C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Upgrade Points Distributor to HEI

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 12, 2019 | 04:26 PM
  #1  
pl2000n's Avatar
pl2000n
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 131
Likes: 3
From: Beaverton OR
Default Upgrade Points Distributor to HEI

I an HEI distributor which I'd like to put in my BBC '69. Can I just do a direct swap, and land the ground and existing resister ignition wire? Will the 9.5 VDC on the resistor be enough? Thanks in advance.

PL
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2019 | 05:10 PM
  #2  
jackson's Avatar
jackson
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Default

No. Resistor Wire alone does not supply enough power.

If you rely on OE mechanical tach? ... ensure your new HEI has a tach drive.
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2019 | 05:27 PM
  #3  
3X2's Avatar
3X2
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 523
From: home
Default

Why an hei? Nothing wrong with a properly set up stock distributor.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2019 | 12:40 AM
  #4  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Default

Easier to install an aftermarket electronic ignition module into your stock distributor. But, if HEI is what you want, go for it.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2019 | 10:25 AM
  #5  
pl2000n's Avatar
pl2000n
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 131
Likes: 3
From: Beaverton OR
Default

Thanks guys. The stock points distributor is actually set up fine (Lars a few years ago) and works great. The cable for the tach drive just broke (argh!) so I thought I might move to the HEI. Running a 12V ign. wire would be a bit of a PITA so I'll stick with points for now. I appreciate the input!
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2019 | 10:28 AM
  #6  
BLUE1972's Avatar
BLUE1972
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,214
Likes: 1,671
From: Long Island
Default

Originally Posted by pl2000n
Thanks guys. The stock points distributor is actually set up fine (Lars a few years ago) and works great. The cable for the tach drive just broke (argh!) so I thought I might move to the HEI. Running a 12V ign. wire would be a bit of a PITA so I'll stick with points for now. I appreciate the input!

You can run a feed to the distributor from the yellow wiper motor wire. Most people do that.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2019 | 10:31 AM
  #7  
pl2000n's Avatar
pl2000n
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 131
Likes: 3
From: Beaverton OR
Default

Aha, excellent! Thanks for that tip.


Originally Posted by BLUE1972
You can run a feed to the distributor from the yellow wiper motor wire. Most people do that.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 06:08 AM
  #8  
derekderek's Avatar
derekderek
Race Director
 
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
Default

Sounds like what you really need is a tach cable. Converting to electronic tach is a bit of doing.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 09:24 AM
  #9  
John 65's Avatar
John 65
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
Default

I believe you can purchase an HEI dizzy with a Corvette mechanical square tach drive in it. That should do it.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 09:51 AM
  #10  
stingr69's Avatar
stingr69
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,501
From: Little Rock AR
Default

Originally Posted by pl2000n
Thanks guys. The stock points distributor is actually set up fine (Lars a few years ago) and works great. The cable for the tach drive just broke (argh!) so I thought I might move to the HEI. Running a 12V ign. wire would be a bit of a PITA so I'll stick with points for now. I appreciate the input!
Good call - The PITA would not be just the 12V wire... you would need new ignition wires, re-route the new ignition wires (ARGH!) plus you would need to set up the HEI with a proper performance curve. Fixing what you have is probably easier.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 10:49 AM
  #11  
lars's Avatar
lars
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,379
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Default

Originally Posted by pl2000n
Thanks guys. The stock points distributor is actually set up fine (Lars a few years ago) and works great. The cable for the tach drive just broke (argh!) so I thought I might move to the HEI. Running a 12V ign. wire would be a bit of a PITA so I'll stick with points for now. I appreciate the input!
Your stock, curved, points distributor will out-perform any out-of the-box HEI by a significant margin. Just make sure you install it in the GM Service Bulletin clocking position so the cable is not kinked (ytou received an info sheet on this with the distributor).

Lars
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 11:25 AM
  #12  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,209
Likes: 9,347
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

You can buy the cable and reuse the old housing if it isnt kinked or frayed, Then its just a matter of disconnecting it at the tach, sliding out he old one and sliding in the new lubed one.

As for the dizzy, you can just upgrade the on Lars set up of ryou with a breakerless system and it will still be setup the way Lars had it, just without the points. I used Lectric limiteds version and it was great until the dizzy itsself broke. I had a bushing come apart that I still need to take apart and rebuild

Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Jun 16, 2019 at 11:26 AM.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 06:35 PM
  #13  
BLUE1972's Avatar
BLUE1972
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,214
Likes: 1,671
From: Long Island
Default

I got a low cost heli w/ cable drive and had the engine dyno tuned. The Heli was good and the curve was close enough to not mess with it.


Now have 10k miles on it with no issues...
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 07:02 PM
  #14  
CanadaGrant's Avatar
CanadaGrant
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Default

An HEI will not fit under the stock "small cap" ignition shielding on your 69 big block. You will have to remove all of it to make it fit. If you don't want points then just convert to something like a Pertronix3. If you don't care about the stock look or shielding then go for it but it isn't going to improve anything. The resistor wire won't work either. You have a full 12V terminal on the fuse box labeled IGN that isn't being used and that will work or go to the other (engine compartment) side of the box and replace the resistor wire with something 12ga.

Last edited by CanadaGrant; Jun 16, 2019 at 07:17 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 07:07 PM
  #15  
dmaxx3500's Avatar
dmaxx3500
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 30,894
Likes: 1,189
From: chicago
Default

go on ebay,theres a billet hei copy w/tack drive,and a small cap-dist,with a coil,,complete cheap


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Small-FEMAL...53.m1438.l2649
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 07:26 PM
  #16  
CanadaGrant's Avatar
CanadaGrant
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Default

Originally Posted by dmaxx3500
go on ebay,theres a billet hei copy w/tack drive,and a small cap-dist,with a coil,,complete cheap


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Small-FEMAL...53.m1438.l2649
You might not want to do the above small cap distributor thing either if you plan to use the stock shielding. Below is why.... It won't work with your shielding and is easy to see when you compare it to a stock 69 big block distributor (427/390) on the right. Sometimes fleabay is not your friend and the one above is a good example. Guess how I know? Yes, the pic below will tell you how....
Edit: Another thing I found is that the vacuum advance can had no identifying markings on it (as in dirt cheap) so when I tested it, it produced just over 20 degrees of advance at full vacuum. Not good. It looks really nice on the shelf or in the box but does not belong in a car.



Last edited by CanadaGrant; Jun 16, 2019 at 09:30 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 09:27 PM
  #17  
pl2000n's Avatar
pl2000n
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 131
Likes: 3
From: Beaverton OR
Default

Thanks guys. I just attended a car show in Seaside, OR and she ran beautifully with the stock points distributor. I think I'll keep it and just get a new tach cable.

PL
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 09:46 PM
  #18  
CanadaGrant's Avatar
CanadaGrant
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Default

My 69 came from Oregon and I was told they have never used road salt there. The frame and underside still looks like it just came out of the factory.
Good looking car in your sig.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 11:13 PM
  #19  
pl2000n's Avatar
pl2000n
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 131
Likes: 3
From: Beaverton OR
Default

Thanks CanadaGrant. As for salt, Portland has now started using it but only in extreme conditions.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Upgrade Points Distributor to HEI





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:01 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE