WOW installed the new HEI...what a difference! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

72Levi · 07-16-2008, 10:27 PM

I have been planning on installing an HEI conversion for months instead of running the current stock points and I finally did it. Its been 20+ years since I did one and it was just like riding a bike. This is a brand new HEI and it only cost me $50 bucks. I installed new plugs, wires and it started right up on the first try. Set the timing and its like night and day, what a difference. The Blazer was running ok but not perfect. I came back on Sunday from looking at Blue Thunder's Blazer and when I got home it started missing, the first thing I thought was darn points! Its kinda cool that the Blazer waited until I got home to start missing. Chevy's never let me down/stranded. To anyone contemplating installing HEI, do it now and see what a difference. After 20+ years I had forgotten how nice HEI is. Pics...

Critter · 07-16-2008, 11:01 PM

I have always been a big advocate of the HEI as well. There is basically NO reason to not make the swap unless you are just a purist and are going for 100% stock originality. Up until a month or so ago I had a junkyard pieced together HEI unit that finally gave out on me. I got this complete Mallory unit for about $145 and noticed the engine running smoother as well. Glad to see you made the swap!

70rs/ss · 07-17-2008, 11:26 AM

As far as driveability, performance (even if your motor 100% bone stock, you'll feel a difference in perf!) and dependability. The cheapy $45-50 hei on ebay are too good to not use, a module is $25-30, cap and rotor $30, and a coil is $30-50. I bought two hei's so if one fails I'll replace it with the other since it'll be cheaper than the parts to fix the other one!!

**nightmare** · 07-17-2008, 11:37 AM

Hey 72Levi, when you installed the new plugs, what gap did you use? 0.45" or 0.60"?

Having HEI makes one heck of a difference on these engines. I also think you'll get better gas mileage too.

70rs/ss · 07-17-2008, 03:14 PM

I've always used 45, but if I have an add on 6AL or similar, I stretch the gap out to between 50-60. It is one of those things that help to burn the A/F mixture more completely and up perf and economy.

**nightmare** · 07-17-2008, 03:35 PM

reason I ask is because I recently checked mine because of really bad gas mileage, and they were set at 0.35", but when I asked at O'Reilly, they said that I should have them at 0.60" for a system with HEI. I just thought that 0.60" was too much, so I set them at 0.45" after talking to my dad about it. I haven't checked the gas mileage yet, but will this weekend.

72Levi · 07-17-2008, 10:41 PM

Yes 70 rs/ss I bought the Ebay one, not bad and it started right up. Nightmare I set them at .045 runs great.

BLUE THUNDER · 07-17-2008, 11:51 PM

Sweet dude. I was gonna call you today from work but we got really busy. I'm glad you got it running well again. Later. Mario.

**nightmare** · 07-18-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72Levi

Yes 70 rs/ss I bought the Ebay one, not bad and it started right up. Nightmare I set them at .045 runs great.

Cool. I'm glad that it's running good.

pumpkin · 07-18-2008, 09:55 AM

One thing that gets overlooked when doing this swap is the power wire. The original coil power wire is a resistor wire. When you do the swapp you have to make sure to run a new wire from the ignition switch to make sure the hei gets full battery power. It will work without doing this, but you won't get full advantage, or power out of the hei. It will also foul spark plugs more quickly.

Jtrux · 07-18-2008, 11:19 AM

I had a MSD 6AL and the Pro Billet dizzy in mine initially and then the box went out and the dizzy won't run with out the box so I just did the HEI thing to it and it works great, I think it added 100 HP

Jtrux · 07-18-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin

One thing that gets overlooked when doing this swap is the power wire. The original coil power wire is a resistor wire. When you do the swapp you have to make sure to run a new wire from the ignition switch to make sure the hei gets full battery power. It will work without doing this, but you won't get full advantage, or power out of the hei. It will also foul spark plugs more quickly.

I probably went a little overboard on mine, I use a big ole fat 10 guage wire but also ran an inline fuse to it as well.

07-16-2008, 10:27 PM	#1
72Levi Active Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: sa tx Posts: 851	WOW installed the new HEI...what a difference! I have been planning on installing an HEI conversion for months instead of running the current stock points and I finally did it. Its been 20+ years since I did one and it was just like riding a bike. This is a brand new HEI and it only cost me $50 bucks. I installed new plugs, wires and it started right up on the first try. Set the timing and its like night and day, what a difference. The Blazer was running ok but not perfect. I came back on Sunday from looking at Blue Thunder's Blazer and when I got home it started missing, the first thing I thought was darn points! Its kinda cool that the Blazer waited until I got home to start missing. Chevy's never let me down/stranded. To anyone contemplating installing HEI, do it now and see what a difference. After 20+ years I had forgotten how nice HEI is. Pics... Attached Images __________________ 1972 K5 Blazer ALL ORIGINAL paint & engine, A/C, Tilt, 4sp, AM/FM, Tow Hooks, Aux Battery Tray, Tach, Vacuum 2004 FORD FX4 SuperCrew 2005 CTS-V 12 sec family car 2008 Buick Enclave AWD, Nav, & DVD, Wife LOVES it! Last edited by 72Levi; 07-16-2008 at 10:58 PM.

07-16-2008, 11:01 PM	#2
Critter Future TOTM Winner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bulverde, TX Posts: 2,692	Re: WOW installed the new HEI...what a difference! I have always been a big advocate of the HEI as well. There is basically NO reason to not make the swap unless you are just a purist and are going for 100% stock originality. Up until a month or so ago I had a junkyard pieced together HEI unit that finally gave out on me. I got this complete Mallory unit for about $145 and noticed the engine running smoother as well. Glad to see you made the swap! Attached Images __________________ 72 Chevy CST K5 HIGHLANDER BLAZER Getting a 6.0,NV4500,NP205,14BFF (Currently laying all over the place in little pieces) 72 Chevy swb step-side "LS" 6.0 Here's a build thread of sorts 2002 HD2500 Crew Cab, 8.1L Allison 4x4 Daily Driver Check it out www.lsdyno.com

07-17-2008, 11:26 AM	#3
70rs/ss Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,271	Re: WOW installed the new HEI...what a difference! As far as driveability, performance (even if your motor 100% bone stock, you'll feel a difference in perf!) and dependability. The cheapy $45-50 hei on ebay are too good to not use, a module is $25-30, cap and rotor $30, and a coil is $30-50. I bought two hei's so if one fails I'll replace it with the other since it'll be cheaper than the parts to fix the other one!!

07-17-2008, 03:14 PM	#5
70rs/ss Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,271	Re: WOW installed the new HEI...what a difference! I've always used 45, but if I have an add on 6AL or similar, I stretch the gap out to between 50-60. It is one of those things that help to burn the A/F mixture more completely and up perf and economy.

07-17-2008, 10:41 PM	#7
72Levi Active Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: sa tx Posts: 851	Re: WOW installed the new HEI...what a difference! Yes 70 rs/ss I bought the Ebay one, not bad and it started right up. Nightmare I set them at .045 runs great. __________________ 1972 K5 Blazer ALL ORIGINAL paint & engine, A/C, Tilt, 4sp, AM/FM, Tow Hooks, Aux Battery Tray, Tach, Vacuum 2004 FORD FX4 SuperCrew 2005 CTS-V 12 sec family car 2008 Buick Enclave AWD, Nav, & DVD, Wife LOVES it!

07-17-2008, 11:51 PM	#8
BLUE THUNDER Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 993	Re: WOW installed the new HEI...what a difference! Sweet dude. I was gonna call you today from work but we got really busy. I'm glad you got it running well again. Later. Mario.

07-18-2008, 09:55 AM	#10
pumpkin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: East Sooke B.C. Canada Posts: 543	Re: WOW installed the new HEI...what a difference! One thing that gets overlooked when doing this swap is the power wire. The original coil power wire is a resistor wire. When you do the swapp you have to make sure to run a new wire from the ignition switch to make sure the hei gets full battery power. It will work without doing this, but you won't get full advantage, or power out of the hei. It will also foul spark plugs more quickly.

07-18-2008, 11:19 AM	#11
Jtrux I'm a poor spectator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 2,287	Re: WOW installed the new HEI...what a difference! I had a MSD 6AL and the Pro Billet dizzy in mine initially and then the box went out and the dizzy won't run with out the box so I just did the HEI thing to it and it works great, I think it added 100 HP __________________ 2006 Jeep Unlimited IMPACT ORANGE 1993 Chevy 2500 4x4 ExCab LWB 454/NV4500 Tow rig 1977 Ford F100 2x4 LWB 1st truck I owned, still have it!!! 1979 Ford F150 4x4 SWB Built Ford Tough!!! 1971 Chevy Blazer 350 / SM465 / NP205 UNDER CONSTRUCTION Soon to have a LQ4 6.0!!!



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