points or HEI
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
points or HEI
which are you running?
I am having that 'engine dropping out' while cruising thing which I am pretty sure is the points or the coil...so considering just going to the HEI and being done with it.
Which way did you go?
I am having that 'engine dropping out' while cruising thing which I am pretty sure is the points or the coil...so considering just going to the HEI and being done with it.
Which way did you go?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
If you are not all hung up for Purist stock go HEI or at the very least electric ignition rather than points....
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 3,130
From: Shamong, NJ
I would suggest that you concider one of the electronic ignition conversion kits. That way you can keep your regular plug wires, tach drive distributor and the stock appearence, if that matters to you. Be aware, if you want to use ignition shielding, HEI distrubutors will not fit under stock 74 and earlier top shields and brackets. Also, if you go with a regular GM HEI, you'll need to replace your tach with an electric one from a 75-77 Corvette. You can buy aftermarket tach drive HEI distributors, they run about $300. With one of these, you don't have to change your tach, but your shielding still won't fit.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Points will work, my old first cars came w/ points. I was running a mag. when I bought the Corvette. If it had not come w/ HEI, it would have had a mag. in the 70s.
Gave away my dwell meter a long time ago.
Gave away my dwell meter a long time ago.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 12
From: Schaumburg (Chicago) Illinois
There is nothing wrong with a properly set up points system. You won't know the difference and they are not the maintenance headache that people say. That said, there is nothing wrong with upgrading either.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
The last car that I had with points kept burning them out every couple of thousand miles, no one could figure out why. I changed to electronic ignition and was much, much happier.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: Oakwood GA
I ran with a GM HEI set up for yrs. Now have MSD dis. and CRANE Cams HI-6 with rev. limiter. I did go with a '75 Tach. Cable driven suck anyway no love lost there. Idle quality,cold eng starting, eng performance, and even gas mil. will all improve. Do it , you wont regreat it!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 206
From: Pearland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
I would suggest that you concider one of the electronic ignition conversion kits. That way you can keep your regular plug wires, tach drive distributor and the stock appearence, if that matters to you. Be aware, if you want to use ignition shielding, HEI distrubutors will not fit under stock 74 and earlier top shields and brackets. Also, if you go with a regular GM HEI, you'll need to replace your tach with an electric one from a 75-77 Corvette. You can buy aftermarket tach drive HEI distributors, they run about $300. With one of these, you don't have to change your tach, but your shielding still won't fit.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
Before you make any rash decisions, make sure that it is the ignition that has a problem. "Cutting out", could be a loose wire(not just a spark pug wire) etc... Does the car missfire at idle? Have you checked the gap on your points? They can get a bit quirky if they sit for a while, and might just need some cleaning or replacing.
