points to HEI - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

c10scotty · 11-06-2002, 08:14 PM

how do i know if i have points type ignition or HEI? also what does it take to convert to HEI? is it just the distributor or do i have to replace everything?

bigd65 · 11-06-2002, 08:47 PM

if its the 80' in ur signature , you should already have the HEI.

gchemist · 11-07-2002, 09:26 AM

Yup. Just remove the cap. Under the cap you have either points or a module. HEIs have modules.

c10scotty · 11-07-2002, 04:27 PM

yes its the 80 in my sig. when did they come out with hei??

bigd65 · 11-07-2002, 09:12 PM

I wanna say aroung 73 or 75, not sure but i know the 80's had HEI

ElGracho · 11-07-2002, 10:36 PM

HEI's were installed in GM trucks in 1975. It's pretty easy to tell a points distributor from an HEI distributor after you've seen each of them once.

This is HEI:

This is points:

The points distributor will have a smaller cap (about 3 1/2" diameter) with just the wires on top.

The HEI distributor has a much larger cap (about 7" diameter) with a plastic cover on top covering the ignition coil (mounted on top of the cap) and a rectangle shaped protusion which normally points towards the brake booster where the wire from the ignition and possibly tach plug in to the distributor cap.

Note, there are also small cap HEI distributors which were used on various GM products starting the in the early 90's or maybe late 80's but wouldn't be found stock in a 73-87 truck.

If you do have a points distributor, there will be a noticable difference when you swap in an HEI. You need to change some wiring to swap over but it's not too hard.

Joe

11-06-2002, 08:14 PM	#1
c10scotty ~THE SILVER BULLET~ Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: WYOMING Posts: 285	points to HEI how do i know if i have points type ignition or HEI? also what does it take to convert to HEI? is it just the distributor or do i have to replace everything? __________________ ~1980 c10 chevy scottsdale~ ~2.5/4 drop 305/th350c~

11-06-2002, 08:47 PM	#2
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	if its the 80' in ur signature , you should already have the HEI. __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

11-07-2002, 09:26 AM	#3
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	Yup. Just remove the cap. Under the cap you have either points or a module. HEIs have modules. __________________ Gerardo a.k.a. Mad Chemist Silverado XST videos

11-07-2002, 04:27 PM	#4
c10scotty ~THE SILVER BULLET~ Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: WYOMING Posts: 285	yes its the 80 in my sig. when did they come out with hei?? __________________ ~1980 c10 chevy scottsdale~ ~2.5/4 drop 305/th350c~

11-07-2002, 09:12 PM	#5
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	I wanna say aroung 73 or 75, not sure but i know the 80's had HEI __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

11-07-2002, 10:36 PM	#6
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,550	HEI year... HEI's were installed in GM trucks in 1975. It's pretty easy to tell a points distributor from an HEI distributor after you've seen each of them once. This is HEI: This is points: The points distributor will have a smaller cap (about 3 1/2" diameter) with just the wires on top. The HEI distributor has a much larger cap (about 7" diameter) with a plastic cover on top covering the ignition coil (mounted on top of the cap) and a rectangle shaped protusion which normally points towards the brake booster where the wire from the ignition and possibly tach plug in to the distributor cap. Note, there are also small cap HEI distributors which were used on various GM products starting the in the early 90's or maybe late 80's but wouldn't be found stock in a 73-87 truck. If you do have a points distributor, there will be a noticable difference when you swap in an HEI. You need to change some wiring to swap over but it's not too hard. Joe



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