HEI...New or Junk Yard - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Long Knight · 11-12-2002, 01:26 PM

Well, I need to dig into the vault of wisdom, again. I am having ignition problems again on my '71 C-20 350. Yes, I have points. Yes, I have finally broken down and have decided to install electronic ignition. My question is, should I buy new or pull a unit off a bone yard truck and just slap some new parts on it. The NAPA guy said he could get me squared away with new parts for under $50 if I already had a distributor.

If I go with the Junk Yard Dis., do I need to look for certain years? avoid certain years?

Thanks everyone!

mikep · 11-12-2002, 01:56 PM

A new one will set you back a bit over ahundred and then you wont have to deal with sloppy bushings.

A bit of advice though. I always thought it was a bunch of crap untl I did it. I was having top end and under load misfires with my HEI equipped engine. Played with the carb a bit and still the same thing. Then I replaced the 16 gage wire I had going to it with a 10 gage wire feeding directly from the fuse block and my truck runs 100% better. No misfires at all. That HEI draws more current than I thought it would.

matt67350 · 11-12-2002, 02:05 PM

Get a New One, and you'll be very happy:p

Scottri · 11-12-2002, 02:14 PM

I bought mine from a junkyard for about $40.00 and it's worked great.

Scott

barn9 · 11-12-2002, 02:25 PM

I got my Accel HEI at the bone yard for $45. It was almost new, came off a TransAm that had been rolled. If I had known how much of a difference there would be, I'd have done it long before and been happy to pay more too. HEI and an internally regulated alternator did wonders for my truck, I would reccommend both changes to anyone.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 11-12-2002, 02:26 PM

Unless you have access to a distributor machine, I would recommend that you buy a new one. They have some pretty good deals on distributors now and they even have them curved if you like.

I have a distributor machine, so I can get by, buying used ones, but I still end up with time and parts into them.

Jim

cheyenne10 · 11-12-2002, 04:00 PM

Ok I also what to buy a new one. Where do I get one and which one should I buy and price shjould be? (best bang for buck). Mine is stock crate 350.

treefrog · 11-12-2002, 04:36 PM

Go New. If you go used, you may end up with compatability issues. I bit the bullet and went from 9.2 city to 11.9. Not much, but it's with 27" tires and 4.11 rear. TF

mikep · 11-12-2002, 04:36 PM

I think summit racing has them for around $110

HotRod929 · 11-12-2002, 04:55 PM

I just got a brand new Proform HEI distributor from www.summitracing.com. It was $157 and its RED to match my RED plug wires. Dont forget to get new HEI style wires as well. One other thing that I will also be getting is this summit HEI power pigtale. It has the right plug end for the 12v you need to run to your distributor and has an 8in lead. I figure might as well for 5 bucks. Here are the links for the distributor and the pigtale plug:

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=21377

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=11396

HotRod

11-12-2002, 01:26 PM	#1
Long Knight Spank 'em if you got 'em! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kansas City Posts: 628	HEI...New or Junk Yard Well, I need to dig into the vault of wisdom, again. I am having ignition problems again on my '71 C-20 350. Yes, I have points. Yes, I have finally broken down and have decided to install electronic ignition. My question is, should I buy new or pull a unit off a bone yard truck and just slap some new parts on it. The NAPA guy said he could get me squared away with new parts for under $50 if I already had a distributor. If I go with the Junk Yard Dis., do I need to look for certain years? avoid certain years? Thanks everyone! __________________ Long Knight '71 C-20, 350ci, TH350, Edl. 1406 Carb w/elec.choke, Ignitor ignition, Viper Tires, Orange Dipstick

11-12-2002, 01:56 PM	#2
mikep Used to have a truck Join Date: May 2002 Location: port orchard WA Posts: 1,552	A new one will set you back a bit over ahundred and then you wont have to deal with sloppy bushings. A bit of advice though. I always thought it was a bunch of crap untl I did it. I was having top end and under load misfires with my HEI equipped engine. Played with the carb a bit and still the same thing. Then I replaced the 16 gage wire I had going to it with a 10 gage wire feeding directly from the fuse block and my truck runs 100% better. No misfires at all. That HEI draws more current than I thought it would. __________________ No truck :-(

11-12-2002, 02:05 PM	#3
matt67350 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Benbrook, TX Posts: 1,060	Get a New One, and you'll be very happy:p __________________ 69 swb stepside, rebuild and upgrade in progress

11-12-2002, 02:14 PM	#4
Scottri Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Beaverton Oregon USA Posts: 338	I bought mine from a junkyard for about $40.00 and it's worked great. Scott __________________ 1969 GMC 3/4 Ton Long Bed Fleetside 350, 4 speed manual, P/S, P/B, Edelbrock 1406 Carb Beaverton / Portland Oregon

11-12-2002, 02:25 PM	#5
barn9 Half a bubble off! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Winfield, Ks, USA Posts: 5,588	I got my Accel HEI at the bone yard for $45. It was almost new, came off a TransAm that had been rolled. If I had known how much of a difference there would be, I'd have done it long before and been happy to pay more too. HEI and an internally regulated alternator did wonders for my truck, I would reccommend both changes to anyone. __________________ Just call me LB. '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

11-12-2002, 02:26 PM	#6
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Unless you have access to a distributor machine, I would recommend that you buy a new one. They have some pretty good deals on distributors now and they even have them curved if you like. I have a distributor machine, so I can get by, buying used ones, but I still end up with time and parts into them. Jim

11-12-2002, 04:00 PM	#7
cheyenne10 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,512	new dist. Ok I also what to buy a new one. Where do I get one and which one should I buy and price shjould be? (best bang for buck). Mine is stock crate 350. __________________ Bob

11-12-2002, 04:36 PM	#8
treefrog Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN USA Posts: 189	HEI Go New. If you go used, you may end up with compatability issues. I bit the bullet and went from 9.2 city to 11.9. Not much, but it's with 27" tires and 4.11 rear. TF

11-12-2002, 04:55 PM	#10
HotRod929 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bondurant, IA but in Worcester, MA for school Posts: 767	I just got a brand new Proform HEI distributor from www.summitracing.com. It was $157 and its RED to match my RED plug wires. Dont forget to get new HEI style wires as well. One other thing that I will also be getting is this summit HEI power pigtale. It has the right plug end for the 12v you need to run to your distributor and has an 8in lead. I figure might as well for 5 bucks. Here are the links for the distributor and the pigtale plug: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=21377 http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=11396 HotRod __________________ 1970 Chevy C-20 350 V-8 Turbo 350 w/ shift kit Dana 60 w/ 4.10 gears AND Powr-Loc POSI New Additions: Summit Headers 135amp alternator Proform HEI Edelbrock 1406 600cfm carb Sunpro Tach Powr-Loc POSI Edelbrock Performer RPM Intake MSD 6A Ignition Box AIM: HotRod929 Visit My Site: http://1970chevy.netfirms.com/

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