Points Problem - HEI?
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Points Problem - HEI?
I started a thread a while ago about my points problem. I have a 1972 corvette small block. I set the points to dwell at 30 - take it for a ride - check the dwell and it goes down to 19. The distributor shows no wear in the bushings and everything looks good. I am having my mechanic get one more set of points to try one more time tomorrow. In the meantime, I am thinking about just converting to HEI so I will not have to worry about any of this stuff anymore. My mechanic put in a HEI the other day to rule out anything else and the car ran phenominal. (I got my engine rebuilt also - so just making sure everything else was good) Had the power that it used to have 10 years ago. So where is the best place to purchase an HEI with a mechanical Tach drive? I see that Ecklers sells them for like 500 bucks and mid america has them for 400. Which one do you recommend and where is the best place to get one? Please advise. Thanks
Mike
Mike
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Atascadero Ca
I would forget the pricey circa 1970 designed hei distributor and go modern. Both msd and mallory make 3 wire hookup distributors for the corvette with tach drive. The cheapest one looks like its a msd unit, with vacuum advance for 309 bucks click here
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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Well I have seen those kits also, but am not sure if my distributor is good or not. Just want to start fresh with a whole new one. I have see them on ebay. Here is one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33690
Is this what I need?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33690
Is this what I need?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 116
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From: Rittman oh
I recently converted my BB points distributor with the Crane XR-i kit. I had the same problems you describe and I did'nt want to mess with converting the the tach drive. It has made a world of difference in overall performance with normal street driving. I went ahead and replaced the coil and the vac advance just to rule those out. Re-setting the timing was a cinch and it corrected the trouble I had been having with maintaining proper idle at operating temperatures. I got the parts from Summit. The module also has a programmable rev limiter dial which is handy. My $ .02 worth, Swamper
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,063
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From: Beverly Massachusetts
Originally Posted by joeyjoeyb
Well I have seen those kits also, but am not sure if my distributor is good or not. Just want to start fresh with a whole new one. I have see them on ebay. Here is one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33690
Is this what I need?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33690
Is this what I need?
well i was gonna say to get the crane kit P/n for summit CRN-750-1710 but for just $150 more you can get a whole new destributor so i would just get the one off ebay that you listed and i think you would have a real hard time beating that price plus you will know that it is new and isnt at least 30+years old because destributors do need to be rebuilt also sense they have brass bushings in them and brass wears out faster tahn most other metals. anyways good luck
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From: Rittman oh
The kit from summit was around $70 and a Crane coil was $40. I thought about getting the HEI too but I have an all original set up and didn't know if the chrome shields and shielded wires would fit back on. My bushings were ok and I didnt replace them. Swamper
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I forgot about the shielding - I hope what I have will fit it. I think it will. I guess I will just have to wait and see. If the new set of points works, I will worry about switching to HEI later. But that is a good price to get that one off Ebay.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
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From: Lakeland Florida
Hello joeyjoeyb
I remember commenting on your last post about this problem. If the HEI distributor unit worked for you, then you know that the points distributor has a problem, which is what you knew already.
But what you still dont know is if going to a HEI conversion on your current distributor will correct the problem. If the springs or weights are now correct or working, then replacing the points wiht the conversion may not fix the problem.
Going to a new distributor will fix the problem, but then you have the extra cost of trying to find a distributor with a mechanical tach drive. Most of the HEI units have the electronic tach drive, that will not work with your model. You need the mechanical drive unless you also want to change out the tachometer to match the distributor.
I am going to replace the points in my 73 distributor with a Pertronix conversion system. I want to go that way also. But I rebuilt my distributor first to insure that the main drive shaft was good, and the vacuum advance was working by adding new bushings, checking the springs, weights and advance.
If these are not working correctly, then the conversion may still not fix the problem.
kdf
I remember commenting on your last post about this problem. If the HEI distributor unit worked for you, then you know that the points distributor has a problem, which is what you knew already.
But what you still dont know is if going to a HEI conversion on your current distributor will correct the problem. If the springs or weights are now correct or working, then replacing the points wiht the conversion may not fix the problem.
Going to a new distributor will fix the problem, but then you have the extra cost of trying to find a distributor with a mechanical tach drive. Most of the HEI units have the electronic tach drive, that will not work with your model. You need the mechanical drive unless you also want to change out the tachometer to match the distributor.
I am going to replace the points in my 73 distributor with a Pertronix conversion system. I want to go that way also. But I rebuilt my distributor first to insure that the main drive shaft was good, and the vacuum advance was working by adding new bushings, checking the springs, weights and advance.
If these are not working correctly, then the conversion may still not fix the problem.
kdf
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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Hey KDF - thanks for the reply. I do remember you commenting on my other thread. You mention springs on your distributer. My distributer with points does not have springs on the top. Are they supposed to be there or just for a HEI distributor? Do you know what I am talking about? If they are needed, then that might be my points problem. Hmmm.....
Instructor
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From: Rittman oh
If there are posts on the top of the weight assembly with grooves around the post then you must have the springs to make it work right. I would say if you have points, you need springs, although I'm not familiar with that year. The springs keep the timing in check at idle and advance it as you accelerate. After that the vaccum advance takes over and moves the breaker plate to advance timing according to engine load. Did you notice a hesitation or miss when you accelerated from a stop or idle? Swamper
Thread Starter
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You know what Swamper - I think you just hit on the head!! I do have a hesitation when you crank up the gas. It just starts breaking up. I noticed today that my mechanic had an HEI distributor and it had springs on the top of it. I know mine does not have them on there, but I just assumed that since mine had points that it did not need them. DOES ANYONE HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT? Because I think swamper just saved me like 200 bucks. I will go HEI one of these days, but I just want to get my car running right again.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Rittman oh
I hope that is all it is and your good to go!! You should be able to get the springs at any parts store and install them yourself. You will need to re-set the timing @ idle because your timing is already advanced due to not having the springs. I know when I had similar problems I had to feather the pedal from a dead stop and it drove me nuts cause I just wanted to mash it like is was designed to do!! Just remember that this is a learning process for those of us who cut our teeth on cars we couldn't work on ourselves. I bought an assembly manual and a chiltons manual which help alot in addition to the wealth of knowledge here on the forum. Let me know how it turns out, Swamper
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Thanks so much swamper - I hope that is all it needs. I never knew those springs had to be on there. I mean I really didn't. I have never had springs on it that I can remember. I cannot wait to get them tomorrow and try it out.