HEI Conversion Small Block Mopar Distributor

[@318willrun]

To All The Purist: I like the factory Chrysler Electronic Ignition system. All my other Mopars still have the factory set up. This van was a Frankenstein on the ignition wiring. Instead of spending hours wiring in a ECU, Ballast, etc, I just went to the HEI which made sense in this case. Just a few dollars and a few minutes, it has a spark system that worked and is still working great.

[@1996slamster]

Really who cares about the purist's! I've got a 73 Dodge pickup with a 360. It's got an HEI conversion and I run an AC Delco alternator as well. Not because the GM stuff is better, but I actually drive my vehicles far distances. The GM stuff can be found anywhere and I don't want to be stranded because I can't find Chrysler parts at a parts supplier or even a junkyard in a pinch. Great video my friend. I really like your channel.

[@440phoenix]

I put 140 amp gm one wire alternators on all my 440 cars. You can imagine the trash people talk when you do something like that. I like the way you improvised. Good work 318WR!

[@DR440]

Oh man, do they ever!!! I did the exact same swap on my '65 Chrysler along with an HEI conversion. What they don't realize is that the wiring under my hood was a hacked up mess of wire nuts when I got it. The 1 wire is one of the best things I ever did to the car and 100% worth it. My neighbor totally slammed off of it but he isn't building anything. I told him that I do not build show or points cars. I build them to drive them. Everything I build will be getting the 1 wire setup and voltmeter. Don't tell these purists about all these fast Mopar cars with 9" Ford rear ends lol

[@440phoenix]

@@DR440 Same hear, I drive my junk, its got to be 100% reliable, looks aren't important. Chrysler 100 amp factory alternators are real good too, if you want to keep it all mopar.

[@DR440]

@@440phoenix 100% with you. As long as the engine and transmission are Mopar, everything else doesn't matter to me. I laugh at the hate comments because I fail to see how an HEI module is worse than a Chinese ECU which is aftermarket too...

[@440phoenix]

@@DR440 Well said.

[@DobermansRock]

@@DR440 Because more is better. I tried the one wire distributor but small blocks are already at a space constraint with the firewall. So that thing just didn't fit the bill I couldn't go through the whole timing range with out the vacum advance or some other part of the distributor hitting something. This right here seems to be a very streamline ticket. It not an eye sore, if it shits I can pull a distributor fast, adios ceramic thing a ma jig, adios giant cap monster. Given a distributor with this mod. What is a good coil to run. I didn't need one for the ac'delco setup. So maybe no coil under the hood. So just a wire. One for power and one for tack? From distributor to key what do I need.

[@650gringo]

I did this HEI mod on a 318 and it was the best thing since sliced bread.

[@sterlingwilkey2124]

Awesome, this has been the simplest video I've found on doing this conversion THANK YOU

[@318willrun]

Thank you for watching !

[@musclecarmitch908]

Great video! That's a neat set up! Thanks for sharing!

[@peteg4978]

I’m glad I found this video. I always thought about putting the GM HEI setup inside a lean burn box on a daily driver

[@dirtracer64]

Worked on lots of Mopars back in the day; the module block is sweet piece “nice heat sink”.

[@318willrun]

thanks!

[@jsherman385]

good video! I did this to my 84 w150 a few years back. Love the mount under the distributor!

[@79beans347]

Pertronix is a good coil, I replaced all of them on my f250 with them and it made a noticeable difference in power, it may be that the others were wore out I don't know but they sure woke it up and the truck had plenty more power and it surprised me what a difference it made. It wasn't skipping before I just wanted to do a tune up and figured that I would change them to and got a good deal on Ebay for them

[@DobermansRock]

Petronix E-Coil for $85.00 is pushing 60,000 volts

[@rong4189]

Quick question, Is the Chrysler voltage regulator not used in the HEI conversion? Nobody seems to mention the VR on these Mopar/HEI conversion videos. Thanks!

[@318willrun]

I believe the HEI just uses 12 volts. Need a coil that likes that voltage.

[@moparnut6286]

Like the install ... I would definitely go mount the heat sink and module on the fire wall cause heat is what usually kills them....ford did the same thing with their TFi modules they move the module and heat sink to inner fender for the same reasons.... My 84 ramcharger 360 was wired dual ignition, standard mopar four pin and MSD so if the MSD would go down I could just unplug and replug the OEM mopar ignition..... And keep going. I'm thinking of using the Chevy HEI with remote module cause I like the spread of the spark towers susposed to help with cross firing.

[@318willrun]

Just not much for places to mount things under a van hood. Up front is a ways from the distributor. In general, I've had great service from the factory electronic ignition system, but I thought in the orphans case the HEI was the best way to go.

[@moparnut6286]

@@318willrun oh yeah it a good system! and looks affordable as well..... But I always plan worse case so I carry a spares box like you've shown before.... In early NASCAR they would run two ignition boxes that with a flip of a switch you could change from one to the other....its the airplane mechanic that likes to channel through me that loves redundant systems.

[@318willrun]

@@moparnut6286 I like your way of thinking !! I already have a spare HEI module that I'll be carrying with me... LOL. And I like to not think I'm a prepper, but maybe just a little with my cars - Ha!!

[@JustMoparJoe]

318willrun I was about to say the same! I’ve got my cheap module mounted and planned on using a factory end on one side, and carrying a coil and the module with me like you do your points distributor. This way you’d just unplug the stock ecu, plug in hei, hook an Alligator clip t the hot side of the battery, and get it home. I was dreaming of doing a similar video of mopar ignition boxes.Excellent video!

[@mickangio16]

Moparnut62- I think good idea to remote mount. Make it easy as possible to replace.

[@MoparMan-ff8fb]

I did my version of the HEI set up on my 82 150 using the chevy 4 prong ICM along with MSD COIL 8207 . GOT rid of my ballist resistor . also light twist together the pickup coil wires from the distributor all the way to the ICM then wrap the wires with high temp black electrical tape and route it away from spark plug wires . the plug wires could short out the ICM . I mounted it to a piece of thick aluminum diamond plating on the fender well away from the heat of the engine. WARNING DO NOT USE THE GREASE THAT COMES IN THE BOX FOR THE ICM . Use gray heat sink paste!! you can get a small tube of it at BEST BUY in the electronic dept. yellow/black tube and package. the grease does not help wick away the heat from the ICM ! it only keeps the metal surfaces from rusting or corroding . Get rid of that yellow twist cap . don't for get to gap your plugs to o.045 hope this helps ✌

[@kalybnielsen4183]

He's completely correct, the clear vaseline looking gel is dialectic grease, works great for the electrical connections, it needs thermal heatsink paste to make sure it survives. The modules run hot, especially under heavy use, a little bit of extra time (minutes) will make sure it's a trouble free long lasting install

[@bilweiser]

if you did not use the distro mount you would mount to the HEI module to the firewall>?

[@318willrun]

yes

[@stephenhotzjustdriveit]

Looked at this mod before but am going with a gutted factory ecu with hei mounted inside. That said I really like that adapter plate and its clean design.

[@PTucker0864]

I like the idea of this mod. Reason? Full 12v to the coil, wider sparkplug gap and increased efficiency. My RC runs fine with the Mopar orange box. But I don't understand the decreased voltage through a ballast and then to the coil? Surely the spark to the plugs is weaker than a full 12v coil? This could be a mpg upgrade.

[@herbnalis3723]

Decreased voltage to coil is because battery voltage on starting is lower due to starter motor sucking a lot of power from the battery. 12v drops to 8-10v. When running battery voltage is 13.8v to 14.2 volts. The most important job the ignition does is start/fire the engine in the middle of winter with a low battery. Ignition is designed to work on the lower voltage when cranking the engine & then needs to keep working with engine running but with a higher voltage. Ballast resistor reduces voltage when engine running so ignition doesn't burn out & lasts longer.

[@JO3BID3N-is-a-P3D0]

interesting ​@@herbnalis3723

[@user-mp8er1ds9x]

The cheap China GM HEI module does have a lower fail rate than the cheap China Mopar module and cost less. And it don't mess with the timing as much.

[@denpepp4342]

After replacing three icm i went to this setup. Now i have replaced three of these. What am i doing wrong?

[@318willrun]

sounds like too much power going to the electronics??? I really am uncertain

[@denpepp4342]

@318willrun thanks for the reply. Running ok for now. Low RPM 600-700 misses. 2k runs very smooth

[@srnmb2569]

Just wondering how the HEI has been working. I just got my plate after watching your video. Plan on doing the switch during Christmas. Question, did you run both wires off the HEI to the pos and neg side of the coil or did you run a direct 12v source to the HEI module and one to neg side of coil? Also, did you run a seperate ground wire to the HEI module or is it grounded through the braket in the distributor body? Thanks in advance. Great content too!

[@318willrun]

HEI has been working great! I do not drive it a lot, though. I ran both wires to the coil, B for positive and the other negative. I didn't run any ground straps.

[@srnmb2569]

@@318willrun Thanks for the info.

[@matthewnorton4529]

I didn't see a vacuum hose for distributor did it not need it also what

[@318willrun]

On most my cars I do not run a VA

[@JNTimperley]

Igniter vs Points distributor vs HEI I have a 1990 Lincoln Town with the Windsor V8. Looking for tune-up advice, how to get the best fuel efficiency. upgrading does sound like less maintenance but questioning ROI Return On Investment? btw the car has sat for 8 years and running well on warm days. but if I don't let it warm up 20* F or colder and try to drive off after 10 min it seems rough until it gets to operating temp. also after 45 to 1hr idle to op temp. it will kill the motor most of the time when I change gears R or D. I haven't noticed during warmer days dying during gear change but I have only had it for three weeks.

[@318willrun]

1990 would be EFI. Just make sure the factory ignition is up to par (coil, spark plugs, etc). You might get better results from upgrading your exhaust and air intake than ignition

[@danielpeterson446]

Hey 318 will run! One question quick. when running a Mopar ECU and ballast resistor and you buy an internally resisted coil, do you still need to use the ballast resistor? My coil is an edlebrock coil with low primary of resistance 1.400 ohm and max voltage at 42,000. I believe it is internally resisted

[@318willrun]

Just make sure it's rated for enough volts. ballast resistor will lower it to about 9v. Without, your pushing it all

[@danielpeterson446]

@@318willrun thank you!

[@Lucy-z6n7s]

Thought the HEI had to be mounted to metal so it could dissipate heat? Mounting it to plastic and on top of the motor is a bad idea for longevity of the HEI unit. It should be mounted to the firewall or fender.

[@318willrun]

Distributor housing is not plastic. Actually, GM itself mounted them on plastic on top of the distributor. It's been over 3 years and not a single issue. Thanks for watching!

[@OOFGARAGE]

Do you still run the wire to the starter relay?

[@318willrun]

I didn't change anything past the coil on this van. I powered it to the coil, both sides.

[@OOFGARAGE]

Thanks made this mod last night on my 79 w150 and it now starts hooray thanks for the video

[@yuma5745]

Thanks for the information.

[@318willrun]

You bet!

[@bulldoggarageapparel7511]

good to know thanks

[@NightWrencher]

Lol don't let the purists find out youre doing this. I found out the hard way 😉

[@318willrun]

LOL... well, they'll have to understand when a guy has a Frankenstein or Orphan vehicle, things like this tend to happen. I've had no issues with the factory electronic ignition systems, but this van came with a chinese knock off ebay distributor in which i had no way to buy anything for it along the road. At least now it will be a chrysler dizzy w/GM module.

[@NightWrencher]

@@318willrun there is no such thing as reason in the purist world 🤣🤣 "Build it right or sell it to someone that can build it right."

[@318willrun]

@@NightWrencher LOL... they probably don't hang out here.... and no LS swaps on my agenda :)

[@NightWrencher]

@@318willrun Thats a low blow 😅

[@NightWrencher]

@Henry Meynier LSwillrun 🤔 I'm liking the sound of that

[@garyjohnson801]

That's stupid to do that Chrysler has a great Distributor and put that HEI on it is stupid because when it gets wet it will be bad . Stupid stupid stupid thing to do

[@318willrun]

I can be stupid.... If I don't get enough think time.

[@russellsullivan8947]

Correct me if I'm wrong, Gary Johnson, but didn't you lose the 2012 and 2016 elections? Who's stupid now? Lol

[@jimifed2798]

What's so stupid about it ? First of all he didn't change the distributor. But what he did do is gain the ability to use a much better coil and run more voltage thru it. Maybe you get all your info from UTG.

[@garyjohnson801]

What's so stupid about it Chrysler distributor is more than capable enough to make more voltage without putting a chevy part on it.and if you don't think so then let know if you would like to come here and I will prove it to you people that think putting chevy parts on Chrysler makes it better

[@russellsullivan8947]

@@garyjohnson801 If I ever see someone dropping a 350 into a Duster, I'll be up in arms right with ya Gary. The GM HEI setup he used was cheap and easy to install and I believe he used it for those two purposes alone. The Chrysler distributor he modified may have been part of the nefarious Lean Burn system Chrysler used in the 80s. Suffice it to say, that ignition system blows. Perhaps he wanted a cheap, easy and reliable conversion. Can't fault the guy for that

[@Veterangarage]

Where did you order that aluminum piece from? I can’t find it.

[@318willrun]

2:55 in the video