383 and HEI question
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
383 and HEI question
Looking at a Blueprint 383 crate motor and they only offer the deluxe dressed kit with what they can the ready to run distributor which only has mechanical tach output. I'm putting into a '77 which had HEI and electronic tach. They tell me won't sell with HEI as I doesn't clear the drop air cleaner for stock hood clearance. Any good advice.. Is there a better air cleaner that clears an HEI or a way for old style distributor to run electronic tach.
Any recommendations?
Link to propose engine.
https://blueprintengines.com/collections/gm-compatible/products/blueprint-engines-383-ci-stroker-crate-engine-small-block-gm-style-dressed-longblock-with-carburetor-aluminum-heads-roller-cam?_pos=10&_fid=81ca8295c&_ss=c
Any recommendations?
Link to propose engine.
https://blueprintengines.com/collections/gm-compatible/products/blueprint-engines-383-ci-stroker-crate-engine-small-block-gm-style-dressed-longblock-with-carburetor-aluminum-heads-roller-cam?_pos=10&_fid=81ca8295c&_ss=c
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 2,117
From: Minnesota
Here is the same engine without an intake, carb, or distributor. The factory pieces from your car will work on it just fine.
An aluminum intake would be a nice upgrade though. Here is the hood clearance resource thread. I haven’t installed it yet, but I’ve measured and should have plenty of clearance for a 2601 air gap on my stock ‘76 hood.
An aluminum intake would be a nice upgrade though. Here is the hood clearance resource thread. I haven’t installed it yet, but I’ve measured and should have plenty of clearance for a 2601 air gap on my stock ‘76 hood.
Last edited by Piersonpie; Aug 8, 2025 at 11:43 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 582
Looking at a Blueprint 383 crate motor and they only offer the deluxe dressed kit with what they can the ready to run distributor which only has mechanical tach output. I'm putting into a '77 which had HEI and electronic tach. They tell me won't sell with HEI as I doesn't clear the drop air cleaner for stock hood clearance. Any good advice.. Is there a better air cleaner that clears an HEI or a way for old style distributor to run electronic tach.
Any recommendations?
Link to propose engine.
https://blueprintengines.com/collect...1ca8295c&_ss=c
Any recommendations?
Link to propose engine.
https://blueprintengines.com/collect...1ca8295c&_ss=c
Ask them for a simple wiring diagram so that you can make a simple harness between their dist and your OE GM Electronic tach.
*and, since you can't use the mech tach drive, you could use their small cap HEI that has no mech tach drive; it's about $55 cheaper without the mech tach drive. Why can't they figure this simple solution, huh ?
Or, just say no to BPE
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
The electric tach signal is just the trigger signal. That can be off a points set-up or a electronic set-up. It's the signal that fires the coil. It's not difficult to wire in. Just one wire.
Also, 77's have more hood clearance than earlier years. You may not need to run their airfilter. Or theIr distributor.
Also, 77's have more hood clearance than earlier years. You may not need to run their airfilter. Or theIr distributor.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 1,640
From: Fairfax Virginia
The small cap HEI distributors have been a PIA for me over the years. The small size of the inside of the cap made it perfect for carbon tracking and shorts occurring inside the distributor cap. After using a MSD coil I noticed that my distributor cap life was 6-9 months before the missing got bad due to the carbon tracking inside the cap.
I have never had any issues with the large cap HEI distributors having carbon tracking inside. The carbon tracking is better seen with a Black light as they pop right out then. I have never been able to stop the carbon tracking using a better coil so I dropped the original coil in place and the carbon tracking slowed down.
I have never had any issues with the large cap HEI distributors having carbon tracking inside. The carbon tracking is better seen with a Black light as they pop right out then. I have never been able to stop the carbon tracking using a better coil so I dropped the original coil in place and the carbon tracking slowed down.
