About ten years ago I bought a Jeep, 4wd, 1 1/4 ton, military pick up truck. Its a real brute with loads of power. It had a military ignition system.

For those unfamiliar with what that means translate to sealed ignition so the truck can theoretically be driven under water. That sounds kinda cool if you might wanna take a spin on the lake bottom or whatever but it also translates to VERY EXPENSIVE parts.

15-20$ each for plug wires, USED distributor cap-$150, spark plugs $12 each, and thats if you can even find them.

I decided to convert the ignition to a conventional distributor so parts wouldn't be so expensive or hard to find. I bought a brand new distributor from Auto Zone for 40$ and the other stuff to complete the ignition, brought it home and it wasn't even close to what I needed. A buddy was helping me out and he sez, "Jeez, the old one looks like a corvair distributor and I just happen to have a few."

He went to the farm and came back with one and sure nuff, it looked really close. The shaft length was the same and the distributor body was slightly larger than the original so we filed it down to fit. The darned thing still didn't seat properly in the drive gear tho. Upon closer inspection and some measuring with the vernier caliper we discovered the "ear" that fits into the drive gear was a tad too thick so we ground that down with the angle grinder and presto, it dropped right in.

We had to drag it around a bit in the yard to get it started because it had been sitting for several years, the old bomber started right up. She runs really well so the next step is to mount the snow plow.

It kinda reminds me of that old Johnny Cash song "One piece at a time"

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 13, 2002

Answers

Response to One piece at a time

You homestead engineer. I bet you even tanned the sheepskin your degree is on too. Way to go.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 13, 2002.

Response to One piece at a time

if I remeber correctly,, from the army days,, a AMC cap should have fit it ,,without changeing the whole thing

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 13, 2002.

Stan: Now you tell me! Seriously tho, I'm gonna gradually change it over to a 12vdc system with a delco alternator. Any tips etc?

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 13, 2002.

well,, since AMC made the jeep back then,, I dont see why you couldnt get a complete system and just change it over,, its the same engine

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 14, 2002.

Stan: I don't know if it is the same engine. This is an overhead cam, in-line six cyl, 230cid. I've never kept up with AMC but I don't recall ever hearing about an OHC engine in AMC products.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 14, 2002.

Hmmm! OHC 230cid in-line 6, sounds very similar to an Australian Ford engine.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), January 14, 2002.

Men are just so darn handy. Wish I had one (I think). LOLROF. Great job John! Can I interest you in a 1983 Ford Bronco, 351 engine with a real carberator (none of the fuel injection stuff). You only need to own a refinery to run it, but it goes anywhere that isn't at a 45 degree angle!

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 14, 2002.

that's a Kaiser 230ci ohc. They owned Jeep til they sold it to AMC in 1970. Civilian distributor should be a Prestolite AT-4416 10T.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), January 14, 2002.

Thanks guys! Especially Dave. I wrote that part # down.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 15, 2002.

John, I'm guessing you have a m715. If so, check out this site; http://m715.gq.nu/m715faq.html< /a>

They have a 24v to 12v conversion on there also.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), January 16, 2002.

http://m715.gq.nu/m715faq.html

http://m715.gq.nu/m715faq.html< /a>

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), January 16, 2002.

Dave: Thanks alot for the link. I checked it out and its gonna be really helpful.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 17, 2002.

I wish I could do that!

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.