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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 10:15 PM
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Default tack drive hei

Hello, have a 73 with the original point disltributor would like to replace it with a hei but keep the gear drive tac. Does anyone know anything about the ones offered on ebay for 100.00 bucks. Its the whole dist. Would appreciate any info tks.Troy
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 10:24 PM
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First off, why change it? I would get the orig rebuilt, will work fine, Or you could also use the original and put in a Pertronics set up, to eliminate the points and still have the tach drive, they work great and you still keep the original look. JMHO
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 10:56 PM
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the reason I want to get rid of it is I had a 66 riviera gs and had to screw with the points or replace them all the time. Like the idea of maint free. Do youi know who offers them..Tks...............Troy
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 12:37 AM
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If you are talking about the dragonfire from allignition, i have that unit. it has been running great for 2 years now. i did have to recurve it with a mr gasket spring and weight kit but other than that no issues and the tach drive works just as well.
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 12:45 AM
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Default i bought one

I bought the Dragon Fire HEI for my 68. I drove the car for 3-4 months no problems. It's not factory and doesn't look factory. But as long as my car is running and I don't have hood up no one knows. My car is a driver and so am I.
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 01:27 PM
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A lot of the sponsors sell an HEI dist with the tach drive.The only problem is the sheilding wont fit the hei dist if you want it to look stock.My 71 had the hei when I bought it.If I had the original dist and sheilding on the car I would just convert your dist to electronic to get rid of the points.
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 01:31 PM
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I converted my orignal to electronic, purchase a good coil! and make sure to bypass resitor wire if instructed, made a world of deference on my 68
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 04:56 PM
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I'm planning on building a 502 inch BB with a relatively mild (!!!) 600+ hp. I'm not shy, so far, about spending extra dollars for good stuff. I would like to keep my mech tach drive and I too am interested in a tach drive HEI. I have one on my 68 with a ZZ4. I bought the tach drive HEI in 1992 for about $500. Works fine. In 1992, a tach drive was something very new and therefore expensive.

I'm interested in a similar unit for my 70. Are these $100+ ebay units of good quality? Are they rebuilt HEI's?

I'm assuming that I can get 600+ hp performance with an HEI.

I do notice that my 08 appears to have individual spark plug coils for each plug. Maybe I need to do some homework here, but if a reasonably priced tach drive HEI will do the job, that's all I want.
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 05:40 PM
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years ago i bought an hei with the tach drive.... love it
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 09:30 PM
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all good stuff guys sure appreciate you input. Now I,m not sure what this means, but I had a friend with a lot of experience tell me that an hei creates a more complete spark any comments?............tks..Troy
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 09:51 PM
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With HEI distro, you can use the chrome shielding from a 75' C3
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 10:36 PM
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I bought the brand new HEI distributor With tack drive that they sell on ebay for $89.95 and my 68 vette runs and starts better than it ever did. Well worth the money.
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by rugerm44
A lot of the sponsors sell an HEI dist with the tach drive.The only problem is the sheilding wont fit the hei dist if you want it to look stock.My 71 had the hei when I bought it.If I had the original dist and sheilding on the car I would just convert your dist to electronic to get rid of the points.
The shielding Will fit with a little extra effort!
Bought a dragon fire two years ago and no regrets yet .The engine runs smoother, quicker starts,Ect,Ect..




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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 09:13 AM
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Keep in mind that you will need a new set of spark plug wires as well.
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by troythefixer
all good stuff guys sure appreciate you input. Now I,m not sure what this means, but I had a friend with a lot of experience tell me that an hei creates a more complete spark any comments?............tks..Troy
That's a new one- it's unbelievable how much myth and BS exists out there.
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Ward
That's a new one- it's unbelievable how much myth and BS exists out there.
Don't understand this. What is the myth and BS you're referring too?
Are you saying you don't like the HEI? Is there a better choice for a tach drive distributor?
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 12:18 PM
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I think he's quibbling with the word "complete" spark - as opposed to "fatter" spark.

-W
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 12:21 PM
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The myth that somehow an HEI spark has magical powers. A spark is a spark is a spark. If it's 'strong' enough to light the fire, then a stronger spark accomplishes nothing additional. The stock points and coil are more than up to the task.
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 12:37 PM
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guy's i have a 76' and it came with the msd 6 ignition module/with remote timing advance module on the side.it claims to produce multiple sparks.do you know if this has any benefit to performance?the spark goes to one at higher rpm according to the manual that it came with.thanks.
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Old Aug 21, 2010 | 10:33 PM
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So, did they revert back to points when they found out about the Myth??
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