Ignition Upgrade?

[FLDBRED]

I am starting to get to the point were I can finally drive my truck.I have changed the intake and carb and a ton of things on the body and interior.I would really like to upgrade the stock ignition.I tried to put a HEI distributor in it,out of my son's 69 Chevelle,no go. It's sits to close to the firewall.I thought I could squeeze it in because I know a lot of you guys have them. It's a 71 4X4 Shortbed,with a 307.It just won't go!
So what's the next best thing?Do they make a small cap HEI? tHANKS!

[Shyguy]

I think Summit sells a kit to replace the points and use the old distributor. I have never done it, but I know quite a few people on here have. One brand that comes to mind is Petronics.

Hopefully someone that has done it will post.

[crazy longhorn]

I am running a Pertronix II in my longhorn.....do your own resaerch on this! Mine works great, I have seen my 383 to 7200 on the tach....but some of the guys will say that they dont belong on anything but a tractor! I have run an HEI in my longhorn, it fits , but damn tight! you will need to remove the cap & ROTOR to set the dist in the engine mine is set on the I6 mounts, same as the 4x4's did on the sb. Due to wear on the cab mounts, you could have issues.....or take a BFH & clearance that firewall(been there,done that)......try pokin that HEI in, less cap & rotor....once the dist drops in the block, you can hang the rotor back on & set you TDC timing. After that, if you can get that big cap to clear the firewall(all you need is about 1/2"), you should be good to go. On the budget, I will always use the Hammer Hope that helped a bit,crazyL

[vectorit]

Pertronix in my burb, and the 70 K10 I just got has a Pertronix ignition as well.

No complaints here, and easy as heck to install.

[Captmike]

Take a look at Pertronix distributors, ( http://www.pertronix.com/prod/ig/default.aspx )
I had on in a 72 Olds Cutlass Supreme Convertable, worked great!
Putting one in a friend's 67 GTO soon as the motor is finished.

[soxplayer]

Might want to give the motor and tranny mounts a once over. Sometime they sag and leave the motor a lot closer to the firewall.

[70cst]

Another vote for Pertronix

[Lippyp]

I've just gone to a pertronix ignitor as I had the same problems, V8 in the six position and even with the cap off an HEI wouldn't drop in, god knows I tried so I converted the mallory twin point that was in there with a pertronix kit, fired it up this week for the first time and it ran great even with the timing off.

['68OrangeSunshine]

I think the bum rap PerTronix got on the Ignitor I was due to a propensity to fry the electronics if the ignition was left ON for any length of time without running, The Ignitor II fixes this problem. It will simply shut off if the key is left on.
I've tried HEIs. I have one in my '71 GMC Jimmy 4x4. First I got a junkyard distributor and tried putting fresh components on it. Something was always going wrong. Finally I got a Mallory HEI. I found it's cheaper in the long run to get a good distributor from the start.
On my 292 L6 in a '68 Stepside, I used the points for years, since I was in the habit of tuning up with that system, but when I put a PerTronix Ignitor II unit in a rebuilt Delco [Accel Blueprint], I was surprized by the kick-in-the-pants acceleration that the Ignitor II gave me. It was like adding a higher gear.

[FLDBRED]

Thanks for all the great responses! It nice to know that I am not alone with the fit problem!

[Longhorn Man]

while the pertrinix works quite well, you can get HEI parts at local stores any time of the day, walk in and walk out with the part, and back on the road.

[lil hoodlum]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

while the pertrinix works quite well, you can get HEI parts at local stores any time of the day, walk in and walk out with the part, and back on the road.

Yup, it's true! I got one at AutoZone and even replaced it in the parking lot. LOL

Keith

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by lil hoodlum

Yup, it's true! I got one at AutoZone and even replaced it in the parking lot. LOL

Keith

And it works with the Pertronix also....if you keep your old points/condensor, toss em in the glovebox. You can swap them back in in a pinch ,on the side of the road crazyL

[FLDBRED]

I've tried to fit the HEI with out the cap on,still no go!
So I am going to go with the Pertronix.

Should I get the II or III? Thanks!

[domeier]

I thought there was a smaller diameter GM HEI available? The install instructions for Crate motors says to use the smaller dist when putting a motor in the rear mount position. I have that sheet around here somewhere. I'll see if I can find it. It had the part number for the smaller dist.

I have the larger one, and my engine is on the rear mounts. It's pretty tight to the firewall. I'm guessing it was installed prior to the engine install, with the cap off, of course.

Like dude above, I like being able to buy cap and rotor at any parts store, and I like the price of those standard parts.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by FLDBRED

I've tried to fit the HEI with out the cap on,still no go!
So I am going to go with the Pertronix.

Should I get the II or III? Thanks!

Keep us updated ...

[mshirey]

Another conversion option is this M&H kit. I have been running it for a for years with no problems. http://www.breakerless.com/

[FLDBRED]

Originally Posted by mshirey

Another conversion option is this M&H kit. I have been running it for a for years with no problems. http://www.breakerless.com/

Hmm...interesting,looks like it's made in the USA!

[WorkinLonghorn]

I've had the old pertronix that worked OK. Cheaper option is a Skip White H.E. dist.on ebay if he's still there. I think it was about $50 complete. The only problem with mine was that the advance was very limited and one of these days I will modify it to get more advance (elongate the little slot or whatever).WLH

Didn't see any performance or mileage improvement with either just easier starting and no maintenance (yet).

[FLDBRED]

Thanks for all the responses guys!

Have any of you tried the new MSD EZ-1 kit? It uses only one wire,looks pretty good!

[WorkinLonghorn]

Originally Posted by FLDBRED

Thanks for all the responses guys!

Have any of you tried the new MSD EZ-1 kit? It uses only one wire,looks pretty good!

That is just a points replacement like the Pertronix right? Why pay $100 and not even get High Energy.

As I posted above,you can get a complete NEW H.E. distrib on Ebay for $50.

Aren't all distribs are one-wire unless you run a tach? I can't remember.WLH