HEI distributor question

[Bret B]

Picked up this distributor the other day thinking this would work fine. Now, after looking at it closer, not so sure it will work, let alone how to wire it up. I intend to use an MSD 6A box I have with MSD wires. Also intended to rebuild as much of it as needed.

Will this distributor work and how would I wire it up?

First photo here is the back of the distributor. What do these wires hook up to?


Second photo is the normal 3 wires going to coil.


Thanks for the help
Bret

[knuckledragger]

I believe that is one of the esc[?] distributors.If I remeber correctly you could splice the a and c[?] wires and it would operate like a conventional hei.I bet you could find that info somewhere on the web.I remember doing this mod on a 84 I had back in 91.
Dan

[Bret B]

So esc meaning it is a "computer" controlled or a throttle body injection distributor?

[knuckledragger]

The esc was the electronic spark control.On the trucks it adjusted timing.It was a poor idea from the start.You may be able to get rid of the esc wiring by using a older module in the distributor.If you do the bypass it should work as a normal hei.

[trevrolet65]

Yeah I did that to a 4.3 boat I just sold. Took out the points and installed the HEI. We took a battery and a set of jumper cables. Negative to distributor housing, positive to battery terminal, using a wire to connect to the distrubutor and jumper wire. Then played with the wires till we got it to fire when rotating by hand. Wanted to try it before I bought it from the guy. It's real easy.

[66 4x4]

Quick way to tell if it is a esc dist., pop the cap and look at the control module in it. If it has 5 pins it is a esc distributor. It is the only one I have seen with the odd ball 5 pin control module. Most were right around mid 80s, and could retard timing if it seined a knock. Right before they went TBI and then swapped over to the 7 pin and remote coil. .

[awbrown]

I have never seen a computer controled large cap hei with a vaccum can.. If it has a centrifical advance under the cap , then i would put a noncomputer controled module in it and run it ...