Iron_dog

Hi guys,
I've a point stock distributor and I'm looking to change it to a better one.
I was looking at this one:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-850001-T/

Does anybody has experience on it? Do I have to buy also something else for the upgrade???

Thank you!!

Roco71

I do not have any experience with that distributor but some things you will need to do when making the conversion. Very simple.

New plug wires for a HEI
A none restrictive power source. Your current coil wire has resistance you cannot use it to power HEI. (run new line to fuse box)
Spark plugs re-gap to 45 some others may have other thoughts on this one.

Easy Mike

Have you considered the Pertronix kit? Upgrades your ignition, looks stock, no distributor to purchase. Half the cost of the catalogue listing.

jackson

look on fleabay for practically same thing ... but for about 1/4 scummit cost.

search fleabay for "tach drive HEI" ... several to choose from under $80.

However, nothing wrong w/ points for most street cars ... so long as dist not worn out. ... points very reliable & easy to troubleshoot when there is a hiccup.

Iron_dog

Thank you guys! Which benefits I should expect when (if) I will move to the HEI system?

Marlin

Yep check eBay for the same item without the summit name for a LOT less.


I prefer HEI myself. Timing will stay more true and require less maintaince.

But if its for a car that sees little driving then that may not be an issue.

Mike Ward

None. A spark is a spark. Either it lights the gas/air mixture or it doesn't. A 'hotter' spark will not give more performance or decreased fuel consumption as discussed many times here.

billla

The only real benefit is that the HEI (or electronic ignition like the Pertronix) will perform as well as a new set of points, correctly adjusted, without ever having to touch it again.

Iron_dog

Mike, could you expain me better the difference with an HEI distributor?

LB66383

The Pertronix kit is a small electronic unit that replaces the points in the distributor you have now. It is an electronic switch rather than a mechanical switch, so it never goes out of adjustment or wears out like points. The Pertronix kit costs less than half of the HEi distributor you're looking at. If you go that route, I would recommend getting your distributor rebuilt if it hasn't been done before.

Iron_dog

Guys, I've just purchased a Pertronix kit, it will arrive within one week! Thanks for the support!

Bowerss2

its nice not having to mess with points though.

how many people know how to use this?

69427

That's still a nice piece of equipment to have. It's an easy way to get an idea if a cheap electronic conversion is adding or decreasing the coil energy level in your ignition system.

aussiejohn

Jackson,

Good advice, but if they're a quarter the price, where are they made? And if it fails, will the "fleabay" vendor give you any sort of warranty? Or your money back?

There's a reason that businesses like Summit charge more money, generally they buy a part made well enough that they won't have to waste valuable time and money having their staff handling all of the complaints and warranty claims that ensue buy selling junk parts.

Also, they have a business address and you know where to find them if you do have a problem. And they will stand behind the part they sold you. I'd rather buy that way than the way you suggest any day, but you have the right to disagree with me and I don't have a problem with that.

Caveat Emptor.

Regards from Down Under.

aussiejohn

anips

if you are thinking HEI check out Performance Distributors out of Memphis Tenn, they hand build hei's to your specs, car weight,cam. heads. etc, no China junk no foolin with your dist. after you buy it just bolt and go, I run one in my LT-1, they have a dist. drive or elec. model, dist. drive model is a little spendy at close to $500. but the elect. is $279. as far as Summit goes I buy their stuff and if I have a problem I call em and they take care of it, they even e-mail me a UPS return free shipping lable, but you gotta ask,

Vette5.5

Think you've done fine on the Pertonics module. Not a big believer in purchasing stuff off E-Bay myself either, as you buy it from who knows, and if it breaks, good fill for the garbage can. Buy lot's of stuff from Summit Racing, and stick to local auto parts stores for batteries and such.

jackson

come on! TDHEI for $80 ... of course it's china.

But Summit's is too ... years back, Eckler's had one at about $300 ... also china.

The chinese make good stuff as well as junk; their quality depends almost entirely upon what the buyer (often an american importer-distributor) is willing to pay. I once worked as QA Mgr for a mid-size US company which buys & contracts w/ primarily chinese manufacturers & distributes throughout US; some good, much not. I've also worked on & co-piloted a red chinese built PRC warbird; high quality. So ... if you don't like the quality of those roller rockers you just "stole" for $89 ... it was probably an american who commissioned their manufacture at a ridiculously low $ contract.

I too did sell china HEI ... until my margin shrank up. Last one delivered +6 yrs ago to California September 2005; still maintain regular communication w/ that gent who bought Two. I DIRECTLY sought & got feedback from most. The ONLY complaint I ever got was damage during shipping ... & I still have same ol' address, phone & email. Nevertheless, caveat emptor.

Here in USA ... if seller has no physical presence in buyer's state of residence ... then buyer has no PRACTICAL protection under the law anyway. Even if there was, how much trouble/$ is it to recover a hundred or two $ ??? Fleabay offers little PRACTICAL protection either ... caveat emptor. But if you know what you're doing you'll usually have a good outcome. No, I don't sell on fleabay or other online auction.

Iron_dog

How difficult is to rebuild it? I have already rebuilt my quadrajet, is more difficult? Thanks

Roco71

I put one of these in a 63 that I had. Not hard at all, shimmed the shaft at the same time. I believe the shims were included with the kit. You will still need to run a power line from your fuse panel to the coil that is hot with the ignition on. The stock coil line is a resister and will not carry the current that you need to fire properly.

boltnut

I went with the msd unit made for the tach drive vettes use. I like msd. Many don't . I also use a 6al box with it. I don't mind spending a little more for the parts and they always work fine. JMO.