Ignition module

[stacey_65]

I have a 85 c10 that had a 305 in the truck. Some one has swapped in a 350 and used the 305 distributor which has a 5 pin ignition module. I have a new billet distributor with a 4 pin module. will i have to do some rewiring to get this to work?

[VetteVet]

Originally Posted by stacey_65

I have a 85 c10 that had a 305 in the truck. Some one has swapped in a 350 and used the 305 distributor which has a 5 pin ignition module. I have a new billet distributor with a 4 pin module. will i have to do some rewiring to get this to work?

I don't think you need to do anything if you don't have the knock sensor in the 350. The 85 might show a check engine light if it doesn't see the knock sensor, but it can't retard the timing without the 5 pin module.

COPIED FROM GOOGLE



Control modules

There are three basic types of HEI control modules, the four-pin, five-pin, and seven-pin modules. The four-pin module was used on conventional carbureted engines and uses conventional mechanical timing controls (vacuum and centrifugal advance mechanisms). The five-pin module was introduced in 1978 and was an early attempt at electronic timing control. The five-pin module contains a provision for connecting a knock sensor. The seven-pin module is used on early computer-controlled engines. The seven-pin module contains no mechanical timing control mechanisms as the computer controls ignition timing. Late 1980's GM cars and trucks used a slim distributor cap HEI with a separate ignition coil on throttle body injection equipped engines. These distributors were not stand-alone units because they did not contain mechanical timing controls.
Upgrading

HEI distributors are a popular swap on older GM cars originally equipped with points and condenser type ignition systems. The HEI system produces a more powerful spark, which allows for a wider spark plug gap. This ignites the fuel quicker, resulting in faster, more reliable starting and a more powerful burn.
The HEI setup has also become a popular swap into other models of vehicles that did not originally come with an HEI ignition.
Spark amplifiers
Add-on ignition spark amplifiers allow for the conversion of a HEI Distributor system to a VHEI or Very High Energy Ignition system further increasing the net output energy of a HEI spark. A well-tuned HEI can produce up to 40,000 volts, compared to about 18,000 volts for the points system. Another reason for this is the self-contained plug-and-play nature of these systems. All the system needs is an ignition switch controlled 12 volt source that is live in both the "crank" and "run" positions.
Ballast resistor
To wire the system, the ballast resistor unit (early vehicles) or ballast resistor wire feeding the points-type coil needs to be bypassed with regular copper wire. This is because the points system used this resistor to reduce the voltage to the coil to around 9 volts while the ignition switch is in the "run" position to prevent overheating the points. The points system has a "bypass" wire from the ignition switch or the starter solenoid to deliver full battery voltage to the coil during cranking. The HEI system needs the full battery voltage at all times to work its best. One common hookup method is to replace the ballast resistor or wire with a normal copper wire and attach both wires to the HEI's power input terminal. This ensures the HEI receives full power while running.
Compatibility

The choice in HEI system type is vitally important based on the engine it will be used with. Each GM division had its own engine design. Thus, a Chevrolet ignition may not be identical to an Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, or Cadillac engine. Typically, the ignition system compatibility followed the engine size. Most GM engines (of the same size) between 1974 and 1988 used a similar distributor ignition system. The module type is important as well. For non-computer controlled carburetor engines, the 4-pin unit is used since it uses mechanical timing controls (vacuum and centrifugal advance). The 5-pin module is like the 4-pin, with an added knock/detonation sensor input to the module so the ignition could be deliberately retarded and the power output dropped to the spark plug to aid disruption of the knock condition. The 7-pin module is designed for computer timing controls. It incorporates 2 magnetic signals from the pickup sensor, and 3 signals shared with the ECM engine control module), while the remaining 2 pins provide signal and power to the coil. Normally the 7 pin is not used on non-computerized engines since it does not contain mechanical timing controls, but some early designs used a seven-pin distributor module in conjunction with mechanical and vacuum advance in the distributor body, so the seven-pin module would be backward compatible.
References

^ http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/z28l82.html
External links

http://delcoremyhistory.com/history.htm
http://reviews.ebay.com/HEI-Ignition...00000002053885
http://www.pontiacpower.org/HEI.pdf
http://delcoremyhistory.com/history.htm