The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Langdons HEI Distributor....?

HI...OK for Christmas I get to choose a cool present. My choice is a Langdon HEI distributor for my 1954 /55 235 engine...how hard is it to install...what are the pros and cons...do we like the people that sell them and what is the overall reliability of the unit. If you got to choose a Christmas present would it be this unit or another? Of course I will not make a choice until I hear from you guys with more experience than you can shake a stick at....THANKS as always, Steve

I believe that some have their units and are pleased with them, they also seem to be easy to do business with,

however on my 52, I have a mallory electronic dist with no points,and also a mallory coil, like it a lot but maybe a little higher in cost then Langdons

good luck with your choice

joker,

What Mallory Coil did you use? Does it matter which one you use?

Joker...I must be messed up I thought the HEI unit did not require pionts....the mallory sounds better NO points I think I need to do some research as that was the whole deal to get away from points, condender, and rotors...was you unit easy to install ?....Thanks, Steve

I think the name High Energy Ignition is a patented GM name. It is a breakerless ignition with coil in cap (newer version). Many companies make aftermarket systems that fall under the general handle of; solid state, breakerless, HEI, Hall Effect and transistorized.

The common denominator is that they use no points...no moving parts other than the rotor. Other than the GM HEI with the coil-in-cap, they require stand alone coils.

I think some manufacturers require you to use their coils.

Stuart

Stuart...Thanks for clearing this new technology stuff up for me, I'm still using a feeler gage.....have you had any experience with this type of system..pro or con...THANKS, Steve

Steve,

I went to E-bay and bought a HEI from a 6 cylinder GM. It will need to be machined before it will fit in the old 235, but this is easy to do...many folks run these!

I liked the fact that the coil is mounted right on the distributor. It is REAL big and ugly though. Langdons is also a GM unit, but small and very nice looking. It requires a funny square external coil (I think) which I wasn't too fond of.

Most of the chatter on this site is about the Pertronix unit, which retains the stock distributor look.

Lots to choose from...save the feeler gauge, I think you need to set a air gap in most of these systems.

Stuart

I have Langdons HEI dist in my 235 and love it. Tom Langdon was an engineer for Chevy for 37 years and worked mainly with the 6cyl engines. I have met the man and I am inpressed with his knowledge and willingness to help the average Joe on the street. I have purchased several items from him and have found his prices to be fair and of good quality. I would not hesitate to do business with the man at any time. Just my 2c
Tom

here is a mallory link that you might wanna look at

click here

I have the mallory chrome external coil with ballast (12 volts) my dist. was installed 9 yrs ago, I did have to replace the electronic module about a yr ago.. runs good as well as the other units mentioned here.. you do have several choices.. good luck

Thanks guys... I have a call into Langdons for some answers I like the stock look but if parts are aproblem the GM HEI would be better. The smaller unit I have no idea who makes the actual workings.

Fat Fenders, did you have to do anything special to the unit to fit it in? I'm running a generator 12 volt I like stock look.

THANKS, Steve

here is a pix link of the coil
click here

Who Me, No the unit just droped in. The internal workings can be purchased at any auto parts store. I think they are from a s10 dist. I have all the info in the glove box just in case. The plug wires are for a f@#d 300 six. I think you can also use the wires from a rambler 6.
Tom

yeh you............sorry, I just had to do that

last but not least, you might check out this old post and see what was said


here it is

Man, too many options....all I wanted to do was drop in a breakerless unit in my 235 and drive away without having to use a machine shop or be a nuclear scientist...I guess I'm not the only one out there who is now corn-fused...let me ask this: is there anyone out there that has a breakerless system that fits into a 1955 1st series 235cu 12 volt w/generator and is vacuumme advanced that droped a unit in and it looked pretty stock and drove it away and is happy?....Second part: for all of us who are part number impaired could you give us the part numbers and or name for the unit that fits the above parameters like...Mallory....Langdon....Petronix....you guys are mechanical wizards, feel sorry for the rest of us and THANKS! Steve

The Langdons unit is vacuume advanced, and the Petronix is installed in your existing dist. by removing the points and the plate that they are secured to, don't know about the Mallory. All three will need a new high voltage coil.
I chose to go with the Langdons unit because if you blow a module in Lone Jack MO. you can get it at the local auto parts store. All the outhers you are there for a couple of days until you can find a module and have it shipped in.
The only thing you need to get for the mimi HEI is a set of wires and a coil. The coil that Langdon sells is for a Ford 300 six. You can pick this up on your own if you feel it nessary.
Just my 3c
Tom

OK.....I just spoke with the man himself Mr. Langdon he called me and he is a very nice person. I have purchased the mini unit with round coil. His GM HEI unit would also have worked with some modifications due to the gear and oil pump hook up. All of Mr. Langdons items can be picked up from an auto parts store and he provides instructions and you can call if you have any trouble with installation....it don't get any better than this folks....THANKS Mr. Langdon and thanks to all of you guys for all of your help and guidance! Steve

Me too. He is a nice guy. I bought my HEI unit from a guy who bought it from Langdon's Stovebolt. I cut off that IMHO ugly distributor coil/cap and wired in a separate chrome coil. It's been there so long I don't remember the size of the original distributor. I've had it on for 5 years and about 25K miles, no problems.

Cosmo....you are SO right! THANKS, Steve

I recently installed Langdons' Mini HEI w/ the round coil. So far so good. The idle and low speed/rpm driveability is a remarkable improvement and my truck has always run well. I also just purchased most of the engine parts I'll need for my 261 stroker from him. Fair prices backed up with good knowledge and great customer service.

I have Langdon's HEI for my 261. I am extremely pleased with its performance and the install was simple. I would certainly recommend him and his products.

Just a note to say you don't need a new coil for the Pertronix unit. I'm using two of them with my original coils, one with the ballast resistor, and one without. Both run great! I carry a spare module in the glove compartment with me though.

Hi All.. When I ordered the langdon -mini I spoke with Mr. Langdon and he said to keep an orginal look order the round coil would look best. I think its a FORD coil...I like the Mr. Langdon's engineering principle of you can get what ever you need to repair his distributor from any parts house no special tools or parts required....I like that! THANKS, Steve

Hello all, there are two wires coming off the Langdon HEI unit, one is pink, the other a sort dark brown. I found the instructions a bit confusing. He speaks of a non-existant tan wire, and also says the pink wire goes to the + terminal on the coil (?) Is this correct? I thought the only thing connected to the + terminal on the coil was the wire coming from the ignition switch terminal on the starter solenoid. And, the. - terminal on the coil originally went to a screw on the metal body of the distributor, but there's no mention in the instructions of how to connect that. Any help would be appreciated. Langdon's mini-HEI, round coil, 235, '61 Apache 10.
Thanks,
Greenman.

I've kept all my notes from Tom re. the Mini HEI I bought from him back in 2000, think was his first sale. I'm running the square coil so I just plug that in. The round coil drawing I have shows Pos.+ the pink wire (could be Red 10ga) to the + tab on the module of the HEI, it's the inboard tab, outboard tab brown wire to Neg post on coil.

Also from his page of instructions: "For those wanting an orig. appearance coil, a round HEI coil is avail. from Mallory (#29216).Hook the red wire to the coil + side (positive) and brown to the - Neg side"

I've had zero problems with this ignition over the years. Only issue is finned side cover is tight against the cap, had to grind that fin a bit and trim the bumps on the cap also that cover the ends of the module.

Thanks, Jim! Do your instructions talk about a wire for a tachometer? I'm hoping to add one to my truck, so it'd be great to know where that connects. Thanks again.