DUI HEI Distributor is absolutely worth it

[GunsMcBeef]

Greetings,

I've been slowly working to modernize my Scout II.

Latest project was "to improve the ignition". I bought a DUI HEI distributor. In a word, game-changing. To be fair, my stock ignition system, 48 years old, was past its prime and likely had various issues. Having said that, my Scout would start, idle, drive, and "worked". But I wanted more and better.

So I bought the DUI HEI Distributor and it was at my house in 3 days. It was well packaged. The instructions were perfectly fine. Literally is a 1 wire hookup (two if you have a tach). I did the this-n-thats with pulling a distributor, deleted the coil, supplied full voltage, and stabbed the new DUI in. I had a set of Mallory universal 703's around and used those in conjunction with some new E3 sparkplugs. Fired right up on the first try.

Speaking of firing right up, here's what I experienced:

1. My Scout starts easier and faster​

2. Without changing anything else, my idle jumped 200 RPM​

3. Engine revs easier​

4. Exhaust at cold startup smelled less "gassy" (am assuming it is burning its fuel more completely)​

5. It sounds better​

6. It's never run better​

​

Summary: Totally worth it​

 

[Dan Durante]

Greetings,

I've been slowly working to modernize my Scout II.

Latest project was "to improve the ignition". I bought a DUI HEI distributor. In a word, game-changing. To be fair, my stock ignition system, 48 years old, was past its prime and likely had various issues. Having said that, my Scout would start, idle, drive, and "worked". But I wanted more and better.

So I bought the DUI HEI Distributor and it was at my house in 3 days. It was well packaged. The instructions were perfectly fine. Literally is a 1 wire hookup (two if you have a tach). I did the this-n-thats with pulling a distributor, deleted the coil, supplied full voltage, and stabbed the new DUI in. I had a set of Mallory universal 703's around and used those in conjunction with some new E3 sparkplugs. Fired right up on the first try.

Speaking of firing right up, here's what I experienced:

1. My Scout starts easier and faster​

2. Without changing anything else, my idle jumped 200 RPM​

3. Engine revs easier​

4. Exhaust at cold startup smelled less "gassy" (am assuming it is burning its fuel more completely)​

5. It sounds better​

6. It's never run better​

​

Summary: Totally worth it​

Sweet! Got any pics of the install? Just got one for my 76 Traveler. Can't find a purty way to run the wires,,,,, so far. Plus, I think I'm off a tooth when I stabbed it. Had to turn it counterclockwise till the 12V wire plug-in connector ran into the top hose for it to run. Gonna get back out there today hopefully.

 

[GunsMcBeef]

You bet my friend, here you go. Holler if I can help.

 

[Dan Durante]

Thanks for the pics, very helpful. Wow, that does look good! I noticed you did the EGR delete. Thinking about doing that myself.
I like the plug wire set up. Where did you get that? Did the wires come pre cut or did you custom cut and install the connectors? I got the "Live Wires" when I ordered the DUI, not sure I like them. Could be because I decided to run the Champion RJ12YC plugs, (gapped @ 55) which have a nice extended electrode, but are physically shorter in length than the plugs I took out. Made it tough to put the boot on.

 

[1975IH200]

I have posted photos of my DUI installation (392) as well, in several ignition threads.
Feel free to search for them.

 

[GunsMcBeef]

My Scout II is a '72. No SMOG equipment. If it came with an EGR valve, it wasn't there when I bought it 15 years ago.

My plug wire set up is a Mallory Universal Set and a universal wire management kit. I bought the set, a real crimper, and watched some videos. I then mounted my wire management and started checking the wires for length and routing. You have some choices where to route your wires. Once I "found my path", I started trimming to length. I place the wire on the spark plug, gave it the right amount of slack in the wire management, and worked them up to the distributor. From there, I trimmed to length, removed the wires so I could work with them, and installed the distributor side connecters. Then I put it all back on, back into the wire management, and connected them all for the last time. Hard to say what is best. In my case, I went for "looks good to me" and I tried to minimize the overall length. What you see in the pictures is what made sense to me. I was thrilled when it started on the first try.