Brand new Delco HEI
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Jeff, I have no first hand experience with that part, so I welcome any input and Sun machine measurements you have on that piece.
.
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.
.
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.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
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
Do y'all think it was made it North America?
-edit-
I recall it had the "OLD" pn laser-etched in housing
Last edited by jackson; Feb 6, 2019 at 04:06 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,910
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
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.
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St. Jude Donor '22
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Le Mans Master
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Le Mans Master
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From: Little Rock AR
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?
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?