Best HEI Distributer
 

Which distributer would be the best for around $150.00? A GM Performance, Duralast, Accel, Cardone, or MSD?

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

Msd streetfire would be good for your driving, its good til 5500 rpm after that its a crap shoot, I`ve got the same in my truck.

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

I've had the same distributor in the last 3 engines in my truck over the past 20 years and it is an Autozone special. I may have changed the module once but it's been a good one. I was just a poor high school kid so couldn't afford a MSD now I have kids and still can't afford one but it runs great so don't want to mess with it.

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

The MSD Streetfire HEI distributor is a great economical yet reliable choice.

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

What does an MSD Street fire cost?

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

Stock GM's are good...MSD is good...Proform is good(Got one on my big block), Davis Unified igntion(NOT $150..Waaay over)....Mallory is great as well...Lots of guys will tell you "They all perform Almost the same." lol. MSD is very common and reliable.

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

I have not owned one but I have heard/read many complaints about the made in China, MSD Streetfire HEI's. With any of the made in China HEI's, don't be surprised if it leaves you stranded sometime. Personally, if I couldn't afford a new good quality HEI, I would find a used GM HEI and rebuild it.

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

in all the dozens of threads and countless posts I've read over the last few years, on this and other sites, it has been the consensus of opinion that a GM unit rebuilt with quality parts is the most economical way to go and more than adequate for most applications.

for the most part, commenters in those same threads offered the same general opinion of the Streetfire as Captainfab mentioned

that being said, me, I run the cheapest thing out there and carry a spare :D

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

That's what I did with mine.. I put OEM parts in it and its been perfect ever since.

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

Same here, my first HEI I pulled from a 74 nova, clreanedup and put in my truck, nova had 80K on the speedo, drove my truck for 19 years before the dizzy went away, bushings and the module fried, still looking for another stock seventies dizzy in the meantime the Streetfighter will have to do...

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

Just for a bit of clarification- not ALL MSD products are made in Chine. As they will state, MSD Streetfire and almost all their "ready to run" distributors are assembled in China.

I normally run the Pro Billet line and they are made in USA.
There has been a recent rash of counterfeit MSD parts being sold on ebay, as well as many discount websites, all which is documented on the MSD site, along with how to identify these parts.

I do not understand the difficulty in searching for HEI distributors, as any parts store handles an OEM replacement, for reasonable money compared to rebuilding one piece by piece.

Since most are looking for the cheapest way out, there will be some sacrifice to dependability and quality- because both cheap and quality do not co-exist in most products.
It's simply "get what you pay for" and a lot are disgusted with a product because they bought the cheapest crap they could rather than spend a little more and do it once.
Most of the guys I see that panic and worry about getting stranded are usually the ones buying the cheapest parts they can get. I've been a mechanic for over 30 years, and I seldom carry extra parts or tools with me other than the standard spare tire, jack and lug wrench.

Just my 2 cents worth, take it for what it is.

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

A good example of what Tincan is saying would be...I just purchased an HEI for my 292....From ebay, $75..it comes with a 65K coil and is built like a GM distributor with more coil....So I get that for $75 or I can get a much better quality DUI for $300(made in USA)..it has a 50K coil, but is much better quality. The one I got off ebay is 4.5 star and 99% positive feed back....so I said heck lets give it a shot, and if something goes haywire...I can always put DUI parts on it...Now I have no idea where this thing is assembled..probably in china, But like said..You get what you pay for...Haven't installed it yet, But will soon. :chevy:

Re: Best HEI Distributer
 

I ran a mallory maxfire in a f$rd 302

Has everything built right in.. no need for ign box. (has programmable rev limiters, idle etc built right into it)

its expensive... but if you don't have an ignition mod box already.... its off sets the cost.

Cleans up the firewall too by not having to have an MSD 6AL (example) box on the wall..

http://www.carid.com/images/mallory/...ms/1255104.jpg

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...36461751_n.jpg

https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...44152960_n.jpg