Hei or points?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**RonWT** · 08-05-2023, 10:52 PM

Folks, I am wondeing how many of you are still running the old points style ignition or if you have converted to HEI? if you converted, what style of HEI have you went to?

Thanks,

RonWT

CastIron · 08-06-2023, 01:24 AM

After watching the timing bounce all over at idle, I decided to replace my original distributor with a MSD street fire HEI distributor. It runs much better, but that might also be because I replaced a tired 307 with a crate 350 at the same time.

**Rust_never_sleeps** · 08-06-2023, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CastIron

After watching the timing bounce all over at idle, I decided to replace my original distributor with a MSD street fire HEI distributor. It runs much better, but that might also be because I replaced a tired 307 with a crate 350 at the same time.

You're a pretty hardcore "Belt and suspenders" guy ;-)

Wikid61 · 08-06-2023, 02:46 AM

HEI that is tight may step up the spark a lot. Especially using quality cap/rotor/wires/ect. Another option is this: https://pertronixbrands.com/ I've ran them & the stock cap tales up less space.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 08-06-2023, 04:25 AM

I found a definite performance improvement when converting to HEI. I've done it on V8s as well as my L6.
I ran PerTronix for about 7 years, but it burned out on me.
GM Delco-Remy style HEI is the best, and parts are universally available in the US.

don t. - 72gmc · 08-06-2023, 08:03 AM

I converted to a Skip White HEI dizzy years ago. The original dizzy, bad bushings made it wobble. At that time, $'s were tight, wanted something quick and easy.

Getting the truck back on the road this summer, wanted to R&R the cap and rotor. Skip White does not sell parts, but would sell me a new dizzy. Local auto parts guy I trust thinks he may have found an Excel cap & rotor. Parts arrive on Tuesday.

Good luck...Don

truckster · 08-06-2023, 10:14 AM

I had a factory HEI for years. I decided to upgrade to a Progression Ignition distributor a few months ago and I couldn't be happier. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and allows you to custom program timing maps on the fly. It also has a lockout function that will keep your vehicle from starting if you lock it on the app.

yuccales · 08-06-2023, 11:54 AM

Member of the "Points Forever" club here. Both my old dogs still run em. I just can't part with the old Penske.

**Getter-Done** · 08-06-2023, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuccales

Member of the "Points Forever" club here. Both my old dogs still run em. I just can't part with the old Penske.

I still have the Penske my Daddy used and that I was trained on.

**Rust_never_sleeps** · 08-07-2023, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuccales

Member of the "Points Forever" club here. Both my old dogs still run em. I just can't part with the old Penske.

Does that thing do other tricks besides dwell?

yuccales · 08-07-2023, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rust_never_sleeps

Does that thing do other tricks besides dwell?

Volts, ohms, rpm. For my early years that was my only "real" tester. Nowadays it just is my dwell meter.

custom10nut · 08-07-2023, 09:03 AM

I’ll chime in on this.
I wanted a HEI distributor, but wanted to keep the factory look.
I switched out my Dual Points for a Mallory Electronic Conversion kit.
It worked well for many years, but the module did go bad once, so I put in a new one and haven’t had any issues.

LNP · 08-07-2023, 01:20 PM

I run a HEI I got a new distributor from Summit. It was affordable came with a new cap & rotor. They even sell the wiring pigtail plug for a few bucks so you can make it a plug & play distribuotr.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...ckup/year/1969

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-890148/overview

howzzzit · 08-11-2023, 12:52 AM

How about this question? How many of you running points have ever had them suddenly drop dead? How many have had a hei drop dead?

697498chevy · 08-06-2023, 12:00 PM

My '69 C 10 also has O.E. distributor . Seems to run fine . Thanks

**Stocker** · 08-06-2023, 01:35 PM

I converted to a used late-Seventies GM HEI back in the early 1980s and couldn't be happier with it.

**Palf70Step** · 08-06-2023, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stocker

I converted to a used late-Seventies GM HEI back in the early 1980s and couldn't be happier with it.

That's what i have on my 70. I think only issue in last 25 years was 2 module died. Super dependable.

Wrenchbender Ret · 08-06-2023, 02:12 PM

I have kept the points & cond. because I want to keep everything original on my low mileage 72 Super. I have a GM HEI unit that I have o-hauled that I could put on it but it runs & starts perfectly.

George

**Rust_never_sleeps** · 08-06-2023, 02:33 PM

Still running points. When the original dizzy wears out, I'll think about HEI

**dmjlambert** · 08-06-2023, 02:36 PM

I have a used 1976 to 1980 GM HEI in mine and I like it.

54blackhornet · 08-06-2023, 04:18 PM

Not being able to find an original GM HEI I bought a clone off eBay from a firm named BraveX. Billet aluminum housing and good quality oil impregnated drive gear. Cap looks good too. BUT everything electrical is very low quality. The first one lasted about a year before the module died. BraveX replaced it with no questions. Second one lasted about two months. BraveX again replaced it. Third one is in and running great. Let’s see how it goes ? Another problem I have determined is you can’t buy anything under the cap that’s made in the USA any longer.

72c20customcamper · 08-06-2023, 04:50 PM

Two with factory GM HEI and two still with points they all run well

67C10Step · 08-07-2023, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54blackhornet

Not being able to find an original GM HEI I bought a clone off eBay from a firm named BraveX. Billet aluminum housing and good quality oil impregnated drive gear. Cap looks good too. BUT everything electrical is very low quality. The first one lasted about a year before the module died. BraveX replaced it with no questions. Second one lasted about two months. BraveX again replaced it. Third one is in and running great. Let’s see how it goes ? Another problem I have determined is you can’t buy anything under the cap that’s made in the USA any longer.

I switched my truck to HEI and found this last statement to be painfully true. About 18-24 months and 1500 miles I got the dreaded no spark issue. Yep, module is out. So, I purchased two. One to replace and the other in the tool bag under the seat.

body bolt · 08-06-2023, 03:25 PM

I added HEI 25 years ago and haven't touched the distributor since.

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-08-2023, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by body bolt

I added HEI 25 years ago and haven't touched the distributor since.

X2...............I installed a Delco HEI, pulled it out of a 1975ish.

08-05-2023, 10:52 PM	#1
RonWT Active Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Cottonwood Ca Posts: 149	Hei or points?? Folks, I am wondeing how many of you are still running the old points style ignition or if you have converted to HEI? if you converted, what style of HEI have you went to? Thanks, RonWT

08-06-2023, 01:24 AM	#2
CastIron Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Oregon Posts: 330	Re: Hei or points?? After watching the timing bounce all over at idle, I decided to replace my original distributor with a MSD street fire HEI distributor. It runs much better, but that might also be because I replaced a tired 307 with a crate 350 at the same time.

08-06-2023, 02:46 AM	#4
Wikid61 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: anamosa iowa Posts: 58,278	Re: Hei or points?? HEI that is tight may step up the spark a lot. Especially using quality cap/rotor/wires/ect. Another option is this: https://pertronixbrands.com/ I've ran them & the stock cap tales up less space. __________________ "Envy is a declaration of inferiority". Napoleon Bonaparte.

08-06-2023, 04:25 AM	#5
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,543	Re: Hei or points?? I found a definite performance improvement when converting to HEI. I've done it on V8s as well as my L6. I ran PerTronix for about 7 years, but it burned out on me. GM Delco-Remy style HEI is the best, and parts are universally available in the US. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

08-06-2023, 08:03 AM	#6
don t. - 72gmc Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: harvard, il. USA Posts: 396	Re: Hei or points?? I converted to a Skip White HEI dizzy years ago. The original dizzy, bad bushings made it wobble. At that time, $'s were tight, wanted something quick and easy. Getting the truck back on the road this summer, wanted to R&R the cap and rotor. Skip White does not sell parts, but would sell me a new dizzy. Local auto parts guy I trust thinks he may have found an Excel cap & rotor. Parts arrive on Tuesday. Good luck...Don

08-06-2023, 10:14 AM	#7
truckster Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 7,990	Re: Hei or points?? I had a factory HEI for years. I decided to upgrade to a Progression Ignition distributor a few months ago and I couldn't be happier. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and allows you to custom program timing maps on the fly. It also has a lockout function that will keep your vehicle from starting if you lock it on the app. __________________ I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson

08-06-2023, 11:54 AM	#8
yuccales Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern Calif. Posts: 3,783	Re: Hei or points?? Member of the "Points Forever" club here. Both my old dogs still run em. I just can't part with the old Penske. Attached Images

08-07-2023, 09:03 AM	#12
custom10nut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: East Tn (In the heart of the Smoky Mtns) Posts: 1,893	Re: Hei or points?? I’ll chime in on this. I wanted a HEI distributor, but wanted to keep the factory look. I switched out my Dual Points for a Mallory Electronic Conversion kit. It worked well for many years, but the module did go bad once, so I put in a new one and haven’t had any issues.

08-07-2023, 01:20 PM	#13
LNP Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 442	Re: Hei or points?? I run a HEI I got a new distributor from Summit. It was affordable came with a new cap & rotor. They even sell the wiring pigtail plug for a few bucks so you can make it a plug & play distribuotr. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...ckup/year/1969 https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-890148/overview __________________ Harley 1969 Chevy C-10 Long Bed, 350cid, 700R4

08-11-2023, 12:52 AM	#14
howzzzit Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kalifornia Posts: 355	Re: Hei or points?? How about this question? How many of you running points have ever had them suddenly drop dead? How many have had a hei drop dead?

08-06-2023, 12:00 PM	#15
697498chevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 266	Re: Hei or points?? My '69 C 10 also has O.E. distributor . Seems to run fine . Thanks

08-06-2023, 01:35 PM	#16
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,742	Re: Hei or points?? I converted to a used late-Seventies GM HEI back in the early 1980s and couldn't be happier with it. __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

08-06-2023, 02:12 PM	#18
Wrenchbender Ret Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Overland Park, Ks. Posts: 5,229	Re: Hei or points?? I have kept the points & cond. because I want to keep everything original on my low mileage 72 Super. I have a GM HEI unit that I have o-hauled that I could put on it but it runs & starts perfectly. George

08-06-2023, 02:33 PM	#19
Rust_never_sleeps Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: San Ramon,CA Posts: 629	Re: Hei or points?? Still running points. When the original dizzy wears out, I'll think about HEI

08-06-2023, 02:36 PM	#20
dmjlambert Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 3,903	Re: Hei or points?? I have a used 1976 to 1980 GM HEI in mine and I like it.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

08-06-2023, 04:18 PM	#21
54blackhornet Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 2,397	Re: Hei or points?? Not being able to find an original GM HEI I bought a clone off eBay from a firm named BraveX. Billet aluminum housing and good quality oil impregnated drive gear. Cap looks good too. BUT everything electrical is very low quality. The first one lasted about a year before the module died. BraveX replaced it with no questions. Second one lasted about two months. BraveX again replaced it. Third one is in and running great. Let’s see how it goes ? Another problem I have determined is you can’t buy anything under the cap that’s made in the USA any longer. __________________ 71 C-20 07 Magnum RT AWD

08-06-2023, 04:50 PM	#22
72c20customcamper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Catskill Mountains,NY Posts: 8,777	Re: Hei or points?? Two with factory GM HEI and two still with points they all run well __________________ Mark 72 c20 custom camper Husky edition, 66 SS396 Chevelle 1964 Hawk, 63 Avanti,62 lark 1969 AMX , 1968 c20 stepside ,85 K20 1977 Suburban sold 68 anniversary.

08-06-2023, 03:25 PM	#24
body bolt Registered User Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 474	Re: Hei or points?? I added HEI 25 years ago and haven't touched the distributor since.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.