GM HEI for Ford 302 | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,601 Likes: 10 pooh-bah | OP pooh-bah Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,601 Likes: 10 | I bought an HEI distributor for my mid, came with ACCEL plug wires, need to get some Autolites, not sure if I'm gonna swap it in when I finally go out to get it, or wait till I get it home. I have to run another ignition wire, not sure how much, the entire line or just to the resistor to eliminate it. I'm curious if the wider gap and hotter spark will improve anything, as if it'll be noticeable at all to the old factory points ignition. There were many setups, but I decided on this one due to simplicity, all of it is contained together. I know many distributor removals wind up with the oil pump shaft extracting with it, then releasing 1/2 way up, resulting in falling in the oil pan, hope not in my case, anyone get by without that happening? Anything I've overlooked, the van has yet to reach 100,000 so it ain't broke in yet, was runnin smooth before hand. I gotta get it home and drop the tank, replace the leaky filler hose, and gain access to the underside to bolt the lift down in the rear, inserting steel bracing. I had to reconsider the side setup, just not practical, I'll just have to reconfigure my interior for wheelchair room to roll front to rear. The suspension suffered dearly from the side arrangement, causing it to lean, then the slider issue compounding it all. | | | Re: GM HEI for Ford 302 | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9,879 Likes: 242 carpal tunnel | carpal tunnel Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9,879 Likes: 242 | I think it's a smart swap Mark. I've heard good and bad about the swap. Most of the bad has been from guys who bought the Chinese knockoffs and had reliability issues. There can be fitment issues between the manifold or air cleaner, etc. Almost all that I've talked to that swapped have noticed a smoother idle and better power around town. I think it's the improved advance curve. The Ford purist will give ya grief but the fact is it's just a better system. If the advance isn't just like you want it you can change it simple and quick with a different vacuum can, weights or springs.
The oil pump drive is a risk but I've only had one do what you're talking about and that was a 390. I always shake the hell out of the old dizzy shaft (as much as possible) as I'm twisting it up and out of the cam gear.
Last edited by CatFish; December 30th 2011 8:32 am. Reason: ksfs
| | | Re: GM HEI for Ford 302 | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,168 Vanaholic | Vanaholic Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,168 | Where did you get yours Mark? | | | Re: GM HEI for Ford 302 | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,601 Likes: 10 pooh-bah | OP pooh-bah Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,601 Likes: 10 | I got it off of Ebay, funny thing is, the seller is a racer here in Tennessee, he sells stuff he's used personally, had pictures of one on a 302 to show how perfect the wires fit, sized perfectly. I'm worrying about my ignition wire right now, how much I'll need to replace. It starts wonderfully right now, other than that damn Ford choke setup that runs super high idle at startup, then a light rev drops it to a second step, adjustment usually ends up in worse. I plan to build an engine to drop in later, painting it period correct and replacing factory decals, to look stock, but be far from it, the distributor will be the obvious difference, face it, reliability trumps factory. Hadn't thought about the air cleaner, if that's the case, I'll go with the Dodge fuel injection to cone arrangement and update to the new ones. | | | Re: GM HEI for Ford 302 | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 9,854 Likes: 8 Festerus Vannimus | Festerus Vannimus Joined: May 2007 Posts: 9,854 Likes: 8 | IF the unit you got was/is a DAVIS UNIFIED IGNITION (DUI), those work really well ! Good luck and let us know. . . .
I know there are other HEI conversions out there, but I have heard the best about the DUIs, if yours is not a DUI, let us know if it is any good.
My van : 1989 Ford E-150 Econoline, currently named “WOLF-DEN IIâ€
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| | | Re: GM HEI for Ford 302 | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 Maniac | Maniac Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 | You can run a Duraspark II stock distributor and wire in an HEI ignition module. The HEI ignition module is a good upgrade, but I don't like those hybrid huge head distributors. They cost too much, are ugly, and often don't fit other applications. Here is how you wire up a DUraspark II distributor to a HEI control module: Also, read this thread: http://www.ffcars.com/forums/58-audio-electronics/151643-duraspark-hei-hybrid-ignition.html
Windows- they're what make a van worth owning! | | | Re: GM HEI for Ford 302 | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,601 Likes: 10 pooh-bah | OP pooh-bah Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,601 Likes: 10 | Got it for way under $100 with plug wires, I didn't want an old used Dura-Stark unit and the new one was just as much as the HEI, it'd require wires and a coil driving the cost up further, I had researched it first. I still gotta get the van before I can install it, yet I'm gathering up more items to get it all done, need plugs, and to figure out how I'll deal with the ignition wiring. Anyone know about the mid ignition wire, tracing it to the resistor? | | | Re: GM HEI for Ford 302 | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,601 Likes: 10 pooh-bah | OP pooh-bah Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,601 Likes: 10 | Here is a look at how the end shaft separates, hoping heavy grease will hold it till I insert it all. | | | Re: GM HEI for Ford 302 | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 3,565 pooh-bah | pooh-bah Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 3,565 | I did this to the 300 I6 in my f-150 with a duraspark II. Worked great! The wiring harness was all dry and cracked and I bypassed it all with this setup.
Josh Souders Performance Inc The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
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