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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: California
Posts: 80
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Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
I need shopping / install tips for overhaul/update/ replacement of stock points distributor for 1975 Chevrolet truck 350 V8.
Installed in 1964 C10 LB pickup with truck 4 speed, Holley 4160, headers. As purchased: Runs rich, rough. #5 cylinder wire misfires, found cap terminal green. New plugs/wires. Thinkin pull / rebuild/ or junk distributor, appears stock with points /condenser Axcell cap. R&R Holley 4160 too. Distributor looks tight against firewall for install in 64 C10 Are there good (NAPA) better (SUMMIT) $$ best (Unknown racing) ways to go for new distributor? Get rid of points? Replace with what? Don’t see entire MSD system in future. $200 budget. Need regular reliability and low end torque more than performance for general old driver pickup truck. Sources? What works well? Whats in your SBC? Thanks Fredthecat |
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#2 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Weatherford Texas
Posts: 306
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
A normal GM HEI distributor will fit in your 64 truck and clear the firewall. It is close, but it clears fine and works without having to injure the firewall in any way. That gets rid of your old points and condenser and gives better performance and drivability. Some guys like the 75 dollar Chinese HEI clones that are sold on eBay. For me, I get used GM HEI (you're in California, surely Craigslist has some to offer) and rebuild them with new module, coil, cap and rotor from Rockauto. Even including new plug wires you should be able to go that route and still stay under your budget.
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: California
Posts: 80
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Thanks SR,
This is exactly the help I needed. Confirming an HEI distributor will fit in '75 350 installed in '64 C10 without having to alter firewall or pull motor was first step. Even if very close, if it slips in, clears and has been proven...great! Losing stock distributor is second step. There are several old GM HEI laying about in buddies parts bins. Budget just increased to ~$350-400....to make it run right. Will be searching for complete, new, upper mid-high quality HEI distributor. Bling not needed. I go to Summit Racing in Reno once a month. Any suggestions for what brand to seek; MSD, Mallory, etc. My first sbc. Thanks |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 3,188
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
I would stick with OEM HEI. Once you get the AC Delco part number (or OEM GM part number) try:
www.oewarehouse.com www.oehq.com www.rockauto.com And also try Amazon and Ebay. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Santa Rosa, Ca.
Posts: 539
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
I use nothing but Davis Unified Ignition (DUI) HEI distributors. They work great. They come with brass caps and a High output coil. DUI even recommends opening the plug gaps to .055 or .060. I run mine at .050. The advance curves are pre-set up for each engine application and they are rated to 7k. They test every one before it leaves their factory and each dizzy comes with a spec sheet with the results from the run up. The factory GM HEI's are normally only good to 6k at best. My BBC DUI cost around $279.00 at Summit.
Get a good set of Taylor or DUI's Live Wire sets and you should be good to go.
__________________
1977 Chevrolet C/10 Silverado. Step-Side, Factory 454, TH400, 3.73 Posi 12 Bolt. 1975 Chevrolet El Camino. 350, TH400, 3.08 Posi 10 Bolt. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Waskatenau, Alberta
Posts: 259
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
I have swapped quite a few HEI's into vehicles equipped with point type distributors. Guess it all depends on what you are using the truck for, and how much you want to spend. For a " daily driver", a good $50 junkyard HEI will work just fine. Throw on a new cap/rotor/wires/ plugs, and your in business.
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Manley Hot Springs Alaska
Posts: 253
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: san diego ca
Posts: 618
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
I have the summit house brand in my 74, it gave new life to my tired 350
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#9 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,951
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
Just get a used big cap HEI distributor. You can re-work a GM HEI distributor in a couple hours for $100-$250 depending on what's bad. With Delco electrical and proper care in assembly it will run well for another 40 years and replacement parts are over-the-counter.
Look it over carefully. If the base casting is cracked, the advance weight studs are badly worn, or the advance pivot is seized on the shaft from rust get a different unit. Before you disassemble it check the gear endplay. No reason to buy a shim set if you're already at .010"-.013" but most are pretty loose. Every .0128" is about 1° of advance so the closer you can get to .010" the better. http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...?post/1257140/ Professional grade electrical parts from AC Delco that will work and play well together and most are available cheaper than local with Amazon Prime shipping;
A pretty short list of aftermarket parts from the usual suspects (Moroso, Mr Gasket, etc);
A few good reference sites... http://rmcavoy.freeshell.org/HEI.html http://www.rustynutscarclub.com/HEI.htm http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...EI_distributor
__________________
1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. Last edited by hatzie; 05-30-2016 at 12:24 PM. |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Glendora CA -> Tampa FL
Posts: 587
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
You may want this thread moved over to the 60-66 message board since that is your model and there are plenty of people over there (including myself) who have done this.
If you are already having clearance issues with the stock points style distributor then a stock big cap HEI may be even tougher to fit. I would start by measuring the clearance between the current cap and the firewall. Many people have had success but others including myself could not fit a big cap HEI without a lot of difficulty. In my situation I was installing a 350 that already had a big cap HEI and it was within 1/8" of the firewall and would have been impossible to remove the whole distributor after the engine was in. My case might be extreme but I opted to move the engine forward 3" to the forward frame holes using some tubular engine mounts from POL and extend the drive shaft. Gave me tons more room in the back to work but that solution is not for everyone. Back to your situation, if you measure and the current cap is already at the firewall you could try one of the Pertronix, MSD, or similar offerings that do not have the coil-in-cap style, thus it would be a smaller diameter cap than regular HEI. Pros: Smaller cap that still allows you room between the firewall. Cons: You are committed to that brand for replacement parts unlike a traditional HEI coil-in-cap (big cap) that are interchangeable between brands. You also need an external coil and some are specific to that distributor. Had I not already invested in my HEI distributor I would have gone the route of this smaller cap style distributor. On a different vehicle I used a Pertronix Flame Thrower w/Ignitor III and their matching coil, and it worked great. Smaller cap and the module is internal so no need to mount a separate controller box, just a separate coil. Anyway that's JMHO so please don't flame me ![]()
__________________
1966 C10 Short Fleetside 1988 Sportster, 2008 Street Glide Ken's 1966 C10 build "Red Ale" Follow on Instgram: @cv_performance https://instagram.com/cv_performance Harley Performance Parts: CV Performance (Harley related) Enjoying the ride! |
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#11 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Weatherford Texas
Posts: 306
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
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#12 | |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,951
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
Quote:
Hybrid HEI systems are possible as long as the distributor has an AC signal magnetic pickup. For example on my 69 Polara... I bolted a D1906 4 terminal HEI to a specially milled chunk of 1/2" thick aluminum bar stock with heatsink paste. I used a gutted Chrysler ignition module as a cover. I also soldered pigtail wires to run from the D1906 to the Chrysler ignition module plug. I used a standard Chrysler 400 magnetic pickup distributor and a low 0.32ohm round Pertronix 44011 coil. I used the original Chrysler points ignition radio noise suppression condenser mounted on the original coil bracket and terminated to the + post on the new coil. I had to roll my own ignition sub-harness to connect the distributor, module, and coil to the car. Pigtails are available for the Chrysler ignition module and the magnetic pickup is a 2 position trailer connector. A casual observer will not be able to tell that Chrysler didn't build my 69 Polara with that ignition now. Yes. I could've used the Chrysler module but that's a 6V coil system not 12V with the obligatory drop in output voltage... 6v= 20KV output 12v low ohm coil=45KV output. Wider gapped plugs make the fuel light off easier and you need more volts for that. This guy took breaker points distributors for AMC and Chrysler engines and built small HEI distributors... http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/sm...cheap-1339405/
__________________
1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. Last edited by hatzie; 05-31-2016 at 06:18 AM. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Bloomington Indiana
Posts: 1,041
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Re: Selection of Replacement Distributor 1975 truck 350 sbc
Don't forget with the HEI distributor to open your plug gaps up to .045".
Use ACDelco R45TS or Autolite 24 plugs. Best wires are Taylor 74206, but they are pricey.
__________________
Rich Weyand 1978 K10 RCSB DD. |
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