Posted By: 71Polara383
79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/01/10 05:36 AM
What parts are needed to make my cordoba non lean burn. Thanks.
79 360 Lean burn Convertion
Posted By: SPWC
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/01/10 05:43 AM
Youll need a complete electronic ignition kit(Distributor,Electric control box aka ECU,The wiring harness and a Ballast resistor)These items can actually be purchased seperately from any parts house and "piece mealing" the parts can actually save you $$$,and you can get a warranty on certain parts,like the dizzy.
Make sure that when you do away with the current Lean Burn connections to the computer on the air cleaner,that you ensure the wires dont touch a ground. Some of those wires are still "hot" and can cause an engine fire under the right circumstances(DAMHIK)
You might want to change the carb,as the current Lean Burn Dizzy doesnt have vacuum advance,and the Lean Burn carb doesnt have provisions for a vacuum advance port,it can be drilled but its easier to change the carb. The Lean Burn carb thats on it can cause the engine to run super lean if left the way it is and will likely cause an overheating issue.
I did a Lean Burn to Electronic swap on my 78 Cordoba 400 4V. It ran great but had an overheating problem I chased for a year.I pulled the carb and put on an Eddy Carb and no more overheating at all!!
Heres a website you may be interested in:
http://www.oldengine.org/unfaq/leadfoot/leanburn.htm
If anyone has anything to add please chime in.
Make sure that when you do away with the current Lean Burn connections to the computer on the air cleaner,that you ensure the wires dont touch a ground. Some of those wires are still "hot" and can cause an engine fire under the right circumstances(DAMHIK)
You might want to change the carb,as the current Lean Burn Dizzy doesnt have vacuum advance,and the Lean Burn carb doesnt have provisions for a vacuum advance port,it can be drilled but its easier to change the carb. The Lean Burn carb thats on it can cause the engine to run super lean if left the way it is and will likely cause an overheating issue.
I did a Lean Burn to Electronic swap on my 78 Cordoba 400 4V. It ran great but had an overheating problem I chased for a year.I pulled the carb and put on an Eddy Carb and no more overheating at all!!
Heres a website you may be interested in:
http://www.oldengine.org/unfaq/leadfoot/leanburn.htm
If anyone has anything to add please chime in.
Posted By: 440fied
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/01/10 05:44 AM
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/01/10 06:25 AM
you can get a JY dist/ecu harness/2 terminal ballast and a new parts house 4 pin ECU (they are cheap & work OK). Take apart the dist & clean/lube & toss the thick spring w the long loop. Cant help on the carb end.
Posted By: DaytonaTurbo
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/01/10 06:51 AM
Bought a new procomp ready to run distributor off ebay and used it on my friend's 318. Simple 2-wire hookup, no ecu or ballast resistor needed. So easy a cave man could do it. Put one on my 440 too. 
Posted By: 5thAve
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/01/10 10:57 AM
The carb won't have a spot for vacum advance and is setup differently so you need to change it. Part of the wiring is already done on it because the computer already has a ballast resistor. When I did it I just go the parts from a junk yard van. $5 out the door 
I changed to a MP distributor and wiring later.
I changed to a MP distributor and wiring later.
Posted By: 69L78Nova
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/01/10 05:08 PM
Quote:
The carb won't have a spot for vacum advance
Most of the LB carbs I have (over 15 Thermoquads) have a ported vacuum source that would work fine for a vacuum advance
Posted By: unclemike
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/01/10 05:29 PM
You lucked out the the Thermoquads as only one of mine has the distributor vacuum port.
The MP stuff has gotten way over priced lately, I go along with using auto parts store bought parts.
If you go to Rock Auto they list a Cardone Select A block distributor that is all new for about $70.
If you are really lucky your Cordoba will have the 5 pin connector on the wiring harness, my 1976 400 was set up that way.
The MP stuff has gotten way over priced lately, I go along with using auto parts store bought parts.
If you go to Rock Auto they list a Cardone Select A block distributor that is all new for about $70.
If you are really lucky your Cordoba will have the 5 pin connector on the wiring harness, my 1976 400 was set up that way.
Posted By: SPWC
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/01/10 07:02 PM
Just so you can get an idea of prices,I have priced the parts individually from Autozone.
Application I entered is for a 74 Dodge Charger 360(the pieces SHOULD be the same as all LA engines)
Reman Dizzy(Lifetime Warranty) PN 30-3890(A1 Cardone)= $39.99 with a $10.00 core
Take in your Lean Burn dizzy a day after you purchase the Electronic Dizzy to get your core back. They wont know the difference that the one your returning for core is a Lean Burn piece.
Electric Control Box(ECU) Lifetime Warranty PN CR100(Duralast)= $25.00
UMMM...You might want to go to Summit for the Ignition wiring Harness,Autozone prices them at $60---YIKES!!!
Mopar Performance Wiring Harness(from Summit) PN P3690152 = $19.95
Ballast Resistor (Autozone) Duralast PN CR105 = $3.99
Total $88.93 plus tax
VS.
a kit thats already complete from JEGS which is $262.99
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mopar%20Performance/312/P3690432K/10002/-1?CT=999
Of course you can probably go even cheaper if you sourced parts from a Boneyard.
Application I entered is for a 74 Dodge Charger 360(the pieces SHOULD be the same as all LA engines)
Reman Dizzy(Lifetime Warranty) PN 30-3890(A1 Cardone)= $39.99 with a $10.00 core
Take in your Lean Burn dizzy a day after you purchase the Electronic Dizzy to get your core back. They wont know the difference that the one your returning for core is a Lean Burn piece.
Electric Control Box(ECU) Lifetime Warranty PN CR100(Duralast)= $25.00
UMMM...You might want to go to Summit for the Ignition wiring Harness,Autozone prices them at $60---YIKES!!!
Mopar Performance Wiring Harness(from Summit) PN P3690152 = $19.95
Ballast Resistor (Autozone) Duralast PN CR105 = $3.99
Total $88.93 plus tax
VS.
a kit thats already complete from JEGS which is $262.99
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mopar%20Performance/312/P3690432K/10002/-1?CT=999
Of course you can probably go even cheaper if you sourced parts from a Boneyard.
Posted By: StukaJU87
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/02/10 01:26 AM
Quote:They look cool for the money. I checked them out and I don't see any listed for 383 or 400. Just 440. That stinks.
Bought a new procomp ready to run distributor off ebay and used it on my friend's 318. Simple 2-wire hookup, no ecu or ballast resistor needed. So easy a cave man could do it. Put one on my 440 too.
Posted By: David Hakim
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/02/10 01:36 AM
Mancini Racing also has complete ignition kits that are competitively priced.
http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/manciniracing17.html
http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/manciniracing17.html
Posted By: SPWC
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/02/10 02:54 AM
Another option for doing a lean burn conversion is to get yourself a standard Points Distributor and put in a Pertronix unit.
Installation is super easy. Take the points out and keep them in your glove3 box in case of an emergency.
Install the Pertronix,set the gap with the clear plastic piece provided,install the rotor. Then run the 2 wires the coil. 1(red) on the + side and 1(black) on the - side. Reinstall your dizzy in the engine and your done!!!
Installation is super easy. Take the points out and keep them in your glove3 box in case of an emergency.
Install the Pertronix,set the gap with the clear plastic piece provided,install the rotor. Then run the 2 wires the coil. 1(red) on the + side and 1(black) on the - side. Reinstall your dizzy in the engine and your done!!!
Posted By: 5thAve
Re: 79 360 Lean burn Convertion - 05/03/10 08:21 AM
Quote:Quote:
The carb won't have a spot for vacum advance
Most of the LB carbs I have (over 15 Thermoquads) have a ported vacuum source that would work fine for a vacuum advance
Thermoquads have it but 2 barrel ones usually don't.