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#1 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: las vegas nv
Posts: 1,493
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Installing an HEI DIzzy
I purchased a 65k DIzzy from SKip White and looking for directions on installing it properly.
I have an idea that I need to get the number one Cylinder to TDC. THen line up the 1 spark plug hole at about 530. Is this the case and can anyone help me to continue in the right direction? I am hoping to have it running and on the road by the end of the day. THen I can troubleshoot my leaking tranny somewhere. |
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#2 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area.
Posts: 7,947
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
You're in the right direction. Insure that it's on the compression stroke at TDC.
Then check to make sure that the marks line up on the balancer. That's a good start. Once you have it cranked and started you can adjust your timing. 8 degrees before TDC is a good starting point. |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cypress, Tx
Posts: 4,005
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
First, unplug your dizzy so it won't crank the engine.
Try and get the #1 Cylinder to TDC. You can take out the spark plug, put a little seran wrap in a ball over the hole, and bump the engine till it pops out and the balancer is at 0*. Be careful though, depending on the age of the balancer, it may have rotated slightly, so TDC may not be at 0*, it may be off a little. Next take your cap off the installed dizzy. Look at where the rotor is pointing, mark it on the engine, or somewhere as a reference point. Make sure it is pointing at the number 1 wire on the dizzy (to double check your at TDC, or at least pointed at #1 cylinder). It may be just pass number one, as it may have already fired. Pull the dizzy, install the new one. Make sure you seat it all the way. It may take some finagling, but you can do it. Seat it all the way, and don't forget the gasket. Make sure you drop it in so the rotor points in the same general direction as the original dizzy rotor was pointing before you removed it. Should be really close. Next install the cap, and mark the #1 post that the rotor is pointing to. Add your wires. Start with #1, then work your way around. Make sure you give yourself enough room to adjust timing with the vacuum module. If it is too close one way or the other, turn the dizzy the direction to get more room, and move the spark plug wires over 1 spot in the opposite direction you turned the dizzy. Add a new wire, keyed hot (only hot when the key is in the on, run, and start position, on all the time will burn up the modular in the dizzy). MAke sure it has full power in the start position. Some accessories lose power while the engine is cranking to give the starter more power. If you hook the dizzy up like that, it will crank all day, but won't fire. No power on crank. Now try and crank it up. It should start right up, with a little timing adjustment. If your like me and you do all this and it won't crank, but you get backfire through the carb, your more than likely 180* out. Take the cap off, Loosen the dizzy, lift it up, turn the rotor to the exact opposite direction, then reinstall it and put the cap back on like it was. Should fire right up. Remember, backfire through the carb, probably 180* out. Backfire out the tailpipe, too rich, give it a few minutes before cranking again. Really hard starting sounds like the starter won't kick it over, like it is dying, probably too far advanced, back it off (turn dizzy counterclockwise). Cranks great, but won't start, or sounds like it wants to, but just wont catch, probably too far retarded timing (turn dizzy clockwise while cranking). Also check to make sure your getting 12v at all times, as this sometimes looks like retarded timing, cranks great, but won't start. Remember during all this your dumping fuel, so it may get flooded. After the first few pumps, don't bother pumping gas again for a few cranks. Take it slow and adjust timing in small turns. Too fast and it may not catch and you can miss it. Getting the timing set, drive it for awhile, get it nice and hot, turn it off. try and crank it right back up after about 1 min. If it has a hard tome starting, starter sounds like it's dying, back off the timing a bit as stated above. Cranks great, but won't catch, advance the timing a bit. Now that I've written a novel, I hope it helps some! Shawn
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1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE |
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#4 |
more ideas than money
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: spring grove, pa
Posts: 1,068
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
That is one SWEET write up. Good job!
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![]() 1948 Chevy 3100 5 window 1966 Chevy C30 Dually 1967 Chevy K10 1972 Chevy K20 1972 Chevy C10 1972 Chevy K5 Blazer 1987 Chevy V10 2003 Chevy Suburban |
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#5 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: las vegas nv
Posts: 1,493
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
That should help me quite a bit, Nice write up... KUDDOS to you..
however, the old dizzy is off and no marks. Since that is the case where should I point the rotor once the dizzy installed? |
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#6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cypress, Tx
Posts: 4,005
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
Quote:
Remember, the only thing we are trying too achieve with the dizzy is getting the rotor to spark when it is pointed at the #1 cylinder on compression stroke. THere are only two ways to put a dizzy in. right, or 180* out. The turning of the dizzy itself is only fine tuning the timing. It's really not that difficult if you make it simple in your head. Shawn
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1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE |
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#7 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: las vegas nv
Posts: 1,493
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
AHHHH
I see no provision on where I need to run a hot wire to my dizzy. Anyone familiar with the skip white dizzies? SO any plug wire can go o any post on the dizzy providing they go clockwise in the firing order of the motor? SO once the dizzy is seated in, and the rotor is pointed at the number one cylinder the wires will start at the first post clockwise from that? There are zero reference marks from the old stock dizzy. SO i can pull a spark plug and turn the motor over till the number 1 cylinder is at top dead center. THen drop the new dizzy in and make sure it is completely seated. should I make sure the rotor is pointed in the general direction of the number one cylinder when I drop it in? then I run all the wires to the dizzy? start the number one wire to the clockwise post of where the rotor ended up? Once there the fine tuning I can figure out. now where does this hot wire get installed at? I see no place for a lead to be hooked to on the dizzy. hell If anyone is not busy you can freaking call me if you want. LOL |
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#8 |
Between Trucks...
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Posts: 3,830
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
Make sure you're at TDC first. Figure out which post on the distributor is going to be #1, make a mark on the distributor where that post lines up. When you install you want the rotor to end up pointing at your mark. The rotor will turn a little as you install. It might take a couple of tries to get it to line up.
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#9 |
PROJECT 7DEUCE
![]() Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: GRANTS PASS OR
Posts: 21,608
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
Soooooooooo is it running yet?????????
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GO BIG GREEN ![]() MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P.. |
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#10 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: las vegas nv
Posts: 1,493
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
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#11 |
resident oilfield trash
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Lubbock TX
Posts: 1,465
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
Subscribed
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1967 SWB C10 396/400 factory air factory tach (sadly had to send to a new home) 1986 Honda 70 Fourtrax 1991 Chevrolet K5 blazer 2wd 1982 Mastercraft Pro Star 190 Stars and Stripes 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe 2011 Nissan Armada ![]() |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cypress, Tx
Posts: 4,005
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
Okay, hopefully this will help a little.
Get the engine to TDC, on the compression stroke. Drop the dizzy in and get it seated in the slot for the shaft. The wherever the rotor points, should be where the #1 spark plug wire goes when you install the cap. Then going clockwise, add wires in the right firing order. Keyed power wire goes to the spot that has the + symbol on the cap. I think the red wire. THe other post (-) is for a tach. Do not use the yellow wire I see hanging there. What tranny do you have? It looks like you had A.C. The red wire you said that ran to the front of the engine could have been for a solonoid that increased the engine idle when the a.c. was turned on. Sometimes the load of the a.c. compressor kicking on caused the engine to bog down at idle. If you have a th400, it could be the kickdown switch too. Shawn
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1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE |
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#13 |
Champagne Taste on Beer Budget
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: High Ridge, Missouri
Posts: 2,190
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Wow Shane - That is one excellent 'helping hand' you gave vegaschevy!
KUDOS to you sire! ![]()
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Coming Soon: Project 1970 Country Truck |
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#14 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: las vegas nv
Posts: 1,493
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
Ended up doing a little more work then I had planned on this truck.
Had to remove the carb spacer as it still was not going ot work on the AC bracket. BAck to the Dizzy. GOt it dropped in after I pulled the radiator and got the motor to TDC on the number one cylinder. Then dropped the dizzy down, got 12 volt power to it after figuring out the wire that I was asking about appears to be the power wire to a one wire alt. which mine has been converted to a two wire. SO the wire has 12 volts all the time when the key is on and while cranking. I also spliced into this wire for the electric choke as well. SO that went fairly smooth. today ill try and get the cap and wires on and get her finished up. Does not look likely as I go to work tonight and have to get on a early sleep schedule this afternoon. |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,859
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
The vacuum switch and the attached relay and the switch screwed into the passenger side head and the switch screwed into the transmission are the Transmission Spark Control or TSC system. This is an early smog device to stop vacuum advance unless the engine is above 32 degrees (switch in the head) and the transmission is in 3rd gear (switch in trans). The relay is then energized and the vacuum switch allows vacuum to pass to the vacuum advance. You can remove all of this. And, if your new carb has an electric choke, the power wire to the relay can be used for the choke since that wire is key-on power.
Here is where I asked the same question several years ago. Scroll down for the pictures.
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#16 | |
Account Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: las vegas nv
Posts: 1,493
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
Quote:
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cypress, Tx
Posts: 4,005
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Re: Installing an HEI DIzzy
THat red wire is not for a single wire alternator. These trucks never had a single wire alternator. They were not standard, you were not converted to a 2 wire, unless you were converted to an internal regulator, (which is 3 wire) 2 wire is normal external regulator. Make sure if you are going to use that wire it is not hot all the time, with the key out. Also, you shouldn't splice in your choke from the same wire going to your dizzy. THe Dizzy needs consistent power, that is why most people run a dedicated wire for the dizzy only. I suggest finding power for the choke somewhere else, maybe as suggested above.
Shawn
__________________
1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE |
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