HEI Distributor Conversion

hdcolo · Veteran Member

HEI Distributor Conversion

macsleuth · Guru

I'm confused. How do you check the marks on the balancer with the timing cover off? Isn't the timing tab on the cover?

chader · Guru

Was the vac advance plugged into manifold vacume?

hdcolo · Veteran Member

. . Yes it was. .

hdcolo · Veteran Member

. . When you are installing the timing chain and gears everything is set up at exactly TDC. . Once this is done you place the timing cover on the dowles and start the harmonic balancer on to the keyway. . The mark on the balancer should read -0- to the timing tab. .

chader · Guru

Plug the vac line when u set the timming.

macsleuth · Guru

Ok, cool, good to know. So my theory that the outer ring rotated on the balancer is out. smile

chader · Guru

When u have manifold vac. Supplied at idle it will advance the distributor. Which is why they say to plug the vac. When setting the base timming. Either way do what makes the engine run best.

Magician40 · Poncho Master!

I found selecting a constant 12v source was a bit of a problem. Cause HEI needs full 12v all the time. Some say go to your fuse box at ign. terminal, others to starter. My timing was set to 8 degrees with vac. What did you do for 12 volts?
Brian

2drpost · Uber Guru

Magician40 wrote:
I found selecting a constant 12v source was a bit of a problem. Cause HEI needs full 12v all the time. Some say go to your fuse box at ign. terminal, others to starter. My timing was set to 8 degrees with vac. What did you do for 12 volts?
Brian

open up your harness and replace the resistor wire back to the bulkhead connector. it is 12v up to the connector from the ign switch.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

yes, those are the 2 things I'd check:

1. when checking your timing, the vacuum line from the carb to the distributor needs to be plugged, but the line going into the distributor is to be left open (it's not really doing anything anyway).

2. HEI needs 12v. The resistor wire used for points does the same things as the old ballast resistor, it limits the voltage to the coil. Verify you have a full 12V getting to the HEI distributor.

hdcolo · Veteran Member

. . Replaced the resistor wire that normally feeds the distributor all the way to the plug on the back of the fuse panel. .

. . Yes, Vaccum advance was disconnected and plugged. .

JC2+2 · Poncho Master!

Yes you need 12V ignition power. And I would go ported vacume at 8 to 12 degrees - not manifold vacume. And check your total advance. Try not to go much higher than 40 degrees. You may have to replace the vacume advance unit if your total is too high. Get one for mid 70's Pickup with 350. Should fix you up. Oh and before you do anything make sure the centrifical weights are free and returning properly. Good luck.