HEI Conversion

[bartstoy]

I am at the point of converting to HEI (some of us take longer than others)on my '69 BB. There seems to be two schools of thought. One is you throw out the old distributor and start over, the other you get a conversion kit and convert the old distributor. Anyone have any views on which is the best way to go? I am leaning towards the conversion because I just bought new MSD plug wires. But heck I have had to start over before.

[Southedisto]

I replaced my whole distributor.

Reasons:
1. I wanted a new distributor
2. I wanted an oil pump primer!

[Longhorn Man]

I say get an actual HEI, parts will be at any parts store where ever you are at anywhere in the US... if the conversion stuff goes bad (albeit, not often...but they will wear out) you won't have such luck.

Personally, i say hit the junk yard and look for a good unit, I always seem to find them with a new module and everything. Take parts from a couple cars in the junk yard, combine them to one dist, and walk out with new cap, rotor, module and coil... I've done it many many times myself.

[krue]

What andy said makes sense and cents.

[Steelawork'n]

I went new HEI because you get all new, shaft and everything. Rotate your old one and then rotate the new one...no comparison, new is better. You can put a spring kit in if you want.

[Longhorn Man]

While what you say is true... I can buy 8 or so junk yard units for the cost of one new one.

While my advice on this subject may not be the absolute best for some one, it may be the ONLY option for others.

What one man calls a budget part, another man calls his entire budget.

[67gmcss]

Is this conversion a simple yank the old one out and drop the new one in kind of thing, or what all does it require?

[LMN8UR]

I got an HEI off of a 76 in the junk yard and then used it as a core at AutoZone, That was 95,000 problem free miles ago!
I definately recommend the complete change if it's finacially feesible!

Good Luck!

[bartstoy]

Budget is tight but not restrictive if that makes sense. Thanks to all, going to check out the local yard and see what I can come up with. The last time I was there they had a pile of the things. If it can be used it will be, if not it will become a core. The BB is out of an '86. I knew I should have kept all the junk hanging on it. I am figuring on a new coil, gotta spend some $$ somewhere.

[jhow66]

Originally Posted by 67gmcss

Is this conversion a simple yank the old one out and drop the new one in kind of thing, or what all does it require?

You only have to change one thing--supply wire. Discard wire to your old coil-run a wire from switch on from fuse panel to "bat" on HEI cap -done.

[bartstoy]

JHOW66 are you saying I don't have to change out the coil, or do I avoid that it by running the new supply wire? Sounds good to me.

[kevs_c10]

I've got a GM HEI from an 80's Monte Carlo I found at Pick-n-Pull. I bought my 350 from a guy that had it in a 90's Blazer so I replaced the electronic advance HEI with a vacuum model. I don't know if this is the route you're looking at or if you plan on going with an after market. If you use a stock GM, your old coil is a throwaway. The HEI’s coil is mounted in the top of the rotor cap. If you do get a salvage distributor keep a length of the wires leading to the cap so you can splice into them while using the original snap fitting wire end. Run a wire matching the gauge of the stock "bat" wire from the "on" side of your ignition switch to the piece of stock wire, splice it on with an additional wire of the same gauge running to the starter solenoid. When you start your truck the juice will flow to the starter solenoid, once started the juice flows to the HEI. The distributor should also have a terminal for a tach right next to the "bat" terminal. The change to HEI is well worth the effort, looks cool too.

[Longhorn Man]

The old coil gets removed, as does the yellow wire, and the cloth covered wire.
All you'll need to do is drop the HEI dist in the engine and run a wire from the Ignition unfused terminal on the fuse box to the BATT terminal on the HEI's cap.
There's a lot written on this in the FAQ.

[Tx Firefighter]

Remember, just because you have a big block, don't limit your search. An HEI out of a small block will fit your 454 too. Much cheaper and easier to find.

[bartstoy]

Thanks Tx, I was hoping someone would come up with that, cause that's all I could find at the yard. They looked at me kind of funny when I said I was looking for something out of a BB. No luck today, maybe tomorrow.

[l1n1b1]

I'm thinking of doing the same thing, except I'm doing it in a 250 6 cylinder. My question is: On a 6 cyl HEI, are the coils in the cap as well? Also what year/model of truck/car would have the 6 cyl HEI with coil in cap?
Thanks
Bryan

[LMN8UR]

There is no external coil on the HEI's. I told the guy at AutoZone I had a 76 and got a remanufactured HEI with coil for I believe around $80, but that was a couple years back.

[Tx Firefighter]

On inline 6 engines, there are two types of HEI's, one with internal coil and other with external coil.

They interchange and either works as well as the other. An HEI swap on an inline engine completely changes the personality of the whole engine.

[pebbleboy]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

What one man calls a budget part, another man calls his entire budget.

[kelsfine69]

Go with the factory HEI and new wires then when the budget is right look into Pertronics distributors. I put one in and its new and nice.

[l1n1b1]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

On inline 6 engines, there are two types of HEI's, one with internal coil and other with external coil.

They interchange and either works as well as the other. An HEI swap on an inline engine completely changes the personality of the whole engine.

That's exactly what I thought on inline 6's.. ..Any advice as to what vehicles had the 6 cyl. HEI with the coil in the cap so I'll know what to look for at the junkyard? Thanks!
Bryan

[Tx Firefighter]

I've had good luck with late 70's Novas. Look for the geeky brown 4 doors, they all seem to be inline 6 cars.

[VetteVet]

Here is Shift's FAQ on inline sixes for HEI swap

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=148346

[My72Cheyenne]

If you get one from the junk yard, be sure to take it completely apart and check for wear. Once the bushings wear and the advance mechanism bushings wear, it won't advance right and could give you some trouble. I've rebuilt my entire HEI, and once I put a pencil to it, I think I could have purchased a brand new one for about $50 more. I would spend the diffenence next time and go new. That's my 2 cents.