Hi all, I have a few questons to ask in regards to the ignition system in my 1980 242DL (B21E, K-Jet injection)...

Yesterday, the car was running just fine while on the way to it's annual motor vehicle inspection (passed just fine). On the way home, it just died. I got the car home thanks to a push from one of the friendly local town cops. After a lot of time studying wiring diagrams and probing with a volt/ohm meter, I think my ignition module is dead. No spark at all while cranking the car. None of my local auto parts stores can test it for me, though. After checking on the price of a new one, I got really scared!

Can anybody tell me if there is a way for me to test this thing here at home using a volt/ohmmeter? It's a Bosch unit, pn 0 227 100 018. A trip to the local junkyard today yeilded no ignition modules anything like what I was looking for, though I did pick up a spare ignition coil...

If indeed my ignition module is dead, has anybody ever tried wiring in a 4 pin GM HEI ignition module in it's place? I noticed the plug that goes to my Bosch unit only uses 5 wires... I know it's a fairly common practice to use these HEI modules to replace the transistor unit in old Datsun 260Z and 280Z's (I have a 280Z with HEI, but only because of the hi-performance 383 small block Chevy engine under the hood!), has anybody done this with an older Volvo? The HEI module, though it has only 4 pins, has 5 "terminals" in that the back of the case is the ground. 2 wires come from the pickup in the distributor, and the other two are for swithched +12V in and coil hot wire. Can this be used to get my old reliable 242 going again at a much more reasonable price than a replacement for the Bosch 0 227 100 018 unit??

If the HEI isn't feasible, I also have at my disposal an MSD6A unit. Has anybody ever installed one of these into a 1980 model? Does it replace the existing Bosch unit, or does it work in conjunction with it?

I'd like to get the 242 going again as soon as possible, because the 280Z with the SBC motor burns premium fuel at a somewhat disturbing rate to be using it as my daily driver right now... Sorry to ramble on like this, but any answers to any of the above questions will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

billy242
1980 242DL/GT hybrid