HEI Question
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Milford Ohio
HEI Question
When did Corvette come out with the first HEI (High Energy Ignition) I have an acquaintance who says he was given a Corvette distributor from the early 60s That had the HEI ignition. I didn't think that came out until much later.
I know someone out there knows the answer
I know someone out there knows the answer
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74 is when GM put HEI in all cars and trucks across the board. GM had option K66 TI or transistor ignition from 64-71 which was there first attemp at electronic ingntion. But with the cap and rotor installed it looks like any old points one. They did have a separate amp box that made it work.
Race Director
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No, it was 1975, which was also the first year that catalytic converters were used across the board by GM except the base Vega 140 1 bbl. GM determined that a more reliable ignition system was required as an improperly maintained point system could cause misfires and overheat the converter. The TI/HEI generally work perfect or don't work at all.
TI was first offered by Pontiac in 1963, and Corvette in 1964.
To the OP: A TI distributor looks the same as the single point, but has an electric pickup coil inside instead of breaker plate and points and a remote amp. The V-8 HEI distributor is much larger in diameter, and the amp is an internal thick film hybrid module. It has an "integral" ignition coil mounted on the top of the cap, which makes it a completely self contained ignition system only needing a 12V power source.
Four and six cylinder HEI systems use external ignition coils.
Duke
TI was first offered by Pontiac in 1963, and Corvette in 1964.
To the OP: A TI distributor looks the same as the single point, but has an electric pickup coil inside instead of breaker plate and points and a remote amp. The V-8 HEI distributor is much larger in diameter, and the amp is an internal thick film hybrid module. It has an "integral" ignition coil mounted on the top of the cap, which makes it a completely self contained ignition system only needing a 12V power source.
Four and six cylinder HEI systems use external ignition coils.
Duke
