Slant Six Forum
https://slantsix.org/forum/

HEI electronic ignition discussion
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28732
Page 10 of 34

Author:  willard [ Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:13 am ]
Post subject: 

Many thanks for your fast answer Fopar! So it would only be "easier" to find a connection for the 4 pin coil instead of the 3 pin coil.

Author:  Fopar [ Wed Apr 14, 2010 11:10 am ]
Post subject: 

Yes and a lot cheaper also :!:

Author:  olafla [ Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:50 pm ]
Post subject: 

Sorry to beak in, willard and fopar, but you talk about coil with 4 connections; they only have two, a plus and a minus posts, three if you count the post for the ignition wire to the distributor. The GM coil pictured in the FAQ has one double terminal, it is just an extra pin for making it easy to attach a tach wire. On a coil with 2 pins you may have a double cable instead to ease the tachometer connection, see the picture of the Standard connector which has an extra cable into one of the connectors. The blue FD-478X coil is pictured in the FAQ, the blue coil is the higher performance version of the black FD-478. They both have two pin connector attachments, but they use a commonly used connector that also has a possibility for a third cable connected in other applications. (like Ford headlight connection). The connector pictured is a Standard #S-539, a similar is also avaliable from Summit as:
Wiring Harness Pigtail, Ignition Coil; 2pin, Ford, part # PCO-5712PT, $5.95.
I have the 2-pin Standard #FD-478 myself, and a Standard #LX-301 ignition module with 4 pins. I wait for other parts as well, so I haven't mounted mine on the car, therfore no pictures yet.
Olaf

Author:  Fopar [ Wed Apr 14, 2010 3:39 pm ]
Post subject: 

You are correct in the fact the coil only has 2 connections, but GM made at least two versions on the connecters. That was the reason for the need for different connectors, Not that one was better than the other. :)

Author:  drrw [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Coincidence or ?

I finally got around to wiring up my HEI. I have the 3 pin coil and connector. Everything seemed fine for a day. Drove it back and forth without a sign of an issue. Today, I decided to regap the plugs up to .045 to make the most of the effort. I then started the car, drove about a 1/4 mile up the street and the car died. Died like a switch. I checked for loose connections, couldn't find any, started it back up and it ran for a while and then died again. After I got it back to my garage, I figured out it would run for about 20 seconds before it would die. Unless I restarted it right away, in which case it would run for about 5 seconds. Or if I start it bone cold, run for about a minute and a half (or 1/4 mile, YMMV) and then die.

(Insert mental gymnastics sounds here :idea: ) First I put the plugs back to .035. No change. Then I swapped all the connections back to the stock electronic, eliminating all the HEI stuff. Ran fine for as long as I could stand. Then I tried it using the stock coil. Ran fine. Swapped back to the GM coil. Died after about a minute and a half. Swapped back and forth a few times to make sure and it seems that the coil has an open when it gets warm.

So, before I get a new coil like the old one, can anyone think of anything I could have going on that could have killed the coil? Or is this just a bad coincidence? I bought the coil used along with the mounting bracket, so I have no idea of it's previous life.

Author:  Fopar [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:59 pm ]
Post subject: 

Try the HEI module with it wired to the stock coil, that should be a way to see if the HEI coil is bad. If the motor still will not run after a while, you might have a bad module. Are you using the heat sink paste under the module?

Author:  drrw [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:26 pm ]
Post subject: 

Sorry if that wasn't clear. When I hooked up the stock coil, it was with the rest of the HEI connected, including the module. Module is brand new and has yummy paste between it and the heat sink.

Author:  Fopar [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 3:17 pm ]
Post subject: 

Then it does sound like the HEI coil is bad.

Author:  Agincourt [ Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:24 pm ]
Post subject: 

I just tried this to replace a dying Electric Spark Control ignition on my 82 Dodge pickup truck.

I have a two pickup distributor w/ a Run and Start pickup. I have tried to make the HEI ignition work on just the Run pickup. No results. Do I need to get a single pickup distributor?

Author:  SlantSixDan [ Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:52 pm ]
Post subject: 

Yes, you need a single-pickup distributor. If running a 2-pickup distributor, you can sit there cranking all day and there'll be no spark.

Author:  Agincourt [ Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:21 pm ]
Post subject: 

I'm glad I stopped cranking after about five minutes and experimenting with the two pickups. Thank you very much for the quick answer, you have saved a novice from a ton of guesswork. I'm off to get a new distributor.

Author:  Oldspowered [ Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:40 am ]
Post subject: 

So I have been gathering parts for my own HEI conversion and am down to the wiring bits. In my search for a plug for the distributor connection I came across the idea of either buying a pickup coil and cutting off the connector (seems like a waste) or maybe I could modify a trailer connector:

Image

I only need the two pins on one end for the connection. I'm going to go home tonight and see if my old boat trailer connector will work. Sure I'll have two extra connectors just hanging out but I'd prefer to not cut my original wiring up.

Author:  tlrol [ Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:35 am ]
Post subject:  Wiring choices...

Why not give weatherpak a try?

http://www.weatherpack.com/

Author:  Oldspowered [ Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Wiring choices...

Quote:
Why not give weatherpak a try?

http://www.weatherpack.com/
WeatherPack doesn't seem to have the unique male/female plug setup that the distributor connector features.

Author:  emsvitil [ Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wiring choices...

Quote:
Quote:
Why not give weatherpak a try?

http://www.weatherpack.com/
WeatherPack doesn't seem to have the unique male/female plug setup that the distributor connector features.
You don't really need it....

The male/female plug is so you hook it up correctly.

Any indexed plug that will only connect one way will be fine......

Page 10 of 34 All times are UTC-07:00
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited
https://www.phpbb.com/