points vs. hei
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
points vs. hei
hi guys, I am a new member who purchased a 74 a few years ago and am trying to make it 'worthy'. Are you guys still running points or have you switched to electronic? If you switched, what did you switch to?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
This question is always fun. 
There are several guys here who will point out that a properly maintained points distributor provides all the spark your engine needs.
I personally dont like fooling with points, so I would change to an HEI if I were you.
There are several guys here who will point out that a properly maintained points distributor provides all the spark your engine needs.
I personally dont like fooling with points, so I would change to an HEI if I were you.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 645
Likes: 1
From: Hayward Wi
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 121
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Properly maintained is the key phrase here. I hate points. Seems like almost every time I have had any issue with running correctly it was a points issue. Ran my MSD for 6 years and never touched it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
I changed out my point fired unit for a pro-form HEI w/ Tach drive last year. Excellent upgrade. Never have t look a a dwell reading again and my timing wander is gone as well. 
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
Hey Fishindude, what makes you thing you ARE someone???
just messin' with you.....
but IMO, IF OP wants to go HEI, get a tach out of a '75-77 vette and never look back, will need a tach filter also....and rewire for a heavy pink wire to the ignition, and simplify you life there.....
getting a special million dollar tach drive HEI just so the funky trouble prone mechanical tach can work is a money waster...IMO....
just messin' with you.....
but IMO, IF OP wants to go HEI, get a tach out of a '75-77 vette and never look back, will need a tach filter also....and rewire for a heavy pink wire to the ignition, and simplify you life there.....
getting a special million dollar tach drive HEI just so the funky trouble prone mechanical tach can work is a money waster...IMO....
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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I'm still running points in my 68 L-36. I just like driving around with a Dwell Meter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 703
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
I went MSD all the way on my '73.
MSD 6A capacitive discharge system.
MSD coil
MSD HEI Corvette distributor with tach drive so you can keep your cable driven tach. It has an electronic tach drive terminal on the box if you want to go electronic tach or install a tach driven accessory such as a shift light, etc.
MSD helicoil spark plug wires.
You cannot use solid core spark plug wires.
Here are discription & wiring.
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...0_frm28645.pdf
MSD 6A capacitive discharge system.
MSD coil
MSD HEI Corvette distributor with tach drive so you can keep your cable driven tach. It has an electronic tach drive terminal on the box if you want to go electronic tach or install a tach driven accessory such as a shift light, etc.
MSD helicoil spark plug wires.
You cannot use solid core spark plug wires.
Here are discription & wiring.
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...0_frm28645.pdf
Last edited by 08vycpe; Mar 28, 2009 at 08:55 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
those dragon fire tach drive HEIs on ebay from the all ignition company in my research have never gotten a bad review.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,785
Likes: 957
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 703
Likes: 2
Thats just a genric picture I took of their site, it does have a vaccum can but I may end up locking out the advance anyways. The advance on the current coil/point set-up thats in there right now is locked out too and you get instant throttle response (I always run my advances locked out on my drag cars)
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,785
Likes: 957
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Thats just a genric picture I took of their site, it does have a vaccum can but I may end up locking out the advance anyways. The advance on the current coil/point set-up thats in there right now is locked out too and you get instant throttle response (I always run my advances locked out on my drag cars)
