What is your opinion on the HEI distributor conversions for AMC V8's?

I am going to replace my 258 with a 360 or 401 and I want to have the simplest setup I can get. I currently have an HEI setup on the 258 and I like the 1 wire simplicity. I have found 3 sources for these distributors and the prices are not too bad. I just want to know if anyone else is running them, if they are reliable, and if there is anything else to know about them.

If they are not a good idea, what do you suggest? TFI with the stock V8 ignition? Something else?

Thanks.

Best thing I ever did to my 304, I run a DUI HEI and it woke the motor up like theres no tomorrow..

I can't speak for the V8, but I did the HEI conversion back when I had my old 258 and I saw improved idle, mileage, and a slight increase in power. Definitely worth the time and the money because it doesn't really take much of either. I'm sure the TFI conversion would net you results at least as good, if not better than HEI.

Jake

where are the places u found for the hei on the amc v8? i've been lookin and i've only found 1 place

One was a guy in Virginia. I am waiting for some feedback from a guy who has had one of his for a while.

One was http://www.davessmallbodyheis.com/

And the other is a guy out on the West Coast that makes them.

I don't have too much info on the Va guy except that his are about the same as the guy on the West Coast. These are Cap in the coil HEIs machined to fit in the AMC V8. Cost is between $125 and $175.

The other guy makes HEI stuff fit in an AMC distributor and uses a coil that is remote mounted. You have to supply him a certain kind of distributor and he does the conversion for $175. I guess his requires no special parts and puts the coil elsewhere so there is less heat and more space in the distributor area. This sounds tempting but I want to find out if it is as simple to wire as a cap in coil unit. I am already wired for the stock HEI coil in cap setup and it would be nice not to mess with it if I know it already works.

I will probably go with one of the regular coil in cap HEI setups as they are cheaper and simpler.

Just to update. I the guy converting the AMC distributors is out of the running. He was too concerned with what emissions I had, the laws, and a bunch of other crap. I will just concentrate on the other 2 for now. I want to have my ignition solution done before I am ready to drop the motor in.

Thanks for the input.

I'm not sure of the V8 dizzy....but I know on the 258 you can use a GM 250ci dizzy with a 258 gear on the bottom. Pretty easy swap, will have to cut 1/8-1/4" off the bottom of the gear and take a wrap of metallic tape on the shaft to make the gear fit properly, but it's well worth it. Wiring is one wire and your done!
If someone knows a swap dizzy for the V8, please post cause my 360 is in dyer need:(

Uh just a thought here...

I have my 258 set up for HEI.
The gear I used was from a 8 cylinder FSJ as I recall.

The distibutor would work for a 4 banger, or a I6 depending on the cap used.
Just a shot in the dark...but does is their a 8 cylinder cap to fit on that same distributor, and if so would that ditributor work in a v8 with the proper gear?

look at the parts used for 258 HE upgrades, and get a 8 banger cap and see what happens.

Not sure just thinking outloud.

MJ

The V8 one is the top half of an HEI welded to the bottom half of an AMC then turned down on a lathe. I have been finding them for around $175.

For the HEI on an I-6 you don't need to do anything except put an AMC V8 distributor gear on the 250 or 292 HEI distributor to use it in a 258. I have one and I have built a dozen of them for others. Here's one of mine...

http://www.billybob535.0catch.com/HEI/HEI/HEIclose.JPG

i got mine from cape conversions www.driveajeep.com


I'm not sure if he's building them anymore, his website only lists the tfi/duraspark 2 conversions. might be worth looking into.

Thanks Billybob, for the helpfull tip.
BTW.....Do you keep the old coil mounted and usable if the HEI fails??
Saw it still attatched to the block in the above pic.

Cant speak for Billybob, but thats what I did...

Could pop my old ditributer in and plug everything in and run it if for soem strange reason I needed to.
Havent needed to though.
HEI is much better.

MJ

Originally posted by CJ5-man
i got mine from cape conversions www.driveajeep.com

I got mine from there as well. They don't list the V-8 HEI because they don't sell them... they make them and sell them thru Hoak's 4WD. Anyone who is interested should give Glenn a buzz at the above website. He went above and beyond the call of duty to help me out when I screwed mine up. I converted it to computer control but missed some drill shavings, then I reused my cam gear which didn't last long with the new distributor gear. Glenn fixed me right up free of charge which totally blew me away. Excellent product and you just don't see that kind of customer service very often these days. Highly recommend Cape Conversions (driveajeep.com). http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/icons/icon14.gif

Aside from the performance ya just gotta love how much the HEI cleans up the engine compartment. :beer:

Got mine from Glenn at driveajeep.com as well. Good guy to deal with and a quality product.

Jake

Here's a shot of my DUI.. Very simple and replacement part are available at your local parts store. Out the door and delivered for $350. This is my Third DUI, I won't run anything but.

Originally posted by 1BDYJ
Thanks Billybob, for the helpfull tip.
BTW.....Do you keep the old coil mounted and usable if the HEI fails??
Saw it still attatched to the block in the above pic.

Normally yes but my ignition system was shot so mine wouldnt work. I tore everything but the coil out as it is rusted to the bracket and the bolts are rusted into the block. Gotta love NY

The simplest way I have come up with to fix it is to pull the motor and put a 360 or 401 in it's place.:eek:

Well I bought one. It was this one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1850752065

Now I just need a motor to put it in. :)

Thanks for all the info.

Bob

what's HEI do for you? i'm kinda iggerant on ignition upgrades... enlighten me? :D

DUI?
i know bout TFI (thick film integration and a the upgrade of the same acronym for the AMCs)
what else is there?

thanks

DUI? is the comany that makes them not a type of igniton.

Chris G.

Originally posted by Maine Jeepah
The distibutor would work for a 4 banger, or a I6 depending on the cap used.
Just a shot in the dark...but does is their a 8 cylinder cap to fit on that same distributor, and if so would that ditributor work in a v8 with the proper gear?

look at the parts used for 258 HE upgrades, and get a 8 banger cap and see what happens.

Not sure just thinking outloud.

MJ

I am pretty sure you would also need a module for an eight cylinder.

Originally posted by WillyPete
what's HEI do for you? i'm kinda iggerant on ignition upgrades... enlighten me? :D

DUI?
i know bout TFI (thick film integration and a the upgrade of the same acronym for the AMCs)
what else is there?

thanks

DUI: Davis Unified Ignition

HEI, DUI, and TFI all accomplish the same thing to differing degrees and in slightly differrent ways. They basically supply a hotter, more powerful spark at your spark plugs. This helps the engine burn more of the fuel in the combustion chambers and burn it more efficiently, resulting in higher mileage, more power, and fewer misses at idle for a smoother idle.

HTH,
Jake Harsha

Instead of paying big bucks for a D.U.I., just get the cap, rotor, and base from a mid 80's Ford 460ci, and the TFI coil. It will produce the same if not more voltage as the H.E.I setup, and by using the larger cap from the 460, you avoid crossfiring on the cap. Apparently this setup coupled with an MSD 6 will outperform any aftermarket system. Unfortunately I can't find the site or remember its name, that compiled this data.

Originally posted by Flip1YJ
Instead of paying big bucks for a D.U.I., just get the cap, rotor, and base from a mid 80's Ford 460ci, and the TFI coil. It will produce the same if not more voltage as the H.E.I setup, and by using the larger cap from the 460, you avoid crossfiring on the cap. Apparently this setup coupled with an MSD 6 will outperform any aftermarket system. Unfortunately I can't find the site or remember its name, that compiled this data.

that's the TFI upgrade i mentioned. supposedly the guy who created that upgrade used to frequent this BBS, but ran off cuz he got in a fight or something. you'll hear the TFI mentioned from time to time on www.ifsja.org. seeing as almost everyone has a 360 over there, it's a pretty hot topic.

I did the TFI upgrade on my Wag. It works very well and was cheap. I think WillyPete is right, if you do a search for TFI over at the IFSJA forum I am sure the link will come up.

There was one guy who had gone as far as finding and putting the part #s on his web page. I followed his instructions and parts list for converting.