distributor
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Part of the fun of owning an 'older' vehicle is learning about and managing with the older technology. Some of us are old enough to know when this stuff was NEW!! Others just want to learn how the OLD stuff really worked. What you state is certainly true...but that isn't reason enough for me to kick the 'original' parts to the junk pile.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
One of the problems with points is that a faulty condenser will leave you stranded just like a failed HEI or Petronix module will. Another major problem is locating a rotor and cap of high dielectric strength which prevents arcing between the post in the cap although this is true with any distributor. Another factor is high rpm point bounce with a distributor that is not properly shimmed restricting up and down play.
Points distributors, especially dual point, had their day but are ancient technology but still serve a purpose for those that require originality.
Points distributors, especially dual point, had their day but are ancient technology but still serve a purpose for those that require originality.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,139
Likes: 9,447
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Everything said in this thread is ancient technology and not used in production so not sure what your point is.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,139
Likes: 9,447
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
no Hei and wigets are too. All three have the plus and minus There is a reason no auto manufacture uses any of them. And none ever used a widget.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,139
Likes: 9,447
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 1
Thank you for all the great input . Im going to install a HEI temporary in Jan and going to see what shape the original is in possibly rebuild it and put back in or if i like the way it runs wit the HEI might just keep it that way will up date later ....
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: Loveland
I will be curious to hear how the HEI works compared to original. The research that I have done, is that it doesn't really increase the power. But looks cool. I have the Pertronix and it seems to work well. It takes any question away you might have about properly tuning points.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 1
Thanks most likely when i rebuild the old distributor I will go with a Pertronix module I've only heard good things about the pertronix , I'm not looking to get more power just smother on cold starts and smoother engine over all ...
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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you only must read what you want to read. There is plenty of people that have been left stranded many times by that widget.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
The HEI will require different wiring than the points distrbutor so I suggest you find a wiring diargram for the HEI. Willcox is a good source for the diagram. I would also suggest that when you rebuild the old distributor you find some thin shims to eliminate the up and down slop. If you encounter excessive side to side play in the distributor shaft you find a different distributor,
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
And many more that haven't. I have one in the 66 Mustang that I gave my grandson. The car made 3 trips between Cherry Point, NC and Springfield Mo. with 0 problems. The module is in an old Mallory dual point distributor and I used Petonix's matching coil. The engine in the Mustang is a .030 over 289 with a very aggressive cam, a 600 Holley DP, headers backed with a 4 speed.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 1
Thank you will do that for the wiring will check willcox diagram out , I was just panning to run a 12 gage wire from the HEi distributor straight into the fuse box using the ignition axillary spot Im told it 12 volts and that what it needs to run ....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
If you do go to Petronix I suggest you run their coil as well. It is impedance matched to the module.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 10,772
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From: Golden Colorado
For what it’s worth 14 gauge is to small 12 is ok but I like 10 better. JMHO. 
One other thing you might want to consider is a relay. Run power from horn relay to relay to B+ on HEI. Than you could probably use the resister wire for a relay trigger and not run the electrical load through the ignition switch. Think about it.
One other thing you might want to consider is a relay. Run power from horn relay to relay to B+ on HEI. Than you could probably use the resister wire for a relay trigger and not run the electrical load through the ignition switch. Think about it.
Last edited by Vette5311; Dec 2, 2021 at 01:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 1
No worries 12 gauge is what im going to be using but 14 gauge is okay to its just what GM used and its what's recommended in 1975 when the went to the HEI as a lot more volts are going through the system ....cheers