electronic ignition
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,068
Likes: 7,682
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Your 75 came with electronic ignition. Not much to convert. I'm thinking your just fine with your stock distributor if all you want is electronic ignition.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 1,114
From: North tonawanda NY
HEI is electronic ignition and all 75s were the first year to get it. There is zero benefit from installing msd boxes and such unless you taking this engine to 6500+rpm or need the ability to do things like retard the timing to start it due to crazy high compression or something..
This stuff is typically added because folks dont know any better and think it will make more power or reliability or are just looking for Bling under the hood they feel will impress others... I am not bashing it as ive got plenty of bling myself under my hood but I dont add things myself unless I feel they will improve my car in some way. My distributor on my 74 had points... So I bought a $50 HEI off ebay in 2012 and have been running it since. If I had a stock 75 HEI I would have stuck with that although Ive had no issues from my HEI other than the poor quality ignition modules that kept failing until I found a NOS delco unit on ebay also.
This stuff is typically added because folks dont know any better and think it will make more power or reliability or are just looking for Bling under the hood they feel will impress others... I am not bashing it as ive got plenty of bling myself under my hood but I dont add things myself unless I feel they will improve my car in some way. My distributor on my 74 had points... So I bought a $50 HEI off ebay in 2012 and have been running it since. If I had a stock 75 HEI I would have stuck with that although Ive had no issues from my HEI other than the poor quality ignition modules that kept failing until I found a NOS delco unit on ebay also.
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 7,941
Likes: 4,303
From: Marlton NJ
The stock coils on the stock HEIs are a limiting factor, and past 5000 rpm could stand improvement. Hence my DUI recommendation.
Plus they will "curve" it for you, which is more of a HP/TQ difference than you will ever see from any ignition alone.
Online quote: "I could run to 7,000 rpm with no problems at .035" plug gaps. Not on the factory coil though. I used Accel internal coils and Blue Streak HD caps and rotors with Brass contacts. Also, on an HEI distributor you absolutely MUST replace the high resistance carbon button that connects the coil to the rotor with a low resistance bronze button when using an upgraded coil.
The factory ignition coils and the high resistance carbon dizzy button are the real weak points of HEI distributor... not the module IMHO."
Plus they will "curve" it for you, which is more of a HP/TQ difference than you will ever see from any ignition alone.
Online quote: "I could run to 7,000 rpm with no problems at .035" plug gaps. Not on the factory coil though. I used Accel internal coils and Blue Streak HD caps and rotors with Brass contacts. Also, on an HEI distributor you absolutely MUST replace the high resistance carbon button that connects the coil to the rotor with a low resistance bronze button when using an upgraded coil.
The factory ignition coils and the high resistance carbon dizzy button are the real weak points of HEI distributor... not the module IMHO."
Last edited by leigh1322; Nov 20, 2023 at 10:04 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,807
Likes: 4,426
From: Virginia
What do you consider "electronic ignition"?
The HEI that should* be in your car is a great system. You can dial it in a bit more with timing, perhaps enough to surprise you. Do you mean a programmable ignition curve?
*Should be, hence the picture request.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,068
Likes: 7,682
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I run a DUI Distributor. Which I installed after many attempts to properly curve a aftermarket HEI.
They curved the Distributor to my engine/car.
They asked a ton of questions about my engine and my car/ running gear.
Then they took a couple months to build a Distributor to match my engine and setup.
Then it took another month to get it to Australia.
Then I dropped it in. Checked it. Checked out spot on.
Then I drove it. ALL my problems were solved!
Bloody great piece of gear!
Bloody expensive over here in Australia compared to a Asian made Ebay distributor. As in 10 times the cost!
Worth every penny!
They curved the Distributor to my engine/car.
They asked a ton of questions about my engine and my car/ running gear.
Then they took a couple months to build a Distributor to match my engine and setup.
Then it took another month to get it to Australia.
Then I dropped it in. Checked it. Checked out spot on.
Then I drove it. ALL my problems were solved!
Bloody great piece of gear!
Bloody expensive over here in Australia compared to a Asian made Ebay distributor. As in 10 times the cost!
Worth every penny!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 414
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
If you are referring to electronic programmable distributors, like progression ignition, they are awesome. I’m still dialing mine in, but the flexibility in the curve is great. And it makes using NOS much more convenient.
