Thread: I'm Converting Back - Piss on it!!!

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Chevy Impala - 283

It has the HEI ignition and I'm tired of trying to figure out where the "Snapping Sound" is coming from. I pulled the cap & rotor off and cleaned it thoroughly, put it back together & it still does the same thing. It's definately coming from the cap and/or coil but I don't want to spend $$$$ trying to narrow it down...SO
I'm going back to the points & coil. My question is.....

How does it wire up? The HEI has one wire that hooks
to the coils....

I think it goes like this, please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Power wire from key switch goes to + side of coil
Neg side of coil goes to distributor

?????
Is that it?

James

If you are going back to points, you need a resistor between the coil (+) and the key. Gm used to use a resistence wire, but a resistor block will do. No resistor = burned points.
You should also have a non-resistor wire from the "R" terminal of the starter to the coil (+) to improve starting.

Thanks to those that replied. Any last suggestions
for this HEI setup? I will Ohm out the coil today,
the cap looks good and so does the rotor. Is there
any component on/in the distributor that will cause
this miss or sound?

Thanks,
James

New or used parts? (dist. coil, cap, etc)
Positive the cap and rotor are for this dist? (no mechanical interferance in inside? cap only goes on one way you know...)

Have you watched it run in the dark - the pop may be a spark jumping to ground (bad plug wire can do that) and you will see that in the dark, or you can feel arouns and see if you get zapped (a good ig system will NOT zap you (unless you begine unplugging plug wires of course))

chris

JamesD: I had a kid come into work the other day that had the same problem. It was an 89 Chevy and with the help of some freinds decided to install headers on the truck! What I found after enjoying a good chuckle, was that one of the plug wires was not On and it was arching inside the Cap. I hope thats all it is cause H.E.I is the way to go.

don't give up on this swap, the old points system ,in its stock form,has only about 4000 rpm in it.the hei system will deliver 4 times the spark right to 6000 rpm. mike

For all around reliability the point system will perform for many moons if installled correctly..Only if a guy stops buying his parts at SHUCKS!!!...or K-Mart....Standard Motor Products is the oldest ignition manufacture in the US..So far I haven't seen any of their better stuff made off shore or south of the border.. They are still based in Long Island New York You have to use their Standard Plus Bluestreak if you want the best..OK OK HEI is good but so are contacts...For a Chevy V-8 say..the uniset with condenser built on you will pay upwards to $25.00..And they make High Performance parts...OK OK you young guys think I am an old fart that won't chuck everything and install electronic in everything..Thats fine.But I have had more electronic systems fail me on the road than ever had with the old reliable ....So There..Al...

You're correct.........both sides have advantages/disadvantages. I went back to Points and uni-setup. I'm happy now. Timing is a little off but no big deal!

Thanks to all that replied!

James

Originally posted by inlineidiot
For all around reliability the point system will perform for many moons if installled correctly..Only if a guy stops buying his parts at SHUCKS!!!...or K-Mart....Standard Motor Products is the oldest ignition manufacture in the US..So far I haven't seen any of their better stuff made off shore or south of the border.. They are still based in Long Island New York You have to use their Standard Plus Bluestreak if you want the best..OK OK HEI is good but so are contacts...For a Chevy V-8 say..the uniset with condenser built on you will pay upwards to $25.00..And they make High Performance parts...OK OK you young guys think I am an old fart that won't chuck everything and install electronic in everything..Thats fine.But I have had more electronic systems fail me on the road than ever had with the old reliable ....So There..Al...

Was adjusting the valves on my 78 Chev van with 292 L6..The vacuum gauge slipped onto the top of the distributer and shorted to ground thru the case to the dip stick tube...All of a sudden there was extreme smoke and fire coming from the starter because the fuseable link that feeds the ignition was breaking up !!!...I've replaced my share of fuseable links but never had a chance to see one go especially only a few inches from my face !!!..It was like lighting a huge firecracker fuse....The HEI system has a lot of power for sure.....Al...