The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop HEI conversion

We all want a perfect part but i got news for you! No one can make or sell you anything with a 100% no fail guarantee. New 2014 car parts fail, old parts fail, parts worth thousands of dollars fail. People keep giving you answers to you over and over and you ask the same questions again and again.

Hate to say it buddy but I think its safe to say the majority of parts found in cars find their way from over seas no matter if its domestic car or not. Electronics parts are known for that.

Your looking for a 100% GM made HEI unit, Full Gm module, full GM housing, full GM everything with a full gm price for your block? try your local dealer and see what they have to say.

Someone else can chime in but was the 261 ever made with a HEI system from the factory? for any year of inline 261? If they did GM can get you want you need.

I will give it another shot here because work is slow and I am bored.

Tom gets a GM distributor from some sort of source. If its a new unit off the shelf or fully rebuilt unit off the shelf or a unit from a junk yard I do not exactly know. What application the distributor came off of for your 261 i don't know either, I just know what the 235 modified ones come from. The one I just got from him looked rebuilt to me. Hard to tell the difference it was very well done.

He takes it all apart and spins the body on a lathe to reshape the shaft housing to fit your application. He then installs a drive gear on the shaft to also suit your application.

He puts it all back together with a NEW cap and rotor and what looks like a new vacuum advance. The module in mine has a nice big raised area on it that says GM molded right into the plastic.

He then gets a new HEI coil that is a GM equivalent that will meet and or exceed the original equipment specifications and puts that next to your rebuilt and modified distributor.

He then gives them both a little kiss and tucks them away in the shipping box all nice and tight in non GM packing material.

I think the options for your application have been laid out nicely from the site members. We have all chipped in fully explaining the pros and cons to each.

#1 Stay 100% Stock.
Pros:
-Looks Stock
-You can still find 100% GM parts on ebay, can also buy some after market non GM parts at local shops
-Can also buy fully rebuilt units
-You can make fun of people with aftermarket system because your still running stock and yours is working fine

Cons:
-Components can fail
-Harder to find parts at times
-Needs minor adjustments at times

#2 Stock Distributor with Pertronix Installed
Pros:
- Looks almost 100% stock
-No need to adjust points again
-You get to make fun of people running stock systems because you never have to touch points again.

Cons:
-Components can fail
-Cost of the unit is about $100
-Cant roll into a local shop and find a unit for replacement
-Need to ensure your running the right coil separate resistor and or correct coil with internal resistor and that adds more $$$ to the purchase price.

#3 Modified small cap HEI from any vendor
Pros:
-Parts that can fail like the caps, rotors, vacuum advance, internal modules, and coils can be purchased at any local store.
- I'm going to claim better performance due to higher voltages, and the ability to open the gap in the plugs to get a better burn
-Some like the modified more modern component look on their ride
Can get optional coil to stay with that stock cylinder coil look.
- You can make fun of people who still run stock and others who wasted time and money on Pertronix (note I was once a Pertronix owner lol)
-Can possibly offer some adjustability

Cons:
-Components can fail
-Cost of a full unit is about $200
-Need a bracket to mount the stand alone coil
-Some say you can arc in the cap (have yet to read or see proof on a inline 6 that only revs around 3000rpm)
-Not 100% stock looking but almost is.

#4 Modified large cap HEI from any vendor
Pros:
-Parts that can fail like the caps, rotors, vacuum advance, internal modules, and coils can be purchased at any local store
- I'm going to claim better performance due to higher voltages, and the ability to open the gap in the plugs to get a better burn
-Some like the modified more modern component look on their ride
-Coil is located on distributor so no bracket needed
-Can possibly offer some adjustability

Cons:
-Components can fail
-Cost of a full unit is about $200
-Some say you get no arc in cap
-Not stock looking


Did i miss any options? People have told you who can provide these options. Its not up to us to tell you to go buy the stuff from that's a choice you need to make. Companies on ebay can vanish overnight, health and other issues can cause others to leave the business, dealers choose to not carry older or certain parts anymore. Your never going to catch this white rabbit you keep chasing.