1981 ignition swap/conversion questions

[El Toro]

my coil is shot on my 81 2wd gl and i have decided to swap the old system with one out of a 82+.so parts on the list are distributor, coil (OEM), and internally regulated alt. my question is what wires will i need and if you have done this swap before what advice would you give?

[monstaru]

as far as i can remember,the wiring would not be different as long as they are both ea-81 motors.i would look into the gm alternator swap if you are going to be swapping things out.i love mine.no more moving voltage needle:grin: just search for raventbk's post on it and you will find a link to his swap. as far as everything else goes ,why would you change disties if you do not need to?

[El Toro]

if im not mistaken the old disty would not work because it would rely on the old coil and alt.(since the old alt was not internally regulated)

[El Toro]

come on.....I know some one has done this swap............

[El Toro]

maybe i could use the old distributer if i cut the wire that sends the info from the external igniter set up......any thoughts

[naru]

maybe i could use the old distributer if i cut the wire that sends the info from the external igniter set up......any thoughts

 

Nope,that would leave you w/o an ignition module.

Easiest would be to replace the original coil.An exact replacement would be on any 81.

 

Chilton`s shows coil primary resistance is nearly identical for all 81-3 coils.

That being the case,I wouldn`t expect problems.My choice would be one from an 82-3 w/a Nippon-Denso disty.

 

If you do swap to the 82 disty,there is no need to swap alts. to internally regged.

Doing so would leave you w/o fuel pump power I think.

[El Toro]

Nope,that would leave you w/o an ignition module.

Easiest would be to replace the original coil.An exact replacement would be on any 81.

 

Chilton`s shows coil primary resistance is nearly identical for all 81-3 coils.

That being the case,I wouldn`t expect problems.My choice would be one from an 82-3 w/a Nippon-Denso disty.

 

If you do swap to the 82 disty,there is no need to swap alts. to internally regged.

Doing so would leave you w/o fuel pump power I think.

my plan is to have the wire that gives power to the fuel pump to be wired to the ignition or the constant on the coil.so this is what i think is going to happen.

1. swap old external regulated alt w/ internal reg alt

2. cut fuel wire from old alt rump roast. and wire it to the coil constant power

3. change out dist keeping the wires form the replacement one to go to...

4. coil w/ out resistor replacing the old one that needed the resistor

5. run the 2 wires (pos neg)from the replaced dist to the new coil

6. check timing and all that

7. hope for the best

 

OK now where are the flaws.....got be one in there some where......please let me know if you see one

[El Toro]

OK so here is my old alt

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=11897&cat=500&ppuser=13949

and the new one from a 83 gl wagon

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=11898&cat=500&ppuser=13949

now i will cut the blue and yellow wire that goes from the fuel pump to the external regulator and attach it to the coil. plus i will take the "E" wire and attach it to the coil. plug the old T in to the new alt and TA DA! well off to do it.