Gary Lewis Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 I was thinking of removing the factory tfi ignition if it would give problems with the engine control module removed. I would then replace it with a duraspark distributor and wire in a hei module like this: Ahhh! That's what I missed - a lot of wiring and fabrication. That will work, and someone on here (Steve83?) recently posted a pic of mounting the HEI module in a gutted DS-II case. But, I'd ask the question "why"? Why not just use a DS-II module? They are available at 'most any parts store should yours quite. And for the most part, spark is spark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacktop Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 Ahhh! That's what I missed - a lot of wiring and fabrication. That will work, and someone on here (Steve83?) recently posted a pic of mounting the HEI module in a gutted DS-II case. But, I'd ask the question "why"? Why not just use a DS-II module? They are available at 'most any parts store should yours quite. And for the most part, spark is spark. Yeah, I might still use a duraspark module. Not 100% sure which way I'll go yet. Just bouncing ideas around my head😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 Yeah, I might still use a duraspark module. Not 100% sure which way I'll go yet. Just bouncing ideas around my head😁 I tend to think about how difficult it is going to be to replace things, and an ignition module would be on a high-priority to replace if you were out and about. And, while you can buy and HEI module at a parts store, he easy will it be to replace it in a custom housing? On the other hand, DS-II modules are available at any parts store or salvage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 I tend to think about how difficult it is going to be to replace things, and an ignition module would be on a high-priority to replace if you were out and about. And, while you can buy and HEI module at a parts store, he easy will it be to replace it in a custom housing? On the other hand, DS-II modules are available at any parts store or salvage. Do like Lucas did, put it in an external heat sink case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacktop Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 The computer has to be neutered, if not removed. If you have a computer it controls the ignition timing, and it will get its knickers in a twist when you remove ANYTHING and kill the timing advance. So the dizzy has to be replaced with a DS-II or HEI, although Ron/reamer tells you why you might want to go w/a DS-II. If you pull the computer you have nothing to control the EGR, nor the TAB and TAD relays, nor ........ So everything Ron showed might as well come off/out. How much work is involved changing from a tfi ignition system to a duraspark 2 system? And is it easier than just wiring a duraspark distributor up to a hei module? Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 How much work is involved changing from a tfi ignition system to a duraspark 2 system? And is it easier than just wiring a duraspark distributor up to a hei module? Alan Alan - Now we need to write up the DS-II tab on the Ignition page. But basically you need to source a DS-II distributor, wiring harness, and blue-grommet ignition module. And then it is plug-and-play. As for "just wiring a duraspark distributor up to a hei module", that's something I would be reluctant to do. And my reasoning is that you'd now have a one-off situation where a failure of the HEI module would have you stranded. However, there are at least two ways around that. One is to make two of the HEI modules. For instance, if you gut a DS-II box to be the housing/heat sink, then make two of them and wire them with connectors so they can be easily swapped. Another is to make the installation of the module in the housing/heat sink such that the module itself can be easily replaced, and carry a spare module. I'm not at all saying that an HEI module is more prone to failure than a DS-II box. Not at all. It is just that I don't want to create a system that is so specialized that when something in it fails I'm stuck and have to break out the soldering gun to fix it. Instead, I want an easy and quick way to get back on the road. A stock DS-II box is readily available 'most anywhere, as are HEI modules from what I read. But the DS-II box is an easy unplug/replug, so I'd make sure the HEI module is as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacktop Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 Alan - Now we need to write up the DS-II tab on the Ignition page. But basically you need to source a DS-II distributor, wiring harness, and blue-grommet ignition module. And then it is plug-and-play. As for "just wiring a duraspark distributor up to a hei module", that's something I would be reluctant to do. And my reasoning is that you'd now have a one-off situation where a failure of the HEI module would have you stranded. However, there are at least two ways around that. One is to make two of the HEI modules. For instance, if you gut a DS-II box to be the housing/heat sink, then make two of them and wire them with connectors so they can be easily swapped. Another is to make the installation of the module in the housing/heat sink such that the module itself can be easily replaced, and carry a spare module. I'm not at all saying that an HEI module is more prone to failure than a DS-II box. Not at all. It is just that I don't want to create a system that is so specialized that when something in it fails I'm stuck and have to break out the soldering gun to fix it. Instead, I want an easy and quick way to get back on the road. A stock DS-II box is readily available 'most anywhere, as are HEI modules from what I read. But the DS-II box is an easy unplug/replug, so I'd make sure the HEI module is as well. Sounds about right Gary. Being in the uk, neither ds2 modules or hei modules are readily available over here. I source my parts mainly from rock auto and ship them over. I will need to source a ds2 distributor and I already have two hei modules ready. But perhaps for simplicity, I might just buy two ds2 modules and have one as a spare. Many thanks for all your help and info😊 Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Sounds about right Gary. Being in the uk, neither ds2 modules or hei modules are readily available over here. I source my parts mainly from rock auto and ship them over. I will need to source a ds2 distributor and I already have two hei modules ready. But perhaps for simplicity, I might just buy two ds2 modules and have one as a spare. Many thanks for all your help and info😊 Alan I forgot you are in England. Over here the modules are available in many, if not all, parts stores. If you go HEI don't miss that you need a relay since the module is power-hungry and you have to bypass the built-in ballast resistor. For a DS-II harness, we have this outfit listed in Resources: American Auto Wire. I don't know anything about them, but we've had some feedback that the Painless harness isn't painless. And, it is expensive. So, you might try this one. However, looking at their instruction sheet, it isn't totally plug-and-play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Sounds about right Gary. Being in the uk, neither ds2 modules or hei modules are readily available over here. I source my parts mainly from rock auto and ship them over. I will need to source a ds2 distributor and I already have two hei modules ready. But perhaps for simplicity, I might just buy two ds2 modules and have one as a spare. Many thanks for all your help and info😊 Alan Being in the UK, Lucas Constant Energy modules are the 4 pin HEI in a heat sink case. As a result using the DS-II distributor as a trigger and a Lucas coil could be an excellent fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Being in the UK, Lucas Constant Energy modules are the 4 pin HEI in a heat sink case. As a result using the DS-II distributor as a trigger and a Lucas coil could be an excellent fix. Interesting idea, Bill. I did some reading on that module and it looks like several of the Jags used it. But, one listing had it at 165 Pounds Sterling, which has to be over $200. Perhaps that's one specific to a Jag? Maybe there are cheaper ones? Perhaps that's cheaper than shipping a DS-II module over the pond? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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