To HEI or not to HEI - 69 C20 with Stock 307

[BanjoDude]

Hi all,

I have a bone stock 307 in the C20 I just acquired. It purrs like a kitten as it is, and I'm trying to decide if I should convert to HEI or just throw another set of points and a condenser in the glove box and call it a day (I'm completely comfortable adjusting and replacing points). Those of you who have converted to HEI - do you have a suggestion as to which kind? I do not plan to ever build the engine for high performance - plan to keep it completely stock. I see that Rock Auto has the AC Delco conversions for around $175 and the knockoffs are much cheaper. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Wes

[yote1234]

look into petronix . you keep you dist but replace the points with electronics! no more points but completely stock. my 350 ran smooth with points but with electronics i noticed a difference. smooth smooth smooth.

[Yamariv]

Originally Posted by BanjoDude

Hi all,

I have a bone stock 307 in the C20 I just acquired. It purrs like a kitten as it is, and I'm trying to decide if I should convert to HEI or just throw another set of points and a condenser in the glove box and call it a day (I'm completely comfortable adjusting and replacing points). Those of you who have converted to HEI - do you have a suggestion as to which kind? I do not plan to ever build the engine for high performance - plan to keep it completely stock. I see that Rock Auto has the AC Delco conversions for around $175 and the knockoffs are much cheaper. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Wes

Only thing I can add is make sure to change out the points resistor power wire from the loom and replace with a nice big 10 gauge 12 volt wire to power the HEI. The resistor wire will cause issues as it only supplies 9volts (ish) for the points. I just redid this on my truck, job wasnt bad at all.

[72SB]

+1 on just using a Pertronix in stock Dizzy.

Ys you need to remove the resistance wire from + coil (just tape it back into harness) and run a stranded copper 10 gauge wire from IGN tap on fuse block to + coil

Pay attention to install 411 relative to shims included in kit. I find it easier to just pull dizzy and install Pertronix n bench.

[Warrens69GMC]

I owned my 69 GMC for 20 minutes before switching to HEI. I grabbed a low mile distributor and wires from u-pull-it and a 10 gauge power wire from the parts store. Ran the power from the fuse boxed (switched).
Worked like a charm.

[BanjoDude]

I tried to use Pertronix in an MG I owned a few years back and had a terrible time with reliability - they let me sit 3 times, and Pertronix support was rude and completely unhelpful in finding the root cause. I finally just sent the thing back and had to dispute the charge with my credit card company to get a refund. I'll not be giving them another dime based on that experience.

I'm interested in the HEI from the pick--pull. Pardon the ignorance, but can I pull a unit from a newer model and use it? Are all SBC dizzys essentially the same?

[Warrens69GMC]

I pulled mine from a 305 Caprice 1979

[jimijam00]

Hei

[KQQL IT]

Originally Posted by BanjoDude

I tried to use Pertronix in an MG I owned a few years back and had a terrible time with reliability - they let me sit 3 times, and Pertronix support was rude and completely unhelpful in finding the root cause. I finally just sent the thing back and had to dispute the charge with my credit card company to get a refund. I'll not be giving them another dime based on that experience.

I'm interested in the HEI from the pick--pull. Pardon the ignorance, but can I pull a unit from a newer model and use it? Are all SBC dizzys essentially the same?

From 74 til 83-86 maybe they get some weirdo timing controls near there then mid 87 was efi

[72SB]

OP, given most "new" aftermarket HEI dizzy are built with offshore components, pulling a GM (AC Delco) from a mid 70's car from junkyard would work. Kind of a crap roll with any pick & pull part but those dizzys were pretty stable with the 4 pin modules.

Typically the HEI has male post vs female so your plug wires would need changing or cut/install new ends for HEI cap

Pertronix like any company can have issues be it defective components or user errors. For me and many others they have worked fine. Correct installation is key, specifically in measuring gap in shaft and pickup to ring distance which is why various shims (washers) are included.

[palallin]

Stick with the points: there is not enough difference to make the effort worth it. As soon as I can find another intake, I am changing back to points.

[54blackhornet]

I dropped one of those cheap Chinese HEI units in my 307 few years ago. It’s been operating fine knock on wood ! Engine starts and runs much better than with the points.

[Southcity]

I think you will get a good 50/50 mix of some folks saying to stay with points and others saying HEI on a post like this. It can potentially make the decision even harder. I used to wonder the same myself over the years having owned/built multiple different C10 pickups and 60-66 Suburbans. Sometimes, you just have to pull the trigger, try an HEI (or even Pertronix) and experience the change/difference for yourself, then decide. I personally have found HEI to be a great improvement every time.

[OregonNed]

Originally Posted by yote1234

look into petronix . you keep you dist but replace the points with electronics! no more points but completely stock. my 350 ran smooth with points but with electronics i noticed a difference. smooth smooth smooth.

Same results for me - very happy!

[jimijam00]

Originally Posted by 72SB

OP, given most "new" aftermarket HEI dizzy are built with offshore components.....

Pertronix

Isn't Pertronix made offshore?

[72SB]

Originally Posted by jimijam00

Isn't Pertronix made offshore?

IDK, they have a 60,000 sq ft place in Irwindale, CA. they are part of the AAM group so I would suspect some of their stuff is manufactured off shore or the parts are and assembled here. Their headquarters are in San Dimas, CA

When I called for tech help it was San Dimas and the tech said my replacement module was being shipped from Irwindale, CA. A car I bought had the module, so I had no receipt, but they sold me one at a discount. PO. did not set the spacing up right, to tight, which caused it to rub on PU wheel. The car is running great as did the 327 I had in it with the Pertronix module before that motor finally died at 145k mi

[MARKDTN]

Another vote for HEI. Good points (and condensers) are getting harder and harder to find.

[jimijam00]

Originally Posted by 72SB

IDK, they have a 60,000 sq ft place in Irwindale, CA. they are part of the AAM group so I would suspect some of their stuff is manufactured off shore or the parts are and assembled here. Their headquarters are in San Dimas, CA

When I called for tech help it was San Dimas and the tech said my replacement module was being shipped from Irwindale, CA.

I just checked their website for ignition products.........not one mention of Made in the USA anywhere.

I've got a 117,000 sqft Amazon warehouse 10 miles from me, and it's filled with stuff from China. Nice American workers though.

[tim_mc]

I went with a new GM HEI 93440806 on my project (made in Taiwan). The coil went out a year or so later. I upgraded to a Davis Unified Ignition (DUI) 50KV coil and module. It made a huge difference.

[special-K]

I'd leave the points. How many years have they run that truck now? Nothing wrong with points except people neglected to tune their vehicles up. Now that we have electronic ignition people run their spark plugs until they rust into the head

[67 twins]

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

Another vote for HEI. Good points (and condensers) are getting harder and harder to find.

Never a problem buy blue streak ignition components. Have always been the best and can be purchased at any auto parts store in the country.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'd leave the points. How many years have they run that truck now? Nothing wrong with points except people neglected to tune their vehicles up. Now that we have electronic ignition people run their spark plugs until they rust into the head

Or until the resistance is high enough that the system punches a hole right through the rotor, seeking a better ground.

[67 twins]

I think all these people that say there truck runs better, smoother or starts easier with HEI are fooling themselves. They get a truck that's not running right & rather than just do a tune up they decide to upgrade. They put an HEI in and "It runs so much better now." Well of course it does, you did a tuneup when you installed the HEI. It would run just as well if you had just done a tuneup. I'm willing to bet none of them took out a well setup points ignition to install an HEI for a good comparison.
The only real advantage to an HEI is less maintenance. However as others have mentioned they can fail & leave you stranded.

[jocko]

If you'd prefer not having to do tune-up on occasion AND don't care if it doesn't look original, swap in a GM HEI. Very reliable. I'd carry a spare module in the glovebox, then you'd have no worries.

If you like doing tune-up work AND prefer the original appearance, keep the points. They work just fine, and you'd be one of an ever-shrinking segment of the population that even knows what points are, let along how to set them.

If you don't like doing tune-up work BUT want an original appearance, go Pertronix as mentioned above. Great option.

If you don't want ANY distributor, swap in an LS.

All of the above are good options, except the last one

[jimijam00]

Originally Posted by 67 twins

The only real advantage to an HEI is less maintenance. However as others have mentioned they can fail & leave you stranded.