4.3l ignition question

[kevineugenius]

I'm sure someone in here knows this. We have a 4.3L taken from a 98 S10blazer that we are hot-rodding into a 1949 Austin of England. I know the 4.3 has an electronic ignition already, but can you change it to an aftermarket electronic ignition and if so, what is a good one to use?

[Sparky2263]

Need a little more info. Are you planning on using the fuel injection/ecm setup as is or changing to carbed?

[jjwalker]

If you are putting it into a 1949, then I would go carb....running wires on that thing will blow your mind!

[kevineugenius]

Yes, we are going carb. So, on that note, if anyone would like to suggest a good intake/carb combo or distributor with vacuum advance, please feel free. Also having a little trouble deciding what water pump to use, as the space in the little-bitty British car is not much. Stock water pump is 6.25" from block to pulley, and we'd like to reduce that space. At any rate, ignition is the question of the hour. Thanks in advance.

[Sparky2263]

All you'll need is a distributor then. Crane makes a really neat self contained unit. Has 8-10 different programs for centrifugal advance and 5-6 for the vacuum advance.

Put one in a customers 69 Z-28 with a 400. Extremely satisfied with it. One click of a screwdriver for pump gas and another click for race gas. Externally adjustable with a pocket screwdriver.

[jjwalker]

I second sparky's notion. You could also try an after market DIS system and just plug the distributor hole.

[kevineugenius]

Could I get some more info on that Crane thingy then? Are they photo optic? Thats about the only thing I know, is that I dont want photo optic. Also, as per the aftermarket DIS system, I have just about no idea what that is. Assuming you put a sensor on the crank and there's a computer somewhere that tells it when to fire? But, if you are going carbed to stay away from computers, what is the point? Maybe I should just get an engine from an 85 Astro and call it good.

[jjwalker]

nah, aftermarket DIS systems arent all that difficult. Yes, you would have to have a crank sensor and an ignition box, but as far as wiring is concerned, it isnt that hard. The most difficult part of the install is putting the crank sensor on, but other than that it is a breeze.

I am knocking the dist. idea, but with a high-end DIS system, you can plug all the timing curve and spark duration into the box with a laptop. You of course can adjust the distributor, but the ingition computer will be more accurate and precise, so you can *fine tune* more precisely. Depends on what you want, I am just giving ideas.

[Sparky2263]

http://www.cranecams.com/?show=promo&id=16

Don't know if it's avail. for the 4.3, give 'em a call. Cust. service is generally excellent. If it's not avail. and they have enough requests, it'll be avail.

Here's the MSD
http://www.msdignition.com/dist_12.htm

[freeky192]

as far as intake talk to edelbrok they make a intake for the 4.3 and tell them what u are doing and they can set u up