I’m still trying to sort out info on doing MSD-DIS conversion to my ignition on a 1980? Jeff20b has been a HUGE help, and I have read just about everything I can think of....however, I still have a couple nagging questions.

1) Does anyone know the correct Polarity of a 1980 Distributor (where to attach msd wires). 1980's are different than 1981....and I’m trying to do this without getting an FB dissy.

2) Exactly what GM HEI module are people using (what car, what year, etc)? i would like to use one on the trailing ignition.

3) What timing changes need to be done to leading and trailing?

And of course any other info you wish to share!!

Once I have figured all this out I will post all the info and my diagrams, and eventually detailed digital photos.

 

There is a diagram here that shows how to hook up some HEI ignitors to an '81-'85 distributor. The forum appears to be down at the moment, but if it ever comes back up, you can see it at this link. http://www.needfulthings.net/cgi-bin...ST;f=77;t=1511

My advice for the polarity is to just try it both ways. Keep the revs low until you're sure it's correct.

From memory, the G terminal of the HEI goes to the green wire and the W terminal goes to the red wire of the distributor. Or at least that's how it is on '81-'85 dizzies. Somebody here on this forum might know for sure. MosesX605 maybe? He's got an '80 (I think).

 

yah, jeff is the dilfs and // ignitor guru thats for sure!!

if its too confusing maybe just get a 81-85 dizzy and wire that one up? just a suggestion...then you could loose all the dizzy crap that clutters up the strut tower

 

I told him to remove that clunky box.

By the way, my local Autozone sells DR100 HEI ignitors for $19.99. I'm not advertising for them in any way, I'm just mentioning that the part number is slightly different and a couple bucks more expensive than I thought it would be.

 

Well I've got a '79, so I don't have any experience with the '80 model dizzy. I dropped in a FB alternator to make my DLIDFIS work.

That being said, there are wiring and factory manuals available online for the '80 model year. Check out http://www.wankel.net/~krwright/cars/rx7/manuals.html.

 

Thanks, guys I think i got all the info i really need.

Moses, any idea why you needed to swap alternator? Not enough juice to power three coils maybe??? And i gota a wiring diagram already, but it convenently draws a 'box' aound all the important stuff......GRRRRR

Jeff, Any idea what car that HEI is out of? are they all the same? I dont have an autozone up here in the 'great white north'.......Napa and Canadian tire......thats about it.

Thanks for the help guys.....I will get this sorted eventually.....I just hate the whole Trial and Error thing, but i guess sometimes its the only way out.

Cheers

 

ajaz, I swapped dizzies because the '79 model uses points, not the electronic setup of the '80 or the '81-85. You should be fine with the '80 model dizzy. The HEI ignitors are out of basically any Chevy from the late seventies/early eighties, IIRC. You can also get them from Summit: http://store.summitracing.com/left_m...gnsearch%2Easp

 

I've also got a '79 that has the original dizzy - I think that it's stumbling issue may be related to the distributor. How difficult is the swap to a new distributor?

Ahh - nevermind - answered my own question:
http://www.mazspeed.com/ignitionswap.htm

 

I had success in finding a DR100 4 pin HEI by telling the parts guy the car was a '76 Corvette. We tried various years and the '86 appearantly came with a 7 pin.

I think Moses meant to say distributor instead of alternator. Infact, you can keep your stock alt as long as it still works. I'm not sure how much current all three coils will draw, but a pretty good rule of thumb is to assume each one draws around 3 amps. I'm not sure how many amps a points system typically draws, but those ballast resistors certainly don't help matters current-wise.

n8r, the newest rotary I have is a '76 and I didn't have the benefit of that article when I upgraded all my points dizzies to '81-'85 electronic. If you have any questions, you can ask here.

 

Naw, I meant dizzy. The '80 is electronic, so as long as he figures out how to wire it, it should work with a direct fire setup. Unless I'm mistaken?

 

Thanks,

Now if this dam snow would ever melt I could get this show on the road!!!!

Cheers, Alex Zeller