The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop HEI conversion

Hi, thinking of changing over to a hei system using my original distrutor. I saw that Deves upgrades has one but I saw that Petronius also has units to keep the original look. Any thoughts or experience to share?

Run- - - -do not walk away from both of them. An original-equipment GM HEI setup is much more reliable, much less expensive, and repair parts are available at any corner parts store. If you want a small-diameter distributor housing, an electronic distributor for an early GM 2.8 L V6 can be adapted to a stovebolt very easily.
Jerry

I have no experience with Pertronix or Deve's invention, but I do with Hotrod's suggestion.

I think I have 17 years on an electronic distributor for an early GM 2.8 L V6 as HL suggested above. No problems, none, in close to 100,000 miles in this form.

I have Pertronix units in both my truck and an old tractor. Couldn't be happier. They have worked flawlessly for me.

Today, I had my GM HEI module crap out on me out on the road. A quick trip to the closest parts store, removal of a few wires and some screws, I put the new module in, buttoned everything up and I was on my way.
Where are you going to find a Pertronix module specific to your vehicle out on the road? I am pleased that you have had good luck with your Pertonix, Chuck.
I was really happy with the Pertronix I use to run until my Chinese ignition remained on even after removing the key. The Pertronix module fried, and the plastic end of my coil melted.
Carl

For the dubious "advantage" of "looking original" with the stovebolt distributor that sits there and twitches constantly like it's got a geriatric disease, it's necessary to run a proprietary electronic system that's horrendously expensive and notoriously unreliable. That original distributor is often paired up with a 2-carb intake and a set of Fenton headers- - - - - -am I the only one who recognizes the presence of some sort of selective amnesia where "original" is concerned?
Jerry

Jerry, when you say early GM 2.8 L V6, what year/years are you suggesting? Would eBay be a good source? I was considering Petronix, but it seems too controversial for me after reading several posts on this subject by you and others whom I have come to rely on. There are some who are happy with them and I respect that, but I like to consider all my options first. Steve

There are several possible candidates- - -81-82 S-10 2.8L V6 seems to be the best choice, but that early-production carbureted V6 was used in several other vehicles. Once computer controlled ignition timing and fuel injection came along on that engine, the stand-alone HEI distributor with centrifugal and vacuum advance was discontinued.

The large-diameter HEI used on the 250 6 cylinder and a few others seems to be more available and less expensive, but some folks don't like it for some reason. It seems to me to be a better choice, but what do I know about it? I only worked on those engines and then taught automotive electronics for 30-something years!
Jerry

I have a Petronix on my mgb and carry a spare set of points in case it craps out .was awhile since I changed it over.not much to them to carry a set of points to put back in .

I have had a 6v Pertronix on my truck for many years. I also carry an extra distributor with points, just in case.

Tim has it covered with the extra distributor just in case.
Once you install the Pertronix unit, it is a whole lot more work than just putting the points back in when the Pertronix goes out.

Kevin57, I see you did an alternator on your ride, so you are not an "original" freak. You are a practical original person. You've gotten rid of the VR also.... so do the GM HEI as that guy said. He does seem to luck out all the time with his info........and thank him when you're done.
I don't know about "adapted very easily". Sometimes that is said by someone who has a machine shop in their garage with mens and ladies bathrooms and a waiting room with 2 year old magazines.

1982 was the first year for S10 so Here is a possible dizzy. Pick your Cap. Pretty cheap to buy this USA reman. (lifetime!!) $109 plus $20 core, cap and rotor.

82-85/86 2.8 2bbl carb, mechanical vac advance

86-93 2.8 TBI, electronic advance

There are good and bad experiences with Pertronix all over the automotive internet. There are no bad experiences with GM. Your orig dizzy may also be worn in places. Pertronix won't fix that. What is the price of a Pertronix unit?(on an old dizzy). It has never made sense to me to get one. The reliability is possibly in question. They might be like a box of chocolate.

Deve's unit has a few benefits that I like. Here is a link to his instructions for anyone interested--

http://devestechnet.com/Home/HEIgnition

For guys like me who like to tinker, it allows you to build it yourself with a minimum of fancy tools and is relatively inexpensive. The base plate can be made with an angle grinder, drill, Dremel and files. To modify the reluctor, I simply use a small rat tail file instead of a Dremel drill press as described in Deve's instructions. And if you have a spare distributor, you can rebuild it as part of the project (easy) so that when you are ready to install, you just swap out the dizzies.

It uses a standard GM HEI module, so a replacement can easily be found at any FLAPS if it ever conks out.

It fits into the stock distributor without any alterations, so it can easily be converted back to points.

I run a three wire 10SI alternator. I gutted an old voltage regulator, drilled a pattern of vent holes in it, and mount the HEI module in the old voltage regulator in the stock location on the firewall. I use the BAT terminal of the voltage regulator as my main battery junction terminal and connect the alternator's voltage sensing wire there. I use the other two terminals on the voltage regulator as junctions for the two wires from the distributor to the HEI module.

It looks basically stock when installed. There are some tell-tale signs that it isn't. One, there are wires going from the coil and distributor to the dummy voltage regulator. Two, the ballast resistor has a jumper between the terminals. Three, I didn't paint the MSD Blaster ignition coil black to look like the original Delco, but I could have. Four, the 12 volt side terminal connection from the starter to the + side of the coil is not connected. You'd have to know these engines pretty well to detect any of that. I like a stock look, but I'm not a purist. Heck, I have an alternator and A/C.

I don't have any experience with Pertonix. And I like the stock points ignitions. Building a couple of Deve's units simply gave me a chance to experiment with something new, part of the fun of this hobby.

Matt

Cosmo, PM sent. Steve

bartamos, how does this dizzy from O'Reillys compare to the more expensive model sold by Langdons, and do you have one?

Jerry supplied info to poster about GM 2.8 Dizzy. You asked what years and where to get. You can get a donor from a S10 or buy a new one. I searched the facts about S10 and the vacuum advance style for 2.8 and posted what I found and a source. Don't know about the Langdon. Will check. I have never done the swap and only know what Jerry and others advise. Was just trying to help with years and source and history of 2.8 to add what I could to the posterity of the post for future searchers.
To my untrained eyes, the Langdon looks like the O'reilly's. Same dizzy, same cap. Already modified, don't know what modification is necessary. I think there is a TIP here on it.

After reading the how-to tip by woodwindow. I am thinking that by the time you buy a dizzy, the cap and rotor, pay a $20 core and do all the mod (if you are able), Langdon's $190 is not highway robbery by any means. There are members who have used that unit.
P.S. The tip says 1980 S10, my research says first S10 was 1982.
If the Langdon's is a new GM dizzy, modified and drop in, it looks like the best/value overall idea for mostly stock looking HEI for 235. I'm judging from my limited perspective and new knowledge. If I was doing it, that is what I would do.

The drop-in unit, already modified by Langdon, is a good deal for those people who don't have the experience and shop facilities to do the work themselves. Personally, I'd choose to acquire a used item from Ebay or a salvage yard and save a few bucks, but I realize my situation with 50+ years of experience and a shop full of equipment doesn't fit the norm for most of the members of the Stovebolt community. Different strokes for different folks!
Jerry

Thank you bartamos and Jerry for the past two posts with your well respected advice and experience and putting all the available information in perspective, This gives me something to chew on. Steve

I have a mini HEI from Langdon's and it lasted for 9 years and 27000 miles in my 1954 3100, 235, it is torn down and I am going to replace all the internals. It has given me good service up to about 2 weeks ago and it just quit. BTW it is out of a 1985 s10 according to Langdon's. When I called they got right back to me and listed in order things to check. Parts were easy to get either in stock or overnight from the major stores.

I went with a 20 dollar auto wecker gm hei out of a early 70s nova with a 250. Did the mods as per the tech tip in the tech tip forum. Have not had any problems in 5years. I know it doesn't look stock..not a concern for me.. (1954 3100 235).