Thread: hard to start when cold - holden conversion

Originally Posted by bee utey

There are three main reasons HEI type ignition systems benefit an old engine:

1. The stronger spark allows you to run leaner mixtures and still fire them reliably. This helps emissions (primary reason why GMH put them on) and economy.

2. Constant spark energy. Unlike points systems where the spark output voltage is highly dependent on battery voltage, HEI dissy output is still full at relatively low voltages such as experienced at cold cranking speeds. They drop out under a quite low voltage, when your starter has almost stopped cranking.

3. They REMAIN IN TUNE!!! Points go out of adjustment quite quickly, so are slightly out of tune about 1/2 the time they are installed. Electronic dissy tuning remains where it is set for very long periods.

For 6 cylinder Holdens the original Bosch dissy from the blue motor is by far the best. They appear on ebay from $20 to $350, depending on condition. As with all things on ebay, you can get a bargain or get ripped off. A middle of the road one will give you the least risk, such as this one:

HOLDEN GENUINE BOSCH 6cyl ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR 202 | eBay

They should always be fitted with a replacement drive gear, either a new nylon one as recommended by Holdens or a steel oil pump gear off a wercked oil pump, as done by me heaps of times with 100% success.

BTW for LPG they are the bees knees so long as plug gaps are set at around 0.9mm. Otherwise cold starting and backfiring issues may occur.

Are these hard to set up on the vehicle or is it as simple as slip it in and adjust the position of the dizzy to suit the same timing setting as the old one? I'd assume they wire in the same way etc?

When you say to use a new drive gear, do you mean the one on the dizzy itself or the one on the oil pump? Not being entirely familiar with 186's I wanted to know what you meant, which gear should be replaced and why?

I installed an electronic dissy kit, similar to what bee utey linked to on ebay.

It came with the dizzy, coil, and leads. I just replaced the original with the new. Mounted the coil in the original Holden coil location, wired it all up. Fired her up, and she started first go.. Tuned it, and it runs heaps better.

It does have trouble starting, if I haven't started her in a few weeks. But I got around that by, just pulling the choke, pumping the accelerator a few times, and then she starts first go.. I've also noticed that the engine responds much better too, now .. This is a Holden 186 Red motor.

As for fuel economy, don't know yet, haven't driven her enough to notice the improvements.. But I'm sure there would be.. I put in a newly re-conditioned carburettor, which will help too..

Wolf