Here comes a dumb question, I'm sure, but I'm trying to determine the difference between an HEI distributor and a non-HEI one.

I don't know what's so different about it, so PLEASE, someone educate me on this.

I've only ever worked with DIS systems and with Lucas points distributors, so I don't know what's important about it or even if I should try to upgrade/change the ignition on our '74 350 sb to HEI.

Anyone?

 

I don't know much about the differences, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but the conventional used a mechanical system to fire the points and HEI has an electronic module that does this.

 

There is no performance advantage to converting to HEI on a stock engine, the points and condenser do a wondeful job as-is.

Don't be fooled by what you see on Speed Vision and read in the hot rod magazines.

 

HEI stands for "High Energy Ignition" and uses an electronic module to deliver spark vs. points. I think the coil is built in as well. It seems to be a popular upgrade as I see many old(er) cars with HEI distributors.





I used the "Lectric Ltd." (www.lectriclimited.com) "Breakerless SE" electronic points conversion on my '74. No more points/condensor to deal with.

 

A properly maintained stock distributor with a quality set of points will serve you just fine.

The reason points distributors have a bad rap is because people used to drive their cars 100,000 miles without touching them...and then complain because they didn't work right!!!

 

That is the nice thing about Hei. It is extremely reliable. You can drive it 100,000 miles without touching it. I like it for that reason alone.

 

I completely rebuilt the points tach drive distributor on my 74 (abt $150) and still I could not get enough fire for my stroker, it fouled the new style spark plugs in AFR heads.

Once I installed the HEI tach drive distributor, all h**l broke loose, I now have the power I was suposed to have.

I was with everyone else, I was going to stay with the points, but now I am super pleased and recommend going to HEI. I still agree that you can still stay with points for most old style applications.

Do yourself a favor if you decide to change, don't buy one from the Corvette mail order\I-net parts companies, you can get a brand new one on ebay for $150 or more less than Ecklers etc...

Very simple installation, only one 12 volt (key on hot\key off not) installation and then you can disconnect the distributor wire to the starter and coil.

And to comment on your origional question, as stated above, points are mechanical, HEI is semi-mechanical electronic with more power, less moving parts, and more reliability. Or you can add an electronic upgrade to the inside of your points distributor such as Pertronix...

If you change you will also have to change spark plug wire to the HEI style cap connectors...

Update:

Here is one on ebay right now cheap:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DISTR...spagenameZWDVW

 

Sounds pretty simple, and very similar to the electronic ignition I recently installed on a 1967 Jaguar E-Type. The main difference for the Mallory Unilite distributor that I used, however, is that it required a coil and ballast resistor to install.

If that's the case, though, I'd be happy to install an HEI in place of the worn out distributor that's currently installed. The PO hasn't taken all that good of a care of the thing, so shaft spinning in the distributor sounds iffy. It's either replace the entire thing, or wait for it to break. I, for one, don't want to be stranded on the side of the road because the distributor chose to break down.

 

hei in general delivers more voltage, at least in stock forms;

hei is very easy to maintain.

non hei systems are easy to maintain also, but thats just it, you have to do the maintenance or else you could end up on side of the street.. points are essentially just a pair of contacts that open and close several thousand times per minute on average. over time they arc, pit, come out of adjustment, and need a little care. easy to do, but why bother when you can get a more powerful and more maintenance free hei unit??

 

Ok...So the HEI is basically an electronic ignition system instead of a points ignition. I actually installed one of these on our 1967 Jaguar E-Type (A Mallory Unilite with vaccum advance), but it required a separate coil and ballast resistor, so it may not have been a true HEI system.

 

The tach drive HEI suggested above is a good piece. I've sold a bunch of them on this forum but am sold out & will not reorder. In addition to the above link, There's another seller on ebay ... in California (his ID something like gr8thotrod)... actually taking offers for them ... his history shows he accepts $175. The cool thing about the HEI tach drive is, with exception of the mechanical tach drive, it's just like a GM HEI ... parts readily available for it ANYWHERE, ANYTIME. I agree the points setup is a good, but parts aren't necessarily as readily available as they once were. A good stock HEI will produce a bit more usable spark energy than a good stock points setup ... particularly helpful at startup & idle.