HEI distrib on '69 smallblock
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Nassau co. NY
HEI distrib on '69 smallblock
Hi everyone,
I am planning on replacing the distributer on the '69 350CI and I'm thinking about the HEI unit. The car is not 100% stock and I am looking for driveability and reliability since it is my wife's car.
I know I saw my friends '73 smallblock with the HEI, but I didn't pay attention to his air cleaner. With our smaller Mallory dist and cap, the wire terminals just clear the 14 chrome open air cleaner.
Now, I am wondering with the larger HEI, I will have clearance issues with the 14" air cleaner.
All you guys running an HEI distr. with a 14" air cleaner, are there any problems with this setup?
Thanks for any help,
Greg.
I am planning on replacing the distributer on the '69 350CI and I'm thinking about the HEI unit. The car is not 100% stock and I am looking for driveability and reliability since it is my wife's car.
I know I saw my friends '73 smallblock with the HEI, but I didn't pay attention to his air cleaner. With our smaller Mallory dist and cap, the wire terminals just clear the 14 chrome open air cleaner.
Now, I am wondering with the larger HEI, I will have clearance issues with the 14" air cleaner.
All you guys running an HEI distr. with a 14" air cleaner, are there any problems with this setup?
Thanks for any help,
Greg.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Hi everyone,
I am planning on replacing the distributer on the '69 350CI and I'm thinking about the HEI unit. The car is not 100% stock and I am looking for driveability and reliability since it is my wife's car.
I know I saw my friends '73 smallblock with the HEI, but I didn't pay attention to his air cleaner. With our smaller Mallory dist and cap, the wire terminals just clear the 14 chrome open air cleaner.
Now, I am wondering with the larger HEI, I will have clearance issues with the 14" air cleaner.
All you guys running an HEI distr. with a 14" air cleaner, are there any problems with this setup?
Thanks for any help,
Greg.
I am planning on replacing the distributer on the '69 350CI and I'm thinking about the HEI unit. The car is not 100% stock and I am looking for driveability and reliability since it is my wife's car.
I know I saw my friends '73 smallblock with the HEI, but I didn't pay attention to his air cleaner. With our smaller Mallory dist and cap, the wire terminals just clear the 14 chrome open air cleaner.
Now, I am wondering with the larger HEI, I will have clearance issues with the 14" air cleaner.
All you guys running an HEI distr. with a 14" air cleaner, are there any problems with this setup?
Thanks for any help,
Greg.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
I droped one in my 73 and had no problems even with msd 8.8mm wires. The spaceing between the carb and the dist hole on the manifolds are all the same on all the small blocks. So the spacing between the dist and aircleaner shold be the same as on a 75+ with a factory HEI. I don't have a picture of the 73 right now, but here is my 76:
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,926
Likes: 739
From: Youngstown Ohio
I have a D.U.I. HEI tach drive dist. in my '69 SBC, and yes there is tight clearance with a 14" air cleaner. The lip of the cleaner will touch the dist. unless you use a carb spacer or non drop-style air cleaner base. I had to slightly bend in the rear of the base at the dist.....not much, about 1/4".....hardly noticeable in these pics but it does fit.
This is with the 1975 and later style HEI, which most aftermarket ones are.
This is with the 1975 and later style HEI, which most aftermarket ones are.
Last edited by C3 Stroker; Jan 17, 2010 at 02:01 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
I have a D.U.I. HEI tach drive dist. in my '69 SBC, and yes there is tight clearance with a 14" air cleaner. The lip of the cleaner will touch the dist. unless you use a carb spacer or non drop-style air cleaner base. I had to slightly bend in the rear of the base at the dist.....not much, about 1/4".....hardly noticeable in these pics but it does fit.
This is with the 1975 and later style HEI, which most aftermarket ones are.
This is with the 1975 and later style HEI, which most aftermarket ones are.
Last edited by bj1k; Jan 18, 2010 at 09:36 AM. Reason: Further observation
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,926
Likes: 739
From: Youngstown Ohio
Could it be that your aftermarket intake manifold is made a little different to where your carb sets a little farther back ? If you look at the front of Vettehardt's air cleaner , the front edge is above the center of the water neck and yours is behind it making your carb appear to be setting further back.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Nassau co. NY
Anyone know off hand if the Performer manifold puts the carb in the same place or further back to the distrib?
Actually, I only need to know if the HEI will clear the 14 inch cleaner on the Performer manfold.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
I wonder, now...I have an Edelbrock Performer dual plane. However, I don't have a stock small block manifold to measure and compare it to.
Anyone know off hand if the Performer manifold puts the carb in the same place or further back to the distrib?
Actually, I only need to know if the HEI will clear the 14 inch cleaner on the Performer manfold.
Thanks
Anyone know off hand if the Performer manifold puts the carb in the same place or further back to the distrib?
Actually, I only need to know if the HEI will clear the 14 inch cleaner on the Performer manfold.
Thanks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Nassau co. NY
Greg.
