The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks HEI Distributors

Hey everyone so starting new thread to get recommendations on HEI ready to run Distributors. What are your opinions on HEI vs. Original points distributor? I guess the only thing holding me back from getting one is not knowing what to go with and that the original owner said he had put one in at one time but couldn't get the truck running quite right. Well it aint running quite right now so maybe its time to try. Any suggestions would help and this is continued from the discussion in the thread "new holley carb but with problems" thanks in advance.

HEI's are great, but ONLY the original equipment Delco types. Forget about modifications like the Pertronix or the imported clones of the GM units. The OEM GM module has some very necessary primary current limiting circuitry that's not included in aftertmarket clones of that module, and probably isn't included in the imported distributor knockoffs. The proprietary conversion units use scarce, expensive components that will keep you off the road for days or weeks if replacement parts are needed, and lots of the people here have had to deal with repeated failures. GM replacement parts are as close as the corner auto parts store.
Jerry

As has been mentioned everybody has one. I have had many vehicles from first gen Vette, multiple vw's, GTO, 442, 300hp impala, SS396, current VW and truck with 350 etc. All had points distributors and were/are as fast and reliable as I needed. Well, maybe not a couple of the VW's. Nothing wrong with points system except you need to check dwell once in a while. If you need something to be still pulling hard at 6000 rpm you probably need more than HEI anyway.

My round track engines with the required "stock-appearing" HEI systems for the class we were running were turning 7K + RPM to the consternation of all my competitors whose distributors started to spark scatter and miss at around 5500. It's a very simple modification.
Jerry

I agree that points are good. They been running them in vehicles since forever and why change it if it is working. My issue is i have changed to a holley carb and the engine is a sbc 350 out of a corvette. The engine isnt that old maybe 10yrs and was rebuilt. I didnt do it but the original owner of my 65 C20 was a mechanic his whole life and was the one who built it. Now the truck just isnt running right and was thinking ababout going HEI.

Thanks for your reply! So what exact brand do you suggest and do you have maybe a link or website that i can check out to see what your talking about? Thanks again for your imput!

Since you are already running a 350 just get an original equipment HEI distributor from your local U-Pull it yard or a reman replacement from the parts store. As Jerry said get a GM unit not some Chinese made tin can.

There are a couple of areas to check out on a salvage yard HEI. To work in a non-computerized application it MUST have a vacuum advance on it. The later models without vacuum will have a separate 4-connector pigtail that is intended to attach to the electronic spark control section of an onboard computer. Don't use that one! The older models will also have centrifugal advance weights and springs under the rotor assembly. The weight pivots have a habit of wearing out because nobody ever thinks about lubricating them. The advance assembly can also get rusty and sticky- - - -same reason. If you're interested in converting an HEI to extreme RPM capability for a race-only application, drop me a PM and I'll go into detail about how it's done. It probably wouldn't be necessary or wise to do that on a street machine.
Jerry

Thank you Jerry. I appreciate your knowledge and my next step is finding a salvage yard near me and scouting out what they have. So you wouldnt suggest buying anything off the shelf then? Just try and find an OE from a early year chevy without the computer. Do I also need to use my coil or are these HEI have coils built into them. I have seen them both ways.

The V8 coil is built into the distributor cap, and it's unique to the system. The only remote-coil GM HEI's were for some early 4 and 6 cylinder engines. It has a VERY low resistance in the primary circuit, resulting in a massive surge of current and a quick buildup of magnetism as the power transistors in the module begin to conduct- - - -hence the necessity for a current limiter when the magnetic field reaches the full-saturation point. The open circuit voltage output is a minimum of 25 KV and can go to 50 KV under ideal circumstances. That's the reason "HEI" stands for "High Energy Ignition". Since a clean, properly-gapped spark plug fires at less than 10KV under normal operation, HEI equipped engines will run almost as well with the ground electrodes completely removed from the spark plugs. Aftermarket knockoffs are usually a thin shadow of the original parts- - - -Look at Edelbrock VS real Carter AFB carburetors!

I taught automotive electricity for a little over 30 years.
Jerry

Oh alright again thank you. Well I think you just ratted yourself out for being my go to guy about .... anything lol

Any help with this mod on a straight Six? 1963 vintage

On the 63 engine (194, 230 or 250) it's a drop-in fit. Just find a later model 250 or 292 HEI distributor and replace the point-type unit.
Jerry

Bo, see my journey in the Electrical Forum.🛠

cool thanks!

if you install the HEI you also must remove the resistor or resistor wire between the distr and the ign switch( or junction block), you need full voltage there
ron

Thoughts on converting an original Delco-Remy distributor with after market components to convert it to electronic ignition. I have a 305# V6 and I am not finding an OEM HEI distributors that will work. There have been some that have used Buick V6 distributor and had a custom collar/sleeve made so it will fit the intake. I was trying to avoid going that route.

Which direction does the V6 distributor turn? If it's a CCW rotation, the Buick distributor might be a necessity, as the centrifugal advance weights will retard, instead of advance the timing if a CW rotation unit is turned backwards. There's a tech tip out there somewhere about using a reluctor and a pickup coil for a 6 cylinder MOPAR electronic distributor in a Delco housing, and using that trigger signal to operate a Delco ignition module and a remote HEI coil. I was partway through converting a Triumph TR-6 distributor to that system when the car owner decided to go to an aftermarket distributor instead. It looks like a fairly simple conversion, just replace the points with the magnetic trigger and pickup coil. It does require some machining on the original distributor cam, however, so it would be wise to acquire a spare distributor to avoid doing a non-reversible modification to your only distributor!
Jerry