Faulty distributor?

[adkphoto]

I seem to have no shortage of issues to bring up this year... so here's another one :-)

I just rebuilt the ol 350 including a built-up set of Vortec heads, new timing gears, mild cam (204/214 duration) etc, but kept the old HEI distributor. I did upgrade the coil to a Hi Po Accel unit however.

I've only been able to fire it up a couple of times because I fried the starter (bummer), but while I was breaking the engine in, I noticed that the idle wasn't as smooth as it should be. Varied about 100 RPM, worse at low engine speeds. Had the same problem before I rebuilt the engine too.

I was real careful setting the lifter preload during assembly, so I doubt that's the problem. I'll definitely double-check it after the engine's broken in a little more though.

My question is, is the erratic idle a symptom of a faulty distributor? Are there any other symptoms?

Also, what type of aftermarket HEI distributors are you all running? I've got my eye on a Mallory unit from Summitt that has an adjustable advance. At $130 without the coil it sounds like a bargain.


David