what's the best HEI for 402BB? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Daves72'GMC · 12-13-2003, 06:52 PM

What's the best HEI for a '72 Chevy 402BB?. It will be 30 over with a mild RV cam and a performer edelbrock intake and 750 edelbrock carb.and stock exhaust manifolds and was wondering how much H.P it would put out?I want to get a distributor with the coil and everything in one unit. Thank you everyone for your help.

stepside454 · 12-13-2003, 07:11 PM

Im sold on performance Distributers DUI HEI Distributer.
I paid about 300 for it all new, & its set up for your truck. Ive used reworked stock HEIs, Pertonics & MSD. this DUI from perf. Distributers is great
never started easier, revs are crisp. & they claim that it makes so much spark on its own, that adding an MSD wouldnt inprove a thing

**BIG ORANGE** · 12-13-2003, 07:16 PM

A standard GM HEI distributor will work just fine!

stepside454 · 12-13-2003, 07:18 PM

your right... for a stock or near stock engine a stock HEI is fine, but I gotta tell yeah, when I pulled my stock, but good HEI out & put in the DUI unit. immediate differance is noticed.

GMC Jim · 12-13-2003, 07:38 PM

I bought a rebuilt GM HEI unit for my '71 402 BB. The distributor shop installed springs and weights to match the proper advance curves.....( This is important! )... Installed new heavy duty spark plug wires; re-gapped the plugs to .045 ; repalced wiring so that the HEI received a full 12 volts... Done over 10 years ago....never a problem... Would recomend also checking (or replacing ) the vacuum advance unit and adjust to proper specs.....There is more info on HEI conversions in the FAQ's........

Longhorn Man · 12-14-2003, 12:21 PM

stepside454, Your original HEI was probably getting ready to die. I have seen too many dyno tests that show minimal (if any) improvements when upgrading to a hotter spark on a mild engine.
I say stock HEI with maybe an advance kit and quality cap and rotor.

stepside454 · 12-14-2003, 01:09 PM

possibly your right, I did give it a tune up first. cap & rotor. & also played with advance weights& springs.John

junkyardjohn · 12-14-2003, 02:36 PM

A STOCK G.M. HEI WILL DO THE TRICK JUST FINE. RECURVE IT IF YOU WANT, $6 OR BUY AN ACCEL SUPERCOIL (45000 VOLTS) $48 AS COMPARED THE SPENDING $300. YOU CAN GET PARTS FOR A G.M. HEI ANYWERE. DAVE .... YOU'LL BE SHOCKED WHEN YOU FIND OUT HOW LITTLE HORSEPOWER YOUR 72 402 IS PUTTING OUT. BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER..... REMEMBER.... YOU SELL HORSEPOWER.. BUT DRIVE TOURQE. JOHN

Daves72'GMC · 12-14-2003, 06:13 PM

Thank you everyone for the info.

Tx Firefighter · 12-14-2003, 06:38 PM

You do know that small block and big block distributors are interchangable? Never utter the words "big block" when buying a part if you can help it.

Mike C · 12-14-2003, 06:40 PM

I put a ProForm HEI in my big block truck. $159 for a new polished housing, cap, rotor, high output coil, low saturation module.

Sierra · 12-14-2003, 09:33 PM

I'm thinking of swapping to one of the D.U.I. HEI distributors myself. Is this product really worth $300? Performance Distributors claims HP increase, but does anybody here have experience with this product? I don't mind spending the bucks if the results are worth it.

stepside454 · 12-14-2003, 09:40 PM

Sierra, I have it & love it. I know 300.00 is hard to justify for a distributer. But when you figure no need to ever add any additions like MSD or anything. I think its worth it. I know stock HEIs can be greatly improved with weights & springs for much less.
This thing rocks, I played with many HEis springs & weights before, & do make improvements. but never like this. in my case...Im sold& Im normally a tight ass with money.
Big improvement. John

Sierra · 12-14-2003, 09:59 PM

Thanks for the reply, John. It's always good to get feedback that helps with decision making. I may just have to place an order for one of the DUI HEI distributors, after all. I tried all the tricks with weights, springs, etc. too, but performance was always lacking. Maybe I can put this on top of my Christmas list, before it's too late!

Tim

12-13-2003, 06:52 PM	#1
Daves72'GMC Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Asheville, N.C Posts: 952	what's the best HEI for 402BB? What's the best HEI for a '72 Chevy 402BB?. It will be 30 over with a mild RV cam and a performer edelbrock intake and 750 edelbrock carb.and stock exhaust manifolds and was wondering how much H.P it would put out?I want to get a distributor with the coil and everything in one unit. Thank you everyone for your help.

12-13-2003, 07:11 PM	#2
stepside454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: st. louis area Posts: 1,551	Im sold on performance Distributers DUI HEI Distributer. I paid about 300 for it all new, & its set up for your truck. Ive used reworked stock HEIs, Pertonics & MSD. this DUI from perf. Distributers is great never started easier, revs are crisp. & they claim that it makes so much spark on its own, that adding an MSD wouldnt inprove a thing __________________ 75 GMC C-15 short/step factory 454, lowered

12-13-2003, 07:16 PM	#3
BIG ORANGE Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lancaster S.C. Posts: 4,752	A standard GM HEI distributor will work just fine! __________________ Things happen for a reason!

12-13-2003, 07:18 PM	#4
stepside454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: st. louis area Posts: 1,551	your right... for a stock or near stock engine a stock HEI is fine, but I gotta tell yeah, when I pulled my stock, but good HEI out & put in the DUI unit. immediate differance is noticed. __________________ 75 GMC C-15 short/step factory 454, lowered

12-13-2003, 07:38 PM	#5
GMC Jim Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 901	I bought a rebuilt GM HEI unit for my '71 402 BB. The distributor shop installed springs and weights to match the proper advance curves.....( This is important! )... Installed new heavy duty spark plug wires; re-gapped the plugs to .045 ; repalced wiring so that the HEI received a full 12 volts... Done over 10 years ago....never a problem... Would recomend also checking (or replacing ) the vacuum advance unit and adjust to proper specs.....There is more info on HEI conversions in the FAQ's........ __________________ '71 GMC;fleetside;PB/PS/AC/CC/402 Eng./Custom Paint/110,000act miles/3 fuel tanks(52gal).

12-14-2003, 12:21 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	stepside454, Your original HEI was probably getting ready to die. I have seen too many dyno tests that show minimal (if any) improvements when upgrading to a hotter spark on a mild engine. I say stock HEI with maybe an advance kit and quality cap and rotor.

12-14-2003, 01:09 PM	#7
stepside454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: st. louis area Posts: 1,551	possibly your right, I did give it a tune up first. cap & rotor. & also played with advance weights& springs.John __________________ 75 GMC C-15 short/step factory 454, lowered

12-14-2003, 02:36 PM	#8
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	A STOCK G.M. HEI WILL DO THE TRICK JUST FINE. RECURVE IT IF YOU WANT, $6 OR BUY AN ACCEL SUPERCOIL (45000 VOLTS) $48 AS COMPARED THE SPENDING $300. YOU CAN GET PARTS FOR A G.M. HEI ANYWERE. DAVE .... YOU'LL BE SHOCKED WHEN YOU FIND OUT HOW LITTLE HORSEPOWER YOUR 72 402 IS PUTTING OUT. BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER..... REMEMBER.... YOU SELL HORSEPOWER.. BUT DRIVE TOURQE. JOHN __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

12-14-2003, 06:13 PM	#9
Daves72'GMC Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Asheville, N.C Posts: 952	Thank you everyone for the info.

12-14-2003, 06:38 PM	#10
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	You do know that small block and big block distributors are interchangable? Never utter the words "big block" when buying a part if you can help it. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

12-14-2003, 06:40 PM	#11
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,715	I put a ProForm HEI in my big block truck. $159 for a new polished housing, cap, rotor, high output coil, low saturation module. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

12-14-2003, 09:33 PM	#12
Sierra Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Victoria, Texas Posts: 71	I'm thinking of swapping to one of the D.U.I. HEI distributors myself. Is this product really worth $300? Performance Distributors claims HP increase, but does anybody here have experience with this product? I don't mind spending the bucks if the results are worth it.

12-14-2003, 09:40 PM	#13
stepside454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: st. louis area Posts: 1,551	Sierra, I have it & love it. I know 300.00 is hard to justify for a distributer. But when you figure no need to ever add any additions like MSD or anything. I think its worth it. I know stock HEIs can be greatly improved with weights & springs for much less. This thing rocks, I played with many HEis springs & weights before, & do make improvements. but never like this. in my case...Im sold& Im normally a tight ass with money. Big improvement. John __________________ 75 GMC C-15 short/step factory 454, lowered

12-14-2003, 09:59 PM	#14
Sierra Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Victoria, Texas Posts: 71	Thanks for the reply, John. It's always good to get feedback that helps with decision making. I may just have to place an order for one of the DUI HEI distributors, after all. I tried all the tricks with weights, springs, etc. too, but performance was always lacking. Maybe I can put this on top of my Christmas list, before it's too late! Tim



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