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

DanoDMano · 02-01-2003, 08:04 PM

Which HEI would you recommend for use with a stock
350, with an Edelbrock Performer cam, intake, and a holley 4 barrel carb???

Bill72BB · 02-01-2003, 08:19 PM

If your not pushing over 6000 rpm ,I would just use a late 70's early 80's HEI , replacement parts are readilly available at any parts store in case of a problem. JMOP

Good Luck

DanoDMano · 02-01-2003, 08:23 PM

Can I just pick one of these up at a parts store?

What kind of price should I look for??

Thanks for the input!!

Bill72BB · 02-01-2003, 08:35 PM

Dano'

Just go to a Junk yard and get one from a V8 chevy with Vacuum advance , Got mine out of a 79-80 Camero ,
I have 2 extra's but they need all the internal parts and cap and coil .
If you get one at a yard I would suggest replacing all the part's ,module ,coil ,cap .rotor to be safe.Here is a tread that tell you how to do it.
http://64.246.42.114/vboard/showthre...threadid=17403

keenee · 02-01-2003, 08:38 PM

Parts stores will not have a stock hei, used ones are at the boneyard, price? I dont know. Accel is a stock rebuilt hei Very good luck with the one I had. For the stock driver msd is not needed!

DanoDMano · 02-01-2003, 08:43 PM

Thanks for the advice, guess I need to hit the yards and find me one!!!

cableguy0 · 02-01-2003, 10:11 PM

i ahve the proform and never had any sorta problem in any weather. motor has seen the better side of 7000rpm without missing a beat

spinning wheels · 02-01-2003, 11:16 PM

Dano, have you checked out Summit or Jeg's? They have some pretty good deals in there. If you get a junkyard special, I wouldn't pay more than $40.
I bought one at a car swapmeet. Ended up being an ugly paper weight. By the time I bought new internals, I had over $100 invested into it, and that didn't include plug wires. Personally, I run a Pertronix in an points style distributor. The set up ran me around $60. Don't forget if you switch to either HEI or a Petronix setup. You will need a 12 volt supply and not the wire going to the distrubutor from the starter.

Longhorn Man · 02-02-2003, 12:29 AM

'OTHER'
Stock junk yard HEI.

mikep · 02-02-2003, 12:38 AM

I can show you what happened to the cap on my summit HEI after I installed a MSD control unit. Burned right through it. The carbon evaporated and left a hole 1/2 inch wide. Still ran.

spinning wheels · 02-02-2003, 12:46 AM

mikep, yours burned up? Mine just died, truck wouldn't start at all. Talk about a $120 lesson. $80 for the MSD module, $40 for the tow truck to tow me home.

Corse, I also burned up a Petronix, that was cause I crossed the wires. Petronix guaranteed it and replaced it (they aren't too far from my house). The Petronix unit has a 1 year warranty.

**70cst** · 02-02-2003, 12:47 AM

If you want to keep the factory look..then go with Pertronix...otherwise it's a toss up.
Regards,
70cst

mikep · 02-02-2003, 12:53 AM

Just my cap burned up. Roasted right through it. Cheap chinese made crap probably. That MSD module puts out some power that the summit cap wasnt ready for. I had to put the MSD module in it. The summit one lost power and hesitated big time over 4000 rpm. I'll see if I can find that capo and put up a pic.

O'l Buck · 02-02-2003, 02:18 AM

I didn't see a spot for AC Delco

mikep · 02-02-2003, 02:31 AM

I thought it looked like a poor quality cap when I got the distributor. Between that and the problems I was having with the module cutting out over 4500 rpm I certainly wouldnt reccomend one. For a stocker they are probably OK.

jhwkns · 02-02-2003, 12:34 PM

http://www.performancedistributors.com/ I've had great luck with these.

*racedvl* · 02-02-2003, 01:32 PM

Read this. . . .

http://64.246.42.114/vboard/showthre...threadid=35127

72'BBGMCSGCC · 02-05-2003, 07:14 AM

Where's the best and cheapest place to find a new stock late 70's early 80's HEI , and how much do they cost ? Thank you.

Blue Beard · 02-05-2003, 09:22 AM

Check with friends and even neighbors....anyone with a vehicle just sitting around.

I just bought one for $20 from a friend at a local muffler shop.

If your looking for stock ram horns this is also a good locate. As they throw away alot of these for the guys putting on headers.

Good Luck .......

Duece · 02-07-2003, 04:21 PM

Brass= GOOD cap
Aluminum= BAD cap

At least That's How I buy my caps.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 02-07-2003, 08:30 PM

I had a couple of problems with the HEI on my '71 Jimmy w/350. When I first installed it about 3 years ago, I used the yellow 20 ga. wire going to the old coil. This tested at 12.25 VDC cold. But when it gets to operating temp, voltage drops.
I kept burning up plug wires, modules and even recently, the coil. Now I have a 12 ga. 12 volt line from IGN UNFUSED [on fuse block] to BAT [on the coil cap] and it works good.
I went the junkyard route ($50) and replaced all components (more $). I thought buying a whole unit would be cheaper if I had to do it again, but if they're just Chinee crap -- then I don't know. Jeg's lists a house brand unit for $164 and a GM [ac delco ?]performance parts unit for $240.Last time I asked, the Chevy dealer didn't sell the whole HEI distributor, just the shaft assembly (no coil cap rotor etc) but that may have changed. As in all things... Ya get what you pay for.

Fred T · 02-07-2003, 10:26 PM

GM does have a rebuilt HEI for sale. My local parts store shot me a price of $135 + a core. Most people go the the salvage, buy a new cap, rotor and wires. Pertronix are good units, too, but if your distributor is worn you're wasting your money. I found I could buy them at my local parts store for the same price as Summit.

nate68 · 02-08-2003, 01:40 AM

i just got a brand new accel hei for around 100 bucks from summit without coil. i had a junkyard one and it was good for a little while and then the advanced seized up and then i fixed it and then it seized up and again and so i bought a new accel one. quality is pretty good.

ChevLoRay · 02-08-2003, 07:16 AM

I recently replaced my defective, well-used, GM distributor, with an Accel unit. I shopped around on the 'net and found that AutoZone, O'Reilly's and Advance all had the same part number for the replacement distributor, i.e., 30-1895. Pricing was within a few cents, approximately $100. NAPA had their replacement unit priced at $125. I got Advance to price-match Summits' price on the Accel unit, at about $119, I believe. It didn't have a coil, but did come with the cap and internals. It is a rebuild, but to their "standards" for performance. I already had an Accel Super Coil. I don't know if the internals of the unit made my truck start easier, or not. It doesn't matter, tho. When you set the automatic choke and turn the key, it starts instantly. It never did that with the old distributor, even after I had replaced everything EXCEPT the pick-up coil ass'y.

jay6891 · 02-08-2003, 11:50 AM

I also just bought an Accel. Got it from Oreilys. 114.00. Just need a coil. Just make sure you plug in the wires from the module corectly. I plugged mine in backwards, ( I have a aftermarket ignition box ) wouldn't run for sh@t.

View Poll Results: Which HEI do you recommend?
Accel	6	22.22%
MSD	6	22.22%
Mallory	1	3.70%
Proform	4	14.81%
Other	10	37.04%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll

02-01-2003, 08:04 PM	#1
DanoDMano Pronounced "Pew-al-up" Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Puyallup, Washington Posts: 845	Hei Which HEI would you recommend for use with a stock 350, with an Edelbrock Performer cam, intake, and a holley 4 barrel carb??? __________________ Classic GM Trucks of Washington Club Member 1970 FS chevy,350/350, Edelbrock cam and intake. Holley 650 carb,HEI,AT,Tangier Orange, 18's, Power Locks, Truck Photos

02-01-2003, 08:19 PM	#2
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,980	If your not pushing over 6000 rpm ,I would just use a late 70's early 80's HEI , replacement parts are readilly available at any parts store in case of a problem. JMOP Good Luck __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

02-01-2003, 08:23 PM	#3
DanoDMano Pronounced "Pew-al-up" Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Puyallup, Washington Posts: 845	Can I just pick one of these up at a parts store? What kind of price should I look for?? Thanks for the input!! __________________ Classic GM Trucks of Washington Club Member 1970 FS chevy,350/350, Edelbrock cam and intake. Holley 650 carb,HEI,AT,Tangier Orange, 18's, Power Locks, Truck Photos

02-01-2003, 08:35 PM	#4
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,980	Dano' Just go to a Junk yard and get one from a V8 chevy with Vacuum advance , Got mine out of a 79-80 Camero , I have 2 extra's but they need all the internal parts and cap and coil . If you get one at a yard I would suggest replacing all the part's ,module ,coil ,cap .rotor to be safe.Here is a tread that tell you how to do it. http://64.246.42.114/vboard/showthre...threadid=17403 __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen , Last edited by Bill72BB; 02-01-2003 at 08:38 PM.

02-01-2003, 08:38 PM	#5
keenee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houston, Pennsylvania Posts: 231	Parts stores will not have a stock hei, used ones are at the boneyard, price? I dont know. Accel is a stock rebuilt hei Very good luck with the one I had. For the stock driver msd is not needed! __________________ '96 GMC Suburban 6.5t '99 F**d Windstar '07 SON '09 DAUGHTER XOXOXO Wife

02-01-2003, 08:43 PM	#6
DanoDMano Pronounced "Pew-al-up" Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Puyallup, Washington Posts: 845	Thanks for the advice, guess I need to hit the yards and find me one!!! __________________ Classic GM Trucks of Washington Club Member 1970 FS chevy,350/350, Edelbrock cam and intake. Holley 650 carb,HEI,AT,Tangier Orange, 18's, Power Locks, Truck Photos

02-01-2003, 10:11 PM	#7
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	i ahve the proform and never had any sorta problem in any weather. motor has seen the better side of 7000rpm without missing a beat __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

02-01-2003, 11:16 PM	#8
spinning wheels Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Hacienda Heights, California USA Posts: 474	Dano, have you checked out Summit or Jeg's? They have some pretty good deals in there. If you get a junkyard special, I wouldn't pay more than $40. I bought one at a car swapmeet. Ended up being an ugly paper weight. By the time I bought new internals, I had over $100 invested into it, and that didn't include plug wires. Personally, I run a Pertronix in an points style distributor. The set up ran me around $60. Don't forget if you switch to either HEI or a Petronix setup. You will need a 12 volt supply and not the wire going to the distrubutor from the starter. __________________ '72 GMC custom camper 350/350

02-02-2003, 12:29 AM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	'OTHER' Stock junk yard HEI.

02-02-2003, 12:38 AM	#10
mikep Used to have a truck Join Date: May 2002 Location: port orchard WA Posts: 1,552	I can show you what happened to the cap on my summit HEI after I installed a MSD control unit. Burned right through it. The carbon evaporated and left a hole 1/2 inch wide. Still ran. __________________ No truck :-(

02-02-2003, 12:46 AM	#11
spinning wheels Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Hacienda Heights, California USA Posts: 474	mikep, yours burned up? Mine just died, truck wouldn't start at all. Talk about a $120 lesson. $80 for the MSD module, $40 for the tow truck to tow me home. Corse, I also burned up a Petronix, that was cause I crossed the wires. Petronix guaranteed it and replaced it (they aren't too far from my house). The Petronix unit has a 1 year warranty. __________________ '72 GMC custom camper 350/350

02-02-2003, 12:47 AM	#12
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,365	If you want to keep the factory look..then go with Pertronix...otherwise it's a toss up. Regards, 70cst

02-02-2003, 12:53 AM	#13
mikep Used to have a truck Join Date: May 2002 Location: port orchard WA Posts: 1,552	Just my cap burned up. Roasted right through it. Cheap chinese made crap probably. That MSD module puts out some power that the summit cap wasnt ready for. I had to put the MSD module in it. The summit one lost power and hesitated big time over 4000 rpm. I'll see if I can find that capo and put up a pic. __________________ No truck :-(

02-02-2003, 02:18 AM	#14
O'l Buck Recovering Truck Driver Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orleans, NE USA Posts: 1,883	I didn't see a spot for AC Delco __________________ 67 K-20 350, SM465, Eaton rear, 4.56 no spin option 00 Dodge 2500 4x4, 24V cummins, 5 speed Chad South Central Nebraska



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02-02-2003, 02:31 AM	#15
mikep Used to have a truck Join Date: May 2002 Location: port orchard WA Posts: 1,552	Summit cap one month after MSD module installation I thought it looked like a poor quality cap when I got the distributor. Between that and the problems I was having with the module cutting out over 4500 rpm I certainly wouldnt reccomend one. For a stocker they are probably OK. Attached Images __________________ No truck :-(

02-02-2003, 12:34 PM	#16
jhwkns Registered Cruiser Join Date: May 2002 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 2,230	check this out http://www.performancedistributors.com/ I've had great luck with these. __________________ I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

02-02-2003, 01:32 PM	#17
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	Read this. . . . http://64.246.42.114/vboard/showthre...threadid=35127

02-05-2003, 07:14 AM	#18
72'BBGMCSGCC Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fletcher,N.C U.S.A Posts: 162	Where's the best and cheapest place to find a new stock late 70's early 80's HEI , and how much do they cost ? Thank you.

02-05-2003, 09:22 AM	#19
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,834	Check with friends and even neighbors....anyone with a vehicle just sitting around. I just bought one for $20 from a friend at a local muffler shop. If your looking for stock ram horns this is also a good locate. As they throw away alot of these for the guys putting on headers. Good Luck ....... __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo

02-07-2003, 04:21 PM	#20
Duece Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Summerville S.C. Posts: 10	Roasted cap Brass= GOOD cap Aluminum= BAD cap At least That's How I buy my caps. __________________ 85 C/10 short wide 350/700r4

02-07-2003, 08:30 PM	#21
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,202	I had a couple of problems with the HEI on my '71 Jimmy w/350. When I first installed it about 3 years ago, I used the yellow 20 ga. wire going to the old coil. This tested at 12.25 VDC cold. But when it gets to operating temp, voltage drops. I kept burning up plug wires, modules and even recently, the coil. Now I have a 12 ga. 12 volt line from IGN UNFUSED [on fuse block] to BAT [on the coil cap] and it works good. I went the junkyard route ($50) and replaced all components (more $). I thought buying a whole unit would be cheaper if I had to do it again, but if they're just Chinee crap -- then I don't know. Jeg's lists a house brand unit for $164 and a GM [ac delco ?]performance parts unit for $240.Last time I asked, the Chevy dealer didn't sell the whole HEI distributor, just the shaft assembly (no coil cap rotor etc) but that may have changed. As in all things... Ya get what you pay for.

02-07-2003, 10:26 PM	#22
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	GM does have a rebuilt HEI for sale. My local parts store shot me a price of $135 + a core. Most people go the the salvage, buy a new cap, rotor and wires. Pertronix are good units, too, but if your distributor is worn you're wasting your money. I found I could buy them at my local parts store for the same price as Summit. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

02-08-2003, 01:40 AM	#23
nate68 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: ca Posts: 1,110	i just got a brand new accel hei for around 100 bucks from summit without coil. i had a junkyard one and it was good for a little while and then the advanced seized up and then i fixed it and then it seized up and again and so i bought a new accel one. quality is pretty good. __________________ 68 short step, 406/700r4, 9" w/discs.

02-08-2003, 07:16 AM	#24
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	I recently replaced my defective, well-used, GM distributor, with an Accel unit. I shopped around on the 'net and found that AutoZone, O'Reilly's and Advance all had the same part number for the replacement distributor, i.e., 30-1895. Pricing was within a few cents, approximately $100. NAPA had their replacement unit priced at $125. I got Advance to price-match Summits' price on the Accel unit, at about $119, I believe. It didn't have a coil, but did come with the cap and internals. It is a rebuild, but to their "standards" for performance. I already had an Accel Super Coil. I don't know if the internals of the unit made my truck start easier, or not. It doesn't matter, tho. When you set the automatic choke and turn the key, it starts instantly. It never did that with the old distributor, even after I had replaced everything EXCEPT the pick-up coil ass'y. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

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02-08-2003, 11:50 AM	#25
jay6891 Car Knocker Join Date: May 2001 Location: jefferson,arkansas Posts: 664	I also just bought an Accel. Got it from Oreilys. 114.00. Just need a coil. Just make sure you plug in the wires from the module corectly. I plugged mine in backwards, ( I have a aftermarket ignition box ) wouldn't run for sh@t. __________________ 68 c-10,91 sportside bed,350 .030 over,4 bolt,10-1 comp,2.05 intake/1.94 exhaust,1.6 Harland Sharp roller rockers,edelbrock rpm cam and intake w/750 carb, 700r4, 3.73 gears,Jacabbs Electronic Igntion w/Accel HEI distributer and super coil. ZR-1 roll pan, filled tailights. Blazer tank. Hidden hitch. 2 1/2" Flowmaster 40's. Parts bought but not installed>> ford 9" posi with disc. CCP front and rear lowering kit 4/5. Cab corners,foor boards,rockers, cab braces, Phatom grill, Painless wiring kit.