If you look close you can see 1 plug wire hanging out.
HEI Distributor Conversion
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Byron Illinois
HEI Distributor Conversion
Hey everyone, I am new to site and am wondering about putting a new HEI distributor into a 73 vette. My questions are, will it fit? It looks very tight between firewall, air cleaner, wiper motor. I see some pictures of some guys on this site that did it and was wondering how tough it is. My gears that drive the tach are shredded and won't turn the tach. I took it out of the car and see the gears on the shaft are also shredded. Since I am replacing, I have a new HEi distributor that a buddy did not use. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Also, How do I wire it up? I see a plug that the two wires from the existing coil must plug into and wonder about a kit to wire this up. Otherwise, I guess I just put some female electrical ends on them and push them on. Sorry for not being to knowledgeable, this is my first vette project.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
lots of threads here just do some searching around.
does your buddys HEI have a tach drive?
it installs just like a normal distributer however it is a good idea to move the #1 plug to the location of the #1 plug for an oem HEI motor. the plug wires will fit better. there are pictures here.
do not use the wire from the ignition that you already have. run a wire from the pink ignition wire under the dash to the + terminal on the HEI,
thats all there is to it.
does your buddys HEI have a tach drive?
it installs just like a normal distributer however it is a good idea to move the #1 plug to the location of the #1 plug for an oem HEI motor. the plug wires will fit better. there are pictures here.
do not use the wire from the ignition that you already have. run a wire from the pink ignition wire under the dash to the + terminal on the HEI,
thats all there is to it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Fit should not be a problem because 75 and later Vettes used HEI. You need to run a full 12 volts to the ignition terminal on the coil. There should be a spare ignition terminal on the fuse box that you can use. You will also need to use a "non-tach drive" tach. I believe you can use a '75 or later tach but I have not made the switch yet. Maybe someone else will know for sure.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Your stock '73 tach is mechanical drive; the HEI unit requires an electrical tach unless the unit you have is a non-stock tach drive HEI. You will want a 75-77 tach head. It will install in your existing bezel.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 736
Likes: 1
From: Chester VA
I used a Summit brand HEI dist with tach drive. The only change you'd need is to get 12v to it instead of the stepped down voltage as original. There is also a wire going from the starter to the dist that can be removed (I didn't use it anyway), you won't need it as it was there to send full 12v to the dist during start up.
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2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Hei
Can u tell me step by step how to wire up the hei I also have 2 -74 corvettes one is a convertible the other is a 4 speed . I just don't want to mess something up I have never done anything like that and what kind of msd hei should I get it has around 400 hp
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 692
Likes: 2
From: Seguin TX
Adding the wire is kind of simple. To me the easiest way is to run a new wire through the fire wall grommet to the fuse box, crimp on a female spade and plug it into the male terminals in the center of the fuse box. At the distributor will depend on the brand.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I wouldn't get any type of MSD ignition as I'm not into 'bling'. But that's just me.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 692
Likes: 2
From: Seguin TX
This is the one I ordered for mine but in black. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CORVETTE-TACH-DRIVE-HEI-Distributor-RED-BBC-396-427-454-SPARK-PLUG-WIRES-45s-/190973481028?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c76e81044&vxp=mtr
Pro
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 535
Likes: 8
From: London Ontario
What consumer electronic device isn't made 'off shore' these days?
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 692
Likes: 2
From: Seguin TX
I have 2 of those including one in my 73. Fits well (tight with stock air filter) and works perfectly! I have had it in use for over a year now and never an issue. The stock advance curve is even pretty good out of the box. Tach works perfectly as well.
What consumer electronic device isn't made 'off shore' these days?
What consumer electronic device isn't made 'off shore' these days?
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 692
Likes: 2
From: Seguin TX
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,239
Likes: 786
From: Redondo Beach, California
Buy an aftermarket HEI with tach drive. Don't try to buy the cheapest available on eBay. I paid close to $300 for my HEI tach drive distributor. Works just fine. Had a performance shop that has experience with 60's and 70's cars tune up the HEI mechanical advance springs, etc. For street use, I think...am I wrong...that the stock GM HEI distributor is really the best choice for for our C3's..even for a big displacement Big Block.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Interesting thread, think the answer I seek lies within, but to verify: I have a 73 454, it has a Delco Remy 9591 HEI distributor, no mechanical tach allowance (I have a line on a 77 gauge). My question is, is the HEI preferable performance wise to a new MDS points distributor + Petronix coil? I am new to corvettes obviously. I put a Petronix system on my first mechanical resto experience, a 78 Scout with 345 V8, and the Petronix was a nice upgrade, but I'm guessing leaving the HEI (not original to car, 75 maybe) is better left alone. That ring true?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 39
From: Beautiful East Texas
I think the HEI system might be more reliable than the Pertronix kit... I know we had some failures with the Pertronix stuff, but that has been many years back, they've probably worked out the bugs by now.
mardyn
mardyn