Big2Bird

69427

Jeff, I have no first hand experience with that part, so I welcome any input and Sun machine measurements you have on that piece.
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For the collective, just my opinions (and they're worth just what anybody paid for them):
The original HEI distributors were made in Anderson, Indiana (at Delco-Remy), and the modules were made in Kokomo, Indiana (at Delco Electronics), both were divisions of GM. GM sold their component divisions about twenty years ago, but kept the AC-Delco name. AC-Delco is now a marketing/sales division (rather than a manufacturing division) and buys stuff from all over the world, and then puts the AC-Delco label on the box.

This piece might be a quality part (as I mentioned, I have no experience with it), but it does not share any engineering or manufacturing relation to the original HEI distributors. Just the name is somewhat similar.

Looking for your technical input when you have the opportunity, Jeff.

derekderek

I'm sure the engineering details are all essentially the same. Just a direct copy, not a redesign. As that what kind of quality goes into the manufacture? Who knows? Might be as good as DUI. Might be exactly the same as the $50 Chinese eBay units.

jackson

I bought a new GM HEI about 10 years ago. It was a never-run takeout from a ZZ4 crate & I recall paying about $50 - $75 for it.

Do y'all think it was made it North America?

-edit-
I recall it had the "OLD" pn laser-etched in housing

Big2Bird

Guys, I'll take a look and take her for a spin tomorrow. I'll post some pictures, document the curve, and check it out.

It might be a carbon copy, and it might be crap. We'll see. $190.00

C3DeedlyDee

Can this distributor be locked out to let an efi system control timing?

jackson

yes.

but have you looked at small cap HEI as in old Throttle Body Injection 305 & 350? I had one w/ No mech or vac advance. Junkyard or new on fleabay for $50-$60

69427

You could, but you would need an ECM that has the capability of controlling the coil dwell current, and also some type of crankshaft position sensor to let the ECM know what RPM the engine is running at, and what the crankshaft position is for the ECM timing calculations to be performed. You would also have to coordinate the cap/rotor position with the spark timing map.

All in all, a lot of hassle. You probably wouldn't want to use this distributor in an EFI application.

The later EST (Electronic Spark Timing) distributor (1981 and later models) would be the better choice. They have the correct internal module that will allow information and timing signals to transmit back and forth between the distributor and the ECM.

Big2Bird

I opened the box finally. This will start some discussion.

Big2Bird

Big2Bird

.077" end play out of the box.

calwldlife

wow. what is the story on the dist? what is it for?
last i looked there were only 4 service replacements and they aren't 1 sizes fits all
as far as curves.

Big2Bird

calwldlife

nice brass/copper posts in cap

jackson

b2b ...did you find any laser-etched numbers on aluminum base?

Notice how the number on module is echoed on white label on cap?

Big2Bird

Nothing.......Not a mark, inside out.
I can't even cross ref the vacuum can yet. Coming up zilch.

stingr69

I read the instructions. What did I miss?

Going to need some shims for that gear.

Big2Bird

Break in the gear by using dino oil, and remove the oil filter bypass.

If you ran synthetic, would you do all that BS for a gear? I wouldn't bother.

stingr69

Got it.

Taking a leap (assume) - they expect a good amount of break-in wear to occur from the distributor gear wearing on the camshaft gear.

Blocking the bypass is something I would always do on a new engine break-in and I certainly did not like the synthetic oil engine break-in I tried.

Maybe a little over the top (or maybe not?).

I leave the by-pass blocked well after the break-in is over. The high zinc dino oil works for me every day.

That new gear does look different than the old ones I am used to seeing. Rougher finish, not machined fully. Maybe it IS different?

derekderek

A lot of boat guys cut a slot in the housing so a little pressurized oil sprays down on the gear right before it meets the cam gear.