The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop HEI setup on a 250

I am going to install an HEI on my 250 in the spring. My question is, does anyone have pics of this setup, or step by step instructions?? Any help is much appreciated

too easy.

1. Mark #1 cylinder, then remove distributor.
2. Install distributor & set rotor to #1.
3. Attach plug wires beginning with #1.
4. Hook up hot wire. Check timing.

You're done!

Dubie,

I just did this swap. It's really easy, but you won't be able to have the number 1 post on the distributer cap pointing where most manuals show it. They show it next to the block at the front of the engine. You need to shift it around where it is pointing at the inner fender (away from the block) so you can have enough room to move the distributer body for timing the engine.

If you are junkyard shopping for your distributer, make sure you get a wire with the connector on it for the hot lead, you can use a screw cap type of connector to attach it to the current hot wire from your coil, or for a much more professional look, parts stores have a neat looking connector type that resembles an inline fuse connector.

Depending on what type of vehicle your engine is in you may have to do some bending of the gas lines from your fuel pump, and of course you can pull the coil off of the engine.

Good Luck

Don't hook you new power wire to the old original wire. The original has a resistor in line so the points wear better. You have to get on the other side of the resistor. You may want to get to the key switch and hook the Start and ING terminals together and run a new wire out to the distributor. You should also use 14 gauge wire. The HEI needs all the power you can give it.

Like the above post said, you will have to redue the fuel line. The HEI will set taller. Your vacumn line will also need to be rebent.

This swap is going to be done on my 72 C-10 long fleetside. Thanks for all the tips guys. ONe more thing, if i am junkyard shopping for a used HEI, which truck would be the best donor??

dubie - I got mine from an '84 p/u. Didn;t have to do all the plumbing talked about here, but did have to rework the plug wires. I'm running the same wire from the starter to the dist that originally went to the coil. If I change to a starter with just 2 connectors, one big and one small, then I'll have to run a power wire from the ignition. Haven't had any problems yet, and I know can't even remember what points look like.
Hear it's colder than a witch's #$#@ up there right now. LOL

Yeah, it's been -40 every night for almost 3 weeks, that's before the windchill factor. And thanks for the donor tip, i'll go yard hunting when it warms up.

So...we'll be hearing from you in, when, May!
Hey...into snowmobiles...who isn't up there...M&D tell me some group wants to have the longest line of snowmobiles in the world. 2002 machines. All this happens next weekend Feb 8th..in Gimli. They want to stretch it out and then head to Hekla(sp) Isl. 30 miles over the ice..in -30....sounds like a lot of frozen fingers and toes.

Yeah, everyone up here including me, is into snow mobiling. I run 2 vintage sleds and 1 newer sled. The vintages one are a 75 Olympique special 440 (only 600 made and sold by the HBC), and a 79 Moto Ski Nuvik 340. The newer one is a 92 POlaris Indy Star Lite 250. Great little sleds for around here. We are supposed to get up to -4 on Sunday and it's gonna stay warm for a while. Which is perfect for ski-dooing.

look under the hood of a 75-79 nova or camaro....

some had 250's in 'em but had the 1 piece head/intakes....

WELL, I TRY TO RUN 10 VINTAGE SLEDS (BUT THEY HAVE A LITTLE PACT BETWEEN THEM, IN THE FACT THAT ONLY ONE OF THEM CAN RUN AT THE SAME TIME). ONE NEWER SLED - '95 ARCTIC CAT 580EFI. 6IN OF SNOW YESTERDAY (THE FIRST OF THE SEASON)

When I was a kid my parents bought a '72 Skidoo 340? (can't remember the actual size) with electric start! My friend's dad was Rupp dealer, anyone down south remember them from the '70's. His sleds had smaller motors but were faster than anything around, only they kept breaking down. Mine would only do about 40, while his 2-something would hit nearly 70! Bought a Rupp 80cc bike from them. Soon as it got wet the engine would die! Had a lot of fun with both though.