Older electronic ignition upgrade

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scramble96
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri May 22, 2020 7:37 pm
Location: Arizona

Older electronic ignition upgrade

Post by scramble96 »

So I bought an '87 GW with Howell efi and a more modern style electronic ignition. The ignition system is like that of a late 80's to early 90's gm with no vacuum advance. The efi and ignition were installed over 20 years ago and I don't have any paperwork from the previous owner. It's time for a tune up. I need to replace plugs and wires. Does anyone have any suggestions?

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1978 Cherokee S Widetrack,360, BDS 4 inch lift
1987 Grand Wagoneer, 401 Howell EFI, Edelbrock Intake
1989 Grand Wagoneer *for parts*
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Yeller
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Older electronic ignition upgrade

Post by Yeller »

For plugs, whatever the factory called for. For wires, a set for an 80’s GM v8 should work, but so will early 90’s ford. It would all depend on what angle of boot you need for your amc engine.
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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tgreese
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Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:31 am
Location: Medford MA USA

Re: Older electronic ignition upgrade

Post by tgreese »

Show us what kind of distributor you have. Different distributors have different plug wire and coil connector types, as well as the angle of the plug connector. Howell EFI is a fuel-only package, and has no control over spark advance. You should have some type of vacuum advance diaphragm with the Howell package.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.
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Yeller
Posts: 1550
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:54 am
Location: Rogers County Oklahoma

Re: Older electronic ignition upgrade

Post by Yeller »

There are TBI systems that do control timing, lots of options with that system, made by lots of companies. They all use the GM computers and engine mapping. Some had timing control and some did not, just depends on the options selected. I’ve built several that used the HEI distributor from the 80’s with electronic timing control. I haven’t built a TBI system since about 2002, so I’ve forgotten a lot of what I knew and I purged all of my schematics, notes, and spare parts when I moved in 2019. Now I just order up the harness, have the computer unlocked and connect it up, been doing that for the last 20+ years.
The bus I ride is so short it is a yellow Smart Car full of squirrels, monkeys and clowns.

1970 J2500 Resto Mod
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewt ... 12&t=21395

1974 Bronco “Broncno”
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threa ... st-3411909
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tgreese
Posts: 7197
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:31 am
Location: Medford MA USA

Re: Older electronic ignition upgrade

Post by tgreese »

Not to belabor this, but the OP says it's Howell. Howell is fuel-only, and has no option for spark control. I own a Howell system.

The OP also says the ignition is like GM, which implies HEI? This would have posts on the cap rather than cups. Not clear whether the system it resembles has no vacuum advance, or this Jeep has no vacuum advance.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.
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