Changing from points to HEI

[blazercrazy70]

Wondering what distributors anybody has used changing from points to HEI would rather use one that has everything internal but not the the big HEI distributor Any suggestions

[jborders]

most all of the companies now make internals to replace the points to convert to hei style. it will be cheaper than a whole new distributor and will still be small. all small style distributors have external coil.

[dezdud]

Yup. What he said. Pertronix makes an inexpensive quick install conversion that i did on a mopar. It worked great. My 69 Chevy truck I put a BIG Accel unit on,and it works great too.

[custom1970]

Also put an Accel unit in mine, works great

[ChillWinstonC20]

Search this forum for "HEI conversion" for LOTS of other threads on this topic. Lots of opinions on what's best/better. It's currently something I'm researching too. I'm leaning toward yanking mine rather than converting it.

[Zeke's Garage]

I've done both, convert with a Pertronix unit, and just swapped in an original and aftermarket HEI on a few different vehicles.

You'll see some folks go bat-poop crazy about how bad and unreliable the Pertronix units (as well as some of the other conversion kits) are, and that they just don't last very long. I don't have any issues with them so far as the one I installed is still just fine.

A lot of people are loving the $60 Skip White chinese HEIs on eBay, and I have to say, I got a tach drive unit for my Vette, and it works very well, no issues at all.

I put a stock HEI in my 250 to replace the points distributor, and of course it works just as expected, and can be found just a cheaply if you look around.

If you're looking for an electronic replacement that doesn't have the internal coil in the cap, then you'll need to look at an aftermarket unit, or just do a pertronix or similar swap.. I don't think there are any OEM electronic units that have a separate coil that aren't computer controlled.

Good luck with it.

Shawn

[davepl]

I'm using the Pertronix "stock cast" unit that has the Ignitor III module in it, because I wanted to retain the stock appearance.

If I was starting with a stock points distributor, I'd just throw an Ignitor III conversion module in it. If you don't currently have a distributor, and don't care about appearance, then a junkyard HEI is by far the cheapest.

You'll see it in all the other threads, but don't forget to run a new power line so you're getting an unrestricted 12V

[Rob H.]

I'm planning on just yanking the stock one out of an 80 C/10 we have in the junkyard.