Question about distributor size
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 5
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From: Alvarado, Texas
Question about distributor size
Hello everyone. I’m working on a 74 dent side with a 360. I have been looking at HEI distributors. I am wanting to get away from the points setup. There are 2 styles I have seen. First the HEI like they Chevys have. Second is the small style with external coil. My question is, is there any clearance problems with the Chevy style or stay with the more stock style? I’m not building this truck back to pure stock. Just more of a old school hot rod.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,764
Likes: 2,590
From: The Shenandoah Valley
Can't help with the query.
Points are so simple to swap out and set and don't just go "pfft" suddenly. Change out every ten thousand miles, set gap, check timing and dwell. You can add a CD ignition that will even extend the life.
Points are so simple to swap out and set and don't just go "pfft" suddenly. Change out every ten thousand miles, set gap, check timing and dwell. You can add a CD ignition that will even extend the life.
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Alvarado, Texas
I can change and set points. I have done it on many things. I just don’t want to deal with them. I’m actually leaning toward the HEI with external coil. It is more the style and appearance of the stock setup with less wiring.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 2,353
Keep in mind those HEI set ups are imported junk. if you put new Delco electronics in it and an MSD gear all you'll have left that's crap is the housing. I did this on my Jeep after fighting it for a year.
I would either keep the points or put a Durashart system in. they weren't the best system ever but better than the aftermarket crap.
I would either keep the points or put a Durashart system in. they weren't the best system ever but better than the aftermarket crap.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 563
Likes: 143
From: CA
ehh. They’ve left me on the side of the road plenty of times(typically condenser) and I didn’t get near 10k in that period. A lot of aftermarket ones won’t even allow for the correct gap without modification. Another case of poor new parts, that issue exists just the same with ei also though.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,876
Likes: 4,116
From: Angier, NC
This way you dont have to buy a new dist., make sure it has the right gear to match the cam, new plug wires and no need to run a full 12 volt wire.
Also when you need to replace the cap / rotor / wires you just get them for your year truck and dont have to guess what year / make / model the cap / rotor / wires are from if you go HEI.
BTW the big HEI unit dose not have a lot of room to adjust timing for a lot of people.
But if you run the small unit the spark can jump around inside the cap as there is less space between the plug lugs.
Because the HEI should have a higher spark out put is why the large cap, more space less cross firing.
Dave ----
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2022
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From: Alvarado, Texas
That is something I was considering. I haven’t messed with one before but I have read some good reviews about the conversion. It helps Summit is just 30 minutes from my home. Gives me another reason to go shopping for my truck.
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2022
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From: Alvarado, Texas
FuzzFace2 that is a good point about the size. That was the whole reason I was asking the question. Installed views, the big one just didn’t seem to give room to adjust and having the stock does make it easier to get tune up parts. Now I just need to find the part I need and get it. I maybe piecing it together but that is how you have to do it sometimes.
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