TFI parts. There's always one or two Wagoneers in the yards around here.

There's LOTS of info already in the forums here and on the web. Search for Pertronix, HEI, Duraspark, TFI, etc.

 

Davis Unified Ignition (DUI) is very similar but has more options for the AMC engines.

 

Thank you all for the help. I believe I am going to go with the Z&M jeeps HEI seems cheap and simple I am sure I can mess it up. I will be asking many more quesions since I am doing a frame off restoration. her is my plan please tell me if i am on the right track.
HEI, one-wire alt., new leaf springs 2.5 inch lift, hedders, tons of body work, and possibly a new wiring harness + replacing all bad parts along the way

 

You make it sound so simple! A new wiring harness is in my future too.

 

Nothing is simple if I do it. I fall under TAYLOR'S LAW (what can go wrong will)

 

On a 75, wth an HEI (or DUI, which is basically an HEI tuned for the specific engine for twice the cost... which I am glad I paid, by the way lol), and with a one wire alternator, then the wiring harness is pretty easy. A new wiring harness with the old distributor and alternator made me want to pull my hair out.

You have:

2 wires from the ignition switch to the starter relay
1 wire from the ignition switch to D.U.I.
1 wire from the alternator to the starter relay (it grounds to the bracket)
1 wire from the battery to the starter relay

Besides that, you have your lights, your fuel gauge, voltage meter, windshield wipers, heater fan, and a radio (if you have one).

It's simple enough that even I was able to do it. I still have the Kwik Wire fuse panel connected and I think I have a short somewhere. The battery sometimes drains overnight, so I'm going to pull the fuse panel completely out this weekend. I want to add in my second battery and isolate the batteries and whatever accesories I want to run. When I am done, it will look something like this (this is my first schematic/diagram, so please be gentle)



BTW, Tim... I love the idea of calling it Doug's Unified Ignition!!!!!! R)

 

I have been looking at ez wiring's harness it is cheap only $150 to $165
compared to painless over $400

 

Buy the fuse panel from Painless for 55 bucks, get a 100 foot roll of 14 gauge wire and a 100 foot roll of 10 gauge wire and do it youself.

1) You'll know everything in case of future repairs
2) You won't have t cut out 60-75 percent of a wiring harness and wonder why you paid for that
3) It will be a lot simpler
4) You get to tell everyone you made it

You are already going with DUI and a one wire alternator. The only thing you really need the panel for is powering items on the dash and your flashers.

And no matter what they say, the durn things aren't kwik, EZ, or painless. They are, to some degree, generic, which mean you have to "make things work."