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HEI ignition upgrade
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I ended up making plugs ... the threaded hole is 7/8x18 inverted flare thread. I was able to reuse 4 flare nuts from my smog tubes and found 4 more at a shop specializing in industrial HVAC. Inserted 5/8 dorman expansion plugs and silver soldered them in place ... now I have a plug ... putting them in today. Thx for the ideas

btw ... Thorley and some other headers all in the $600 to $800 range (special for p30 class A chassis)
 
Posts: 9 | Location: valley junction, oregon | Member Since: 10-30-2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Yours are probably prettier than mine. Frowner

The Thorleys are worth the money for fit, function and quality.

Good luck with your continuing project. Keep us posted! Thumbs Up


9708-M0037-37MM-01
"98" Monarch 37
Spartan MM, 6 spd Allison
Cummins 8.3 325+ hp
 
Posts: 5168 | Location: Kalkaska, MI | Member Since: 02-04-2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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This is a great thread, Steve. Thanks for sharing.
 
Posts: 150 | Location: Nanaimo, B.C. | Member Since: 04-12-2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Followup to this thread:

After a year and about 10k miles with good results, the module in the distributor base failed. Started to miss, got worse and quit. Cooled down, ran lumpy. Limped to an exit and swapped in the old distributor, (8 plug wires plus bat and tach wires, easy!) eyeballed the timing and away we went.

Later I replaced the module with a genuine AC Delco part and works fine again. My advice: carry a spare distributor or at least a spare module of good quality.


9708-M0037-37MM-01
"98" Monarch 37
Spartan MM, 6 spd Allison
Cummins 8.3 325+ hp
 
Posts: 5168 | Location: Kalkaska, MI | Member Since: 02-04-2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I have a 1988 gmc dump truck with a 427 engine that I put a throttle body fuel injection system on from Affordable Fuel Injection in Michigan. They salvage systems from a scrap yard, rebuild as needed, & burn a new chip for your application. It came with the matching distributor, new sensors, new wiring harness,& fuel pump. It made the truck run much better.
Might be something to look at for a Barth.


Terry
1991 30 ft Breakaway
160 HP Cummins 4 Speed Allison
 
Posts: 27 | Location: Uniondale, Indiana | Member Since: 11-30-2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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You are a god! As I drove home from Florida, I pondered a carb rebuild, etc. and lamented the fact that high altitude (even Denver) performance is so poor. Was thinking throttle body... I know the 90's 454 had 'em.

I will definitely check on these folks (Michigan, no less!) Thanks for the pointer, you were reading my mind. Saved me some time looking. Thumbs Up

PS Just got back from their site. Awesome! Looks like we'll be seeing a TBI conversion thread soon. (Thanks again.. I think. Ah yes, a fool and his money... but it is for Barth. Besides I'll bet it will pay for itself in fuel saving over time.)


9708-M0037-37MM-01
"98" Monarch 37
Spartan MM, 6 spd Allison
Cummins 8.3 325+ hp
 
Posts: 5168 | Location: Kalkaska, MI | Member Since: 02-04-2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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With regard to TBI, we recently drove our loaded 95 454 TBI pickup from Indio (below sea level)to Yarnell (4900 ft) AZ. It is almost all uphill, with a couple of really steep climbs, and we were towing a trailer with a loaded weight of ~12,000 lbs. total weight Trip mileage was 6.7 MPG.

TBI has always done a little better on mileage, and much better on power at higher altitudes, as it has altitude compensation programmed in. The Chevy TBI does way better than the FI on our elderly Toyota.


.

84 30T PeeThirty-Something, 502 powered
 
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Well, I can not tell a lie, I ordered a TBI kit from these guys. mechanic

Thanks (?) to Terry! Thumbs Up

I should have it ready before Black Hills. If it ever warms up here... head bang


9708-M0037-37MM-01
"98" Monarch 37
Spartan MM, 6 spd Allison
Cummins 8.3 325+ hp
 
Posts: 5168 | Location: Kalkaska, MI | Member Since: 02-04-2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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let me know how it works i have looked @ there unit Thanks Richard


Richard & Robin
s7809 2539 MC27 FP3

  • 1979 27'
  • 454 Chevy
  • P-32 Chassis
 
Posts: 296 | Location: Deltona Flordia | Member Since: 08-18-2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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If it ever warms up and I get home I will start a thread and post the process as soon as I can. mechanic


9708-M0037-37MM-01
"98" Monarch 37
Spartan MM, 6 spd Allison
Cummins 8.3 325+ hp
 
Posts: 5168 | Location: Kalkaska, MI | Member Since: 02-04-2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Steve, I talked to the tech guy at Summit Racing and he said that the weak link in all of the HEI distributors they sell is the module in side the distributor base. They sell a kit where you remove the one that is inside the distributor and replace it with one mounted remotely. It seems heat is the culprit. I've had the same problem with aftermarket fuel pump relays for my Volvo. The original Bosch are good. Made in Germany. $70. Or you can buy the el cheapo at $30 made in Hungary. Problem is with the soldering inside the relay. After being stranded, the extra $40 is no big deal. I was in the metals manufacturing business for 45 years and you have to be very careful where you buy steel that is used to make critical parts.
Jim


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3696 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by Jim and Tere:
Steve, I talked to the tech guy at Summit Racing and he said that the weak link in all of the HEI distributors they sell is the module in side the distributor base.
Jim


Yup.

Our MSD 6A spark box is connected to eliminate the module in the distributor to avoid that situation.

The flex wires in there also can break or chafe from advance plate movement.


.

84 30T PeeThirty-Something, 502 powered
 
Posts: 6169 | Location: AZ Central Highlands | Member Since: 01-09-2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Steve, have you considered switching to a MSD distributor? My son-in-law and I talked about this today. He is quite knowledgeable, being a certified air frame mechanic and life long builder of various types of cars and trucks. Apparently, the MSD distributors do not have the problems with the internal module that the HEI distributors do. He has me convinced to make the change.
Jim


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3696 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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MSD is a good choice.

I just went whole hog and ordered a complete TBI fuel injection retrofit system from Affordable Fuel Injector systems. It is GM OEM type with new sensors, injectors and fuel pump, harness, rebuilt throttle body and GM ECM module with custom PROM chip. It includes an ECM spark control distributor.

This should be my final solution! Looking forward to the installation and results. mechanic

I am hoping to see better performance at higher altitudes. Last fall in Denver 86Barth had a tough time with any hills. Arizona, etc would almost be a no go. With the fuel injection, it may be ok.

Oh boy... this is my 1000th post on this site! What better topic than fuel injection on an old Barth? Thumbs Up


9708-M0037-37MM-01
"98" Monarch 37
Spartan MM, 6 spd Allison
Cummins 8.3 325+ hp
 
Posts: 5168 | Location: Kalkaska, MI | Member Since: 02-04-2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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