Flame out.. ignition issue

Last nite my 75 CJ5/304, lost fire suddenly on the way home.. Was running fine and then just died.. Has fuel, but spark seems to be missing.. Anyone have any experience with this ignition system?? Hints? information? I am thinkin it's time to upgrade, suggestions welcome.

 

Original Prestolite ignition?

Does it run now?

The Prestolite stuff has a tendency for just quitting, then working again later. Clean all the connectors, make sure you get spark if you remove the (-) connector from the coil, then ground and release. If that does not help, you could need the Hall Effect sensor in the distributor, or a new module.

I wouldn't spend any money on the Prestolite junk. Upgrade. The Duraspark stuff from '78 or later, or an aftermarket GM HEI distributor are your two main option.

Here's my 304 with TFI'd Duraspark and a GM HEI module:

 

Another thing you should look, it happen to me...remove the cap with all you're spark plug wire, start you're engine and look if you're rotor is turning, if not you may have a broken distributor gear.

If you want to upgrade i'will go for a gm hei...only one wire (+) to the distributor and you're ready to go.(its what i have on my 360). Part are very low expensive on a gm hei and available everywhere you could need part

 

Thanx for the replies. As far as I know the ignition is OEM. Prestolite as far as I know.. It does not run as of last nite. I trailored it home.. I called NAPA and they have a module on the shelf. Haven't asked about a sensor yet.. I am looking into an upgrade ... Though I am not familiar with ignitions.. What are the options, besides the GM HEI and Duraspark box?

 

Ok ...

You can get a Delco points distributor from a '74 or earlier 304/360/401. This eliminates the module entirely.

You can also convert the Delco to electronic using a Pertronix kit, or with a few parts store parts.

Mallory likely has an expensive go-fast distributor for this engine.

The HEI distributors are not GM, per se. They are new manufacture distributors that are made specifically for the AMC V8; a copy of the GM design, made to fit AMC engines.

The Duraspark distributor is the factory part for '78 or later.

There is nothing you can do to the Prestolite distributor to upgrade it, AFAIK. Yank it out and drop it in the back 40, or wherever.

How well do you understand electricity and ignitions? All the info you need is on the 'net - if you search, there are many different explanations of each of these.

 

I am an electrician.. So I understaqnd electricity.. But automotive electricity aint AC theory.. I'm researching my options.. Right now I am trying to figure out what parts I specifically need to do an upgrade.. I am still researching on the net, and found a Team Rush upgrade that sounds good.. I am just trying to figure out where to get the specific parts and understand exactly what I need to do to get it installed..

 

"Team Rush" is the same as the TFI upgrade, and just substitutes some Ford ignition parts. See the blue distributor cap and silicon wires in my picture above. Not applicable to the Prestolite though - only to the Motorcraft Duraspark, used from 1978 on.

 

I definitly will do something different.. I got it running today\.. NAPA had an ignition module. It started right up after replacment..As I said, I am researching my ignition options.. The Prestolite is gonna get the heave ho sometime this summer..

Right now it looks like I need to locate some parts. Like another distributer, a coil and a different ignition module. Tim I'd be glad to hear the details on your ignition..

 

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/show...nstall-Writeup&highlight=hei+install+writeup\


the HEI option... It has worked fine for me for almost 3 years now. The jeep starts faster, idles smoother, and generally runs better than it ever did with the points ignition.

 

I don't have a write-up for what I did. But here's a Google search that shows several old threads that I participated in:
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&..._gc.r_pw.&fp=a34f7f1872f21971&biw=983&bih=778

I can get you a parts list later today sometime.

 

Thanx guys . I got some reading to do now..

DrDante I found the dizzy on 4WD. I may be pickin yer brain in the future..

One more question. My current setup has an ignition module. I noticed that your setup was points.. Did the HEI from 4WD require only a hot feed to the distributer? Or do you need a module?

 

The HEI's module is internal, so it requires only a hot feed. In my jeep, I used a realy for the hot feed. Also be sure to read later posts in that thread where I cover the distributor gear. There is alot of anecdotal evidence of the gear that comes with the new dist eating hte cam gear, and I have personally seen it happen once. I've also since added a large fuse on my hot lead from the battery to t he relay for safety purposes.

Really, both the TFI and the HEI are good upgrades over the stock setup, and Tim makes a great case for the TFI if you search around on hte forums here. I think you'd be happy with either one.

 

I have read about the gear deal.. Right now I am not sure what I am going to do, but i am going to do something.. TFI, HEI or maybe a DUI.. I have a lot to digest, and my brain os about overloaded with ignition stuff.. Gonna think about it now and read some more.. Thanx again to all who replied..

 

Ok, a longer post on this.

Supposedly Eleanor Roosevelt said "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people." So I'm going to avoid elaborating on people.

For my distributor upgrade, I have relied heavily on the posts by (variously named) Jeephammer, JunkyardGenius, TeamRush - all the same guy - we'll call him "JH" for convenience here. He was a member here, and left unhappy. JH has posted some cool and useful stuff. No denying that his posts are always interesting and enlightening.

Regarding this question (ie Duraspark vs. HEI), I suggest you start by reading this page: http://www.junkyardgenius.com/ignition/jeep/HEIcompair.html As DD3 points out, some of the issues pointed out here likely have been addressed in the cheaper products, and certainly are not an issue with a premium product like the Davis HEI.

This post http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/1977-jeep-232-motorcraft-distributor-conversion-jeephammer-551957/ references the important diagram that I referred to in my conversion.

The main diagram is this one:
http://www.junkyardgenius.com/ignition/jeep/IMAGES/HEIwire05.gif which shows how the HEI module would be connected to a Duraspark when replacing a Prestolite. I did not use a relay.

So, I have a 1978ish Duraspark distributor, which triggers a GM HEI module, mounted in the same location as the original Prestolite module. Look at the picture above, you'll see a black aluminum box mounted on the fender with an external heat sink. This is where I mounted the HEI module.

Parts list:
1) '78 CJ-5 304 Remanufactured Distributor, A1-Cardone @ RockAuto, ca $50 + $30 core (see note below)
2) '77 Chevrolet Impala 350 Ignition Module, SMP LX301 (closeout, repackaged) ca $20 (see note below)
3) Hammond waterproof project box, Mouser Electronics, ca $12
4) Heat Sink, surplus, on-hand (free).
5) Heat Sink Paste, swap meet item, ca $1.
6) MSD 8869 Plug, $16 (see note below)
7) Pertronix 40611 Coil, $35 (see note below)
8) Ignition Wires, Summit SUM-G827 universal wire set, $45
9) Distributor Cap, SMP FD168X, ca $25 (see note below)
10) Cap Adapter, Wells 4D1004, $6
11) Rotor, SMP FD117X, $6
12) Various wire, crimp connectors, tie-wraps, split loom, etc.

Notes:
1) I was disappointed with the A1-Cardone reman. The main thing to recommend it - you get a new vacuum diaphragm. AFAIK, that's the only source for a new (rebuilt apparently) vacuum diaphragm. The parts and assembly seemed fine, but a) it was missing the little index clip that keeps the cap from spinning on the distributor. Not a problem if you can take it from your core, but I had to make one. b) I tried to replace the gear on the reman with the gear from my Prestolite, but the gears are different heights - so I went with the gear that came with the reman. These gears are the same PN, and should be interchangeable. But without reshimming the end play, they are not interchangeable. But it's in, and it works fine.
2) Choose a quality module. Standard or Delco would be my preference. Avoid the T-series Standard parts.
6) I would not use this part again. There's nothing wrong with it, but instead I would clip off the factory-style plug from the distributor and use a Weatherpack. A non-standard connector will make field replacement a little more difficult, but the Weatherpack is both cheaper and vastly better than the Ford plug.
7) You don't need an aftermarket coil. I used this coil because it fits in the existing coil bracket. A used Ford TFI coil should be easy to find at the junkyard, and would cost about $5 (if not, find a new junkyard).
9) Pick a quality cap with brass terminals.

Ok, so you could do this swap for a lot less money than I spent ... if you really tried to pinch pennies. You can use the parts that Jeep originally spec'd for '78 - existing coil, rubber wires, etc. You could mount the module on the top of the engine, in the air, as long as you have a suitable heat sink.

 

Sorry to Jack the thread, Tim Reese, Trying to send you a private message but your "In Box" is full. I'll try to send it later after you get more room.

Thanks, Ken

 

Hello
I don’t mean to butt in, but I’ve been watching this forum because I’m in the process of changing my 73 Commando over to electronic ignition and have been searching for all the info I can. In one of my searches on this board I found this link it might be helpful. http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/show...attempt&highlight=electronic+ignition+upgrade

Tim C
73 Commando
North Oregon Coast