The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop HEI in 248 GMC - Not Pertronix??????

Does anyone know what 6-cylinder electronic distributor could be used as a donor for a 248 GMC? I have access to a machine shop so that's not a problem. I know Jim Carter sells one machined and ready to go but I'd like to do it myself. I've looked at Pertronix but I will be using this as a daily driver and I want to use a readily available distributor body that can be rebuilt with over the counter parts in case I break down in the middle of nowhere!

I put a Mallory elect ignition in a 62' 261. I got it a Summit. Mite try them.

Hi Robert, nice to see you here!

Someone once described to me using an HEI from a Chevy six by comparing to the stock distributor, and machining to match. I couldn't get much more detail than that.

I've also been told that Chevy and GMC distributors are inter-changeable, but I've not tried to confirm it.

I'd like to upgrade my 270 to HEI, but haven't wanted to bite off that project. If you do it, take pictures and share them.

The GM HEI distributor used is one from a 76 to early 80`s 250/292 engines.
The guy who has done the swap is our NEW moderator TONY(the one in New York)

I did a bunch of these conversions , it's easy, only requires a grinder or a file.Just hack off the retaining ring on the aluminum distributer body, don't touch the area below the retainer, fits just fine in the 235-261 or GMC distributer hole.Then compare the old and new dist shaft just below the drive gear,it needs to be shortened about 3/8 inch and then reprofiled to match the original tip. I made a new hold down from some scrap steel,saves butchering the stock hold down. On some engines, the large HEI cap may foul the oil dip stick tube, you can bend the tube, but the stock stick is not flexible enough to fit back in.So then you need to use a thinner stick from a later Chevy and remark the full and add lines.These modified units work just fine, no problems, I have run them for 5 years.The Petronix unit works fine too I'm told,if you have to buy a HEI distributer and new plug wires,a module, it winds up costing the same as the Petronix
HEI modification

Ah, Tony the hacker strikes again.

I've resorted to buying used HEIs off the internet, the only one's that I've found locally were priced almost as high as a Pertronix module.

Has anyone tried putting a GM distributor in an International six? They did use a Delco distributor.

The key to distributor swaps is to use a distributor with the correct diameter shaft for the oil pump drive. Also pay attention to the thrust load on the distributor, if the dist body or oil pump body is supposed to take the end thrust. Make sure the dist gear is in good shape and not crammed down on the oil pump. Use layout dye to check fitment of gears.