Hello all,

I am still new to this with my 74' L48. I have an HEI distributor on the way. I know I need new plugs and wires before I put it in, but what else do I need to know? Thanks for any and all help.

-Tom

 

Follow the instructions that come with the unit. Pay attention to the wiring and keep in mind that you should run a new 12v wire to the unit and not use the resister wire from the OEM wiring. There have been many threads on this and it could save you headaches down the road.

 

Is it a tach drive HEI?

 

Take a photo before you remove any wires. Mark the spark plug wires with tape and the cylinder number before you remove them. Remove them and change them one at a time. You may have already thought of this, but it is amazing how many people rip all of the wires off and then get confused and spend two hours figuring out how to correctly install them so the engine will run. Also- before you take off the old distributor, bump the engine until you are at TDC on cylinder #1. Take the cap off and make sure it is #1 (TDC on your mark on the harmonic balancer will also show for cylinder #6). Note the direction the rotor is pointing to and make a mark on the engine that lines up with the rotor. When you install the new HEI distributor, you can line up the rotor and the #1 distributor wire socket with this mark so your timing will be approximately where it needs to be (so the engine will start!) and then adjust the timing with your timing light. You may have also thought of this.


Oldcarbum's advice on the 12 volt wire to the HEI distributor is important. I forgot that the stock lead wire to the point and condenser distributor was not 12 volt. When I changed to a HEI distributor, the car misfired and would not run. When I turned my brain back on and ran 12 volts to the HEI distributor, it ran just fine.

 

are you making your own wires?
make sure you do a search to see which way you want your wires loomed, with or without the shields, behind the motor mounts or on top of valve covers or along the valve covers then what size wires (8mm) then brand as in MSD or taylor and on and on

 

Thank you all for your replies. I am hoping to finally get to it this week.

 

It is, yes. Thanks for double checking for the newbie though