Adding electronic ignition parts to a points distributor

[Virgil J.]

I have made the conversion to a GM HEI electronic spark, everything seems to be working OK. However, the electronic distributor I have installed has no vaccuum advance.

I've noticed that the 1981 lean burn distributor is much simplified, with no centrufical advance weights, and has one pick up, as opposed to some models with two pickup coils.


The electronic distributor I have is listed for a 1981 -82 imperial with the lean burn system,
part no 4091140 (on the aluminum tag). It has one coil pickup, two wires. I assume the imperial would have a computer controlling the advance.

Can I move the pick-up unit and reluctor from the electronic distributor onto a reman points distributor that I have, or should I just fork over the cash for a complete replacement electronic distributor?

 

[70bigblockdodge]

I have done this but the electronic guts were from a non lean burn vacuum advance still hooked up the same. A leanburn does not have vacuum advance so I do not know if it can be hooked up mechanically.

So I guess I'm no help

 

[Big_John]

Go to the Rock Auto website and find the the pickup for an 81 Imperial. Click on the part number and you'll see what else it fits.

 

[Wildaugust]

I did this to my car. I grabbed a Lean Burn distributor from a 400 in a '78 Cordoba. I used the weights and springs from my 383 points distributor. I used the upper shaft section from a 318 electronic non-Lean Burn distributor. Check that the slots are in the same direction. In my case they were. I also used the pick up coil assy from the 318, you simply turn it around. You need a pick up coil assy from a dizzy that had vacuum advance. The vacuum advance unit from my 383 mounted right to the Lean Burn dizzy housing. The dizzy housings are the same part #.

It was a bit of screwin' around with small parts,
, but it was an economical way to get an electronic ignition system on my engine and I couldn't be happier. If I ever need to replace my dizzy, I'll simply order one for a '72 400.

 

[Virgil J.]

Thanks guys. It looks like I'll just get the older distributor with all the guts in it that can work with the vacuum advance....otherwise I would do what wildaugust did if i had a 318 electronic non-Lean Burn distributor.

 

[Wollfen]

There is this,
CARDONE 30-3870 DISTRIBUTOR REMAN ELECTRONIC CHRY 318 V8 DODGE PLYMOUTH~NOS

 

[Virgil J.]

I lucked out and found and installed a used 1972 electronic distributor with a vaccuum advance. Thanks guys! The HEI seems to be working pretty good. The one Wollfen posted has two sets of wires... im guessing one set must be for the electronic advance.

 

[stubs300]

You don't say what your working on? I hope you've done this if it applies??? See it written here, charging system overview


Early Charging System modified for use with a 70 style VR

There are a number of reasons one might want to upgrade a per-1970 system to a transistorized voltage regulator. The list of reason include
•Chrysler recommends you switch to a transistorized VR if you upgrade to an electronic ignition from a points style ignition.
•If you have to buy a new voltage regulator, the difference in cost is only about $5-10 more for the transistorized unit. Not to mention, the quality of replacement early style VR's is spotty.
•The transistorized VR will have a longer life.

Below is a diagram describing how to install a 70 and later Voltage Regulator on a sixties mopar.

 

[Virgil J.]

Oh yeah, I fogot to mention I replaced my voltage regulator a couple years ago with the a newer style that was readily available at a local parts store. I had a few original style voltage regulators that needed That is an important thing to mention. It would be nice to collect all of this great information in one large online file.
Thank you stubbs

 

[fury fan]

Old post but some things to add based on specific questions and some info I can share, and good for future readers...

Dizzy housings and vac advance cans, possibly some internal parts, must remain between families - bigblock and smallblock - this is because they have different rotation and overall shaft length (RB and BB shaft length differ also).

Point and electronic share different upper shaft parts, I didn't think they swapped but Wildaugust said they do, and my memory is foggy on that so follow his lead.

The electornic dizzys with 2 pickups are generally police units, the pickups are wired in parallel, if one fails the car keeps running. (I believe there's no indication 1 has died, so when the 2nd one goes you're stranded!)

You'll need to check any LB dizzy for a slot to add the vac advance can, if it's not there you'll see the location to dremel it out, but reman dizzys are so cheap it makes more sense to just buy one that suits your needs.