Programmable HEI
I just ordered a new distributor from a company out of San Diego. It is an HEI but with a fully programmable module for timing. Company is progression iginition. Should show up next week and I'll give a full report. Basically I will have timing control without having to have EFI.
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Subd
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Do they have a web site?
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https://progressionignition.com/ :chevy::chevy::chevy: |
Re: Programmable HEI
programmed via bluetooth. Looks like you can actually see it in live time and make changes. I'm especially interested in what it does for idle. Looks like it will adjust the timing when you load it putting it in gear Also like the lock-out anti-theft feature. Basically disables the ignition. The main reason I'm getting it is I want more initial timing but total with advance limited to 32 at the most. HEI dist aren't the most friendly trying to limit total advance and like most mine has 22 degrees built in due to the center plate and weights configuration. Currently running 10 initial and 32 total. Running say 16 initial with 32 total would allow the throttle plates to be closed more, showing less of the transfer circuit in the carb. This is all because of the overlap of my cam.
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Interesting. They aren't cheap but if the quality is there it would be worth it.
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I’ve read lots of comments on other forums about these 600 buck distributors. Most of the comments mentioned carrying a spare 80 buck hei just in case!
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If it doesn't pan out the adjustable MSD 6 series is really nice. I have had it on my 72 for several years. It does full timing curve along with vac advance and boost retard. The unit allowed me to ramp in the initial timing while cranking and still have a base timing in the mid 20 degrees! Only thing that sucks is that you need a laptop to program it.
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It also has a 30 return policy, so if I don't like it, it goes back. $459 for the HEI |
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Having an extra HEI module is good practice on the road even with a non programmable HEI.
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If I carried a spare part for everything that I feared may fail on a long trip I would need a trailer. The AAA platinum card is cheaper and way lighter. :)
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I have a whole soft sided tool bag I place behind the seat, even when I go to shows. When I was in the O.T.H.G. in San Diego almost every show I went to someone would ask for some tool. I mean people I didn't even know who had a car in the run or show would ask around and people would point them in my direction. I met people I would have never have met that way. It was kind of enjoying. Once you get your own car/truck dialed in you don't really need it, but people do and it was nice to be helpful.
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Part of me says wow, that's pretty cool. The other part of me says wow, are you sure bluetooth has a chance in the middle of all of the RF noise of a spark-jumping ignition system? ;-) I've worked with designing digital ignition and fuel injection systems for research engine test stands (way before bluetooth), so I'm sensitive to how tricky that stuff can be.
Please let us know how it works. |
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The dist showed up Monday and I was hoping to get it installed yesterday, but work got in the way. It does look like a very nice piece, the machining of the housing looks to be top notch and heavier than most I've seen. Maybe tonight. I will also post pictures.
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Finally got time to install. Super simple, set engine at 10 BTDC pull the old one, stab the new one with the rotor pointing towards #1 then rotate dist lining up rotor and a mark on the housing. This phases the rotor. Put the cap on, which looks to be an off the shelf type cap and rotor. Plug the wires in and start the engine. Verify 10 degrees lock down the dist. Download the app, scan for dist and enter pin. Generate a timing map by answering a few questions save and your good to go. I was able to set initial at 16 total at 30 with 15 "vac advance". One thing I like is 16 at idle in park, when I put it in drive it increases to apron 20 to keep idle up. You can monitor what's going on in real time and make adjustments to each condition as you want.
Still playing with it, but overall seems great. I'll continue to update as I put more miles on it, both around town and hwy. |
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When you set up your ‘timing map’ on your app and got 16 initial etc did you confirm these numbers with a timing light?
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Yes, I verified a few steps and looked like it was tracking well
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Awesome, sound like a fun toy. I'm gonna send a letter to Santa asking for one of those. Thanks for posting about it.
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Update: Still playing with it. It is everything claimed and works great. I've been able to smooth and raise the idle speed only when in gear by adding timing to the lowest rpm settings. so far works great. Need to dial in my new carb also but the other day with about 80% freeway and 20% in town driving, not really taking it easy I managed 15 MPG.
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Tdangle, how are you liking this after a few months? Any issue with the bluetooth connection? My son is having similar idle/transfer slot issues you had with the 454 we installed in his camaro. I was going to do the set screw thing to his HEI to limit his mechanical to about 10 but I like the idea of the kill switch and starting retard feature with your distributor. But I have always been hesitant to use things like ignition boxes because of adding one more possible electronic failure point. Everything is a tradeoff I guess. |
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So far very happy with the unit. Fun to watch the timing in real time. I’ve been making some small adjustments to cruise timing to help mileage while on the hwy. for the most part just driving it.
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This Progression Ignition, still going good for you? Do you believe the MPG has improved over whatever you used before?
Somehow today I stumbled on thinking about this unit again. What I been focusing on is the adaptive timing for the idle, like you mention when going from Park (or neutral) into drive and it keeps idle. I also believe this works when the AC turns on. From your signature you have AC - does the HEI deal with that too? Any idea if that is bad for the engine to be bumping the timing all around to keep stable idle during the cases (in drive, in park, AC on/off)? Heck, how does it know you are in idle or not? Also, do you have tach in your cluster too? I believe it has a wire for that but currently the dash (I upgraded to a stock one in my cluster) and it connects to the coil. Sorry for the 1 zillion questions, hope you don't mind them! |
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Another option is the MSD 6AL with integrated timing. I have been running one for about 5 years now. It also has captive discharge which is nice with bigger cams for cleaning up the idle.
Any of these setups should work the same way. Lock out the distributer and then set it at max timing. The box then sees the signal and delays the signal which gives the motor less timing. Hope that makes sense. With this timing modulation there should be no negative effect to the motor long term however if the electronics failed and it did still run you would have hard starting from maxed ignition timing due to the distributer being locked out. Speaking only for the MSD you can add a MAP sensor and use it to set up a vacuum advance curve. Since you ask about AC I am betting this function could be made to kick the idle up since the compressor load would be seen as a load, ie vacuum drop. The only catch to these systems that I have seen is there are only so many degrees of adjustment between all the settings for timing range together. It doesn't matter if you use them all in one table or two. I don't remember the range but do remember that 50 degrees total, vac and mechanical advance, isn't going to work with low base timing of something like 4 degrees. One thing that I really like is that my motor needs alot of base timing due to rhe cam. I am between 20 and 24 degrees. The MSD let's me ramp that in so I have effectively 0 degrees timing than ramp in the base timing by 600 RPM. This makes cranking easier and less chance of engine kickback on the starter. All the timing is done in simple tables via laptop. It also has several Rev limiters built into along with some racing functions that I don't use. |
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Well, I ordered one after getting a email back from them, I was real impressed how quickly the responded to my web query!
Might as well post my Q/A here.
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ah, I forgot about that feature, locking it - I am going to LOVE having that option!
Thanks tdangle |
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Just picked one up for the Chevelle... Hoping it allows me to dial in the timing on the Vortec heads.
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I have one on my 72 Blazer with a warmed-up L31 Vortec. It runs really well and I don't even think about it after I initially set it up.
I do think the retarded timing at startup makes it harder to start my engine, but I don't think that's adjustable. |
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