does anyone run the davis unified ignition HEI conv. or know anyone who does? is it worth it? need a distributer and just wondering if its worth the money.:beer:

A good friend/neighbor has one on his Ford (can I use the F-word in here?) He loves it. A couple of years ago I helped him diagnose a dead computer on the OE ignition; one of the mid-80's models with the big-top distributor, a "brown" module under the hood and a bigger computer under the dash. He'd just finished an engine rebuild, bigger cam, Edelbrock carb, etc. and the oil pressure safety switch wires got shorted somehow during install/break-in and fried that big expensive computer. He wanted to know what I'd do with it if it was mine. As luck would have it, I was driving my old CJ-5 at the time and not long before had finished installing a GM 292 HEI distributor (fit with a slightly modified drive gear from an AMC 401) in the old 258. I showed him that, with its one-wire hookup, and he was pretty much sold on the spot. There is a similar way to convert a regular GM distributor for Ford or Chrysler or most other things; but for the cost of everything from AutoZone you can have the DUI unit delivered to your door and ready to drop in, complete with 50 kV coil. Another advantage to the DUI is that they calibrate the module for your cam, etc. However, you CAN do it quite a bit cheaper with the right combination of junkyard parts. That AMC drive gear modification was to grind ca. 0.050 off the top end to allow the roll-pin to align with the hole in the shaft.

To be honest I don't know what the magic combination is to convert a GM distributor for a Chrysler, but DUI does. For the cost, I'm not sure it's worth the time and effort to sort out, except just for the satisfaction of knowing (but there's a lot to be said for that, too).

thanks for the info. sounds like a trip to pick-n-pull is in order:D

When you sort out what the HEI conversion is, please let me know. I'm curious. ;)

I run the dui and love it . Bolt it in run one wire and it's running. I would never go back to the old distributor. The only thing is you might have to cut your fire wall out.

Where can I learn more on this?

I've had mine about 3.5 years now & love it... GM did a few things right.

http://www.performancedistributors.com/

Am I the only one here that loves my mopar orange ignition module?

Garrett

Originally posted by Hick
Am I the only one here that loves my mopar orange ignition module?

I'm with you. :D

Besides, they don't make a DUI for the big blocks, they don't fit. I wouldn't want one anyways.

I've got the orange Mopar module with a Jacobs coil on my Dodge; plugs opened up to 0.050" and get instant ignition all the time. It works every bit as well as the HEI on my old CJ-5 did. This truck had a fried coil when I got it but the distributor is tight; I disassembled and cleaned it all up to add lightweight advance springs and some lubriplate. This setup on my Dodge throws fat blue sparks well over 1/2" and seems at least as good as any ignition system I've ever messed with. If you've got a Dodge wiring harness that'll work with the orange box and factory breakerless distributor it's a great setup. For retrofitting a vehicle that doesn't have a decent harness of this type it's hard to beat the one-wire simplicity of the DUI.

Very true it is hard to beat is you dont already have it. I figure, i bought my orange box, module wiring harness, resistor, and voltage regulator all in one shot. Had alot of starting problems till i finally put the voltage regulator on.. Then i decided to add a relay to the orange box because of too high of a draw from the electric fan... This time around the fan relay wire is getting re-located so it doesent draw as much when i am trying to start the truck.

Also, anyone noticed if their truck is alot easier to start if you jump the starter relay rather than turning the key? Wondering if there is something i should look for.

Garrett

i forgot about this thread. i thought i got a dui and forgot about it.........:flipoff2:

:beer: :beer: :beer:

i'm gonna stick with the stock stuff. no big dollars for engine stuff til i get the MPI 5.9 installed one of these days. ;)