Ignition System upgrade time!

Torque Junkie · September 29, 2002

It's time to get the truck ready to be the daily driver..... Winter's just around the corner :angry:

So I just ordered a new HEI Distributor cap kit w/ a new 48,000 volt coil. I also got a new rotor and a new mechanical timing curve kit w/ 3 sets of springs and a set of Summit plug wires. Getting new plugs tomorrow and when everything comes in it should revive some of the life in my old beast, free up a mpg or 3, and smooth out the idle and take-offs. I just wish I would have done this before I towed a 5000 lb U-Haul trailer 400+ miles 2 months ago

Next week is when I start calling around for estimates on getting that rear end rebuilt. NOT looking forward to that *gulp* but it'll be nice to get it done. I'm tempted to call around at junk yards and maybe save a few bux, but I don't know if the savings would be worth not having all new parts in there.

After that, then the money goes into the interior restoration.... maybe later this fall into winter. I'll probably do it slowly though... start with the seats, then the door panels, then the dash & instrument cluster instead of trying to do it all at once.

-Mike

Bender · October 11, 2002

Do you have an MSD on your truck? An MSD will really

increase your low end torque.

Torque Junkie · October 11, 2002

No, it's just the Factory HEI. I couldn't afford or justify spending $300+ on an MSD system. Too much other sh*t to get done on the truck first.

I did get the HEI upgrade completed and WAHOOOO! A HUGE power increase. It'll actually chirp those big 33"x12.5" meats from a stop now - something it could never done before. And then it just keeps pulling... and pulls harder and harder up until it shifts. AMAZING. I did swap out the weights & springs for the mechanical advance and put the summit kit in there, as well as put the black springs on. I was gonna give the gold springs a try and bring it in a little earlier but as I was putting them on it slipped out of my hand and fell down ontop of the tranny, never to be found again. I'll take that as a sign that the black will do just fine

Spark = Good

Bender · October 14, 2002

I don’t have a Summit catalog handy, but I’m sure you’ll spend a lot less than $300 for an MSD unit. Believe me, It’s worth the cash. I can annihilate [sp?] my 35’s. I went the whole way on my truck with the MSD billet distributor and the spark advance unit and an MSD 6 unit. I had the “special” heavy duty 4-wheel unit and can tell you personally that it wasn’t worth the money (long story).

I know what you mean by having to spend money on other stuff first. Good luck on your truck.

:thumb:

hogger999 · December 1, 2002

Now that I have this '84 GMC K2500, I'm going to be do a lot of work on the interior too. Where are you going to be shopping for your stuff Torque Junkie?

Torque Junkie · December 3, 2002

Now that I have this '84 GMC K2500, I'm going to be do a lot of work on the interior too. Where are you going to be shopping for your stuff Torque Junkie?

I'm not sure yet.... $$ is quite tight at the moment so it'll be a while before I get to it.

My plans include replacing the instrument bezel, door panels, replacing the dash board with an 81-87 style flat board and then swapping out the seat for a high-back bucket w/ a folding center console, and then repainting all the metal surfaces. I've already swapped the gauges and the steering wheel. Laugh if you must but I've found a really nice seat setup in JC Whitney. I'm not sure of the quality though. Also, both JCW and LMC Truck have alot of the stuff like dash boards and door panels, etc.