HEI questions- or group project????

[mruta]

Since I am in a typing frenzy already I thought I would throw this one at you guys...

The coil discussion got me thinking about something I should have asked a long time ago.

GM started using the HEI ignition so they could run a larger plug gap. Has anyone who has installed an HEI increased their gap? I have heard nothing but good feedback about the HEI conversion- most of which I am guessing comes from the distributor being electronic and getting rid of the darn points.

Another question- what year, make and model did the odd-fire HEI distributors come in? I would like to find this out so I could compare Jeep factory plug gap settings to plug gap for those models.

If no one has increased their gap, maybe we could have a group project of experimenting with it and posting results here...

Maybe I should just get off my butt and quit playing with my boat engine so I can try it myself. :roll:

Thanks for letting me flap my gums again! :D

mruta

[lynn]

Mike, guys running HEI usually run a gap of .045 from what I've read over the years.
I run .040 gap with the Pertronics unit and a standard Jacobs coil, not HEI.
OF HEI can be found in Buick 231 V6s from 75 or 76 through mid '77. Somewhere about mid '77, the 231 became EF.
Check Skylarks, Centurys, etc in these years. Also, the terminals on the OF cap are different from the EF. Check Merl's website to determine what to look for, in case you have to look through a bin of distributors at the boneyard.

[Boyink]

I increased the gap - don't recall if .04 or .045, whatever was the spec for the motor that came with it. Also tossed the ballast resistor.

[53Flattie]

I haven't re-gapped my plugs yet. It seems to run great just the way they are, but I'll likely open them up a little more.

As for the vehicle that they came from, I got mine for a '77 Buick Regal w/3.8 litre (Auto Zone guys don't know what 231ci means!).

[fatty]

HEI for a 231 call for .080 gap. It seems like a large gap, but she runs like a charm.

[Dave Cattani]

.060 on my plugs and fires first time everytime! The engine came complete from an Olds. Starfire 76 model. Look for the cap that has 8 posts like for the V-8s but only realy has 6 contacts for wires. Also long legged rotor lugs inside on 2 of the cylinders. Run a hot wire from ignition switch to the BAT terminal and fire it up!!!!
Dave

[barry]

Hi Dave,

Can you tell me which plug wire goes where on the HEI cap. I just got one, but don't have a manual on the Regal it came off of.

Thanks.

[1966cj5]

The 231 went to even fire in 77

I bought mine from checker from a 76 or 77 Buick Apollo
part #pa6178123 domestic dist.# 301693
cost $129.99 rebuilt

They came in
Buick Centry
special
skylark
apalo
pont. firebird
olds. cutlass

[53Flattie]

Hi Dave,

Can you tell me which plug wire goes where on the HEI cap. I just got one, but don't have a manual on the Regal it came off of.

Thanks.

If you are standing at the driver's front fender, looking into the engine bay: the dust cover for the coil has an "extension" on it that covers the terminals that the ignition/tach wires come out of. That extension is pointing at (roughly) the 12-2 o'clock position on mine (will vary depending on exactly where you have yours timed at). The first terminal to the left of that "extension" is #1. It then wires in this order: 1,6,5,4,3,2 clockwise.

Also note that you can't just skip ahead a terminal with the plug wires to get more adjustment like you can on EF engines. You HAVE to skip 2 terminals at a time b/c of the OF configuration.

(Sparky, this may be something worth adding to the FAQ's page if its not already on there.)

[barry]

Thanks Tim. I'll give it a try. Mike told me to get the grounding strap for it and I have printed out the instructions for install at the Jeepster's board. Nice instructions. Anything else I should be aware of?

:?

[lee66cj5]

If you are out junkyard shopping for distributors you can easily tell an odd fire from an even fire by looking at the underside of the cap. An even fire has the 2 short lugs opposite each other and the odd fire has the 2 short lugs next to each other. This applies to the factory caps that look like the v-8 cap with 2 teminals blanked.

Lee

[barry]

Hi guys,

Could you please tell me what year and car make of wires I should purchase to fit the HEI distributor I got from Mike Jones in Hawaii? I also emailed him with the same question, but thought I might get a faster answer here.

Thanks
:D

[53Flattie]

One of many would be 1976 Buick Regal w/a 231 (3.8L) V6.

[judge]

what other parts will I need to do an HEI conversion besides the distibutor?

[sparky]

An HEI distributor, coil, and plug wires.

See the links in the HEI section of this page: http://earlycj5.com/tech/engines/225/225Links.php