Intro... and a question or two
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Peyton CO
Intro... and a question or two
Hi all.
Just to introduce - I've got a 73 Stingray, 454 Auto, with 40,000 original miles on it. I've had the car for about two years and haven't done much to it other than drive it (nothing wrong with that!). The car's got headers, but no other visible mods as far as I can see. The guy I bought it from didn't know too much about the car, other than it came from Canada originally.
So here's the question -
I'd like to swap electronic ignition into the car, as I'm not into setting points, and like the better performance from electronic. I see though, that my tach is driven mechanically from the distributor. What are my options here? I'd like to keep the stock tach working, but not if that means it's going to cost me tons of money on the conversion to electronic.
Other question is, what the heck do I need to fix to get the darn headlights to stay "down" when the lights are off? I can reach under the car and get them to go back down, but then the next time I put the lights on, they are back up to stay until I manually put them back.
I can do most anything with cars, though admittedly I've always worked on Mopars and very few Chevies.
Thanks!!
Greg
Just to introduce - I've got a 73 Stingray, 454 Auto, with 40,000 original miles on it. I've had the car for about two years and haven't done much to it other than drive it (nothing wrong with that!). The car's got headers, but no other visible mods as far as I can see. The guy I bought it from didn't know too much about the car, other than it came from Canada originally.
So here's the question -
I'd like to swap electronic ignition into the car, as I'm not into setting points, and like the better performance from electronic. I see though, that my tach is driven mechanically from the distributor. What are my options here? I'd like to keep the stock tach working, but not if that means it's going to cost me tons of money on the conversion to electronic.
Other question is, what the heck do I need to fix to get the darn headlights to stay "down" when the lights are off? I can reach under the car and get them to go back down, but then the next time I put the lights on, they are back up to stay until I manually put them back.
I can do most anything with cars, though admittedly I've always worked on Mopars and very few Chevies.
Thanks!!
Greg
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
From: Point Pleasant NJ
Re: Intro... and a question or two (gregsintx)
Its nice to meet you always good to have someone else to snap pictures if needed hehe...
Sorry I am not an expert on anything you've asked. I am guessing that there is a spring to return the lights being that the vacum must acctuate them into the upward position. This is just a guess only because mine are still closed after many many moons of dead system.
Least I can do is try and keep you to the top. Only bad part is if I am wrong I am going to get some sort of nasty lecture from someone who invented the damn things.
Spook
:reddevil
Sorry I am not an expert on anything you've asked. I am guessing that there is a spring to return the lights being that the vacum must acctuate them into the upward position. This is just a guess only because mine are still closed after many many moons of dead system.
Least I can do is try and keep you to the top. Only bad part is if I am wrong I am going to get some sort of nasty lecture from someone who invented the damn things.
Spook
:reddevil
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Re: Intro... and a question or two (gregsintx)
Hello, you can swap in an HEI distributor and replace your tach with a '75 or later tach which runs off the HEI. Many here have done it. A friend of mine just finished doing it on his 74. Works fine. Tach looks like it was factory..... Don't know how much the "look" has changed from your year tach to mine.
Just my .02cents - If you are going to start "working" on the car you really should get the Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM) and possibly a set of GM Service manuals. Don't waste your money on the generic repair manuals that are sold in your local auto parts stores - too vague and generic.
[Modified by KenSny, 2:34 PM 9/25/2003]
Just my .02cents - If you are going to start "working" on the car you really should get the Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM) and possibly a set of GM Service manuals. Don't waste your money on the generic repair manuals that are sold in your local auto parts stores - too vague and generic.
[Modified by KenSny, 2:34 PM 9/25/2003]
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Re: Intro... and a question or two (BlueL36)
Check that both vacuum lines are hooked up to each actuator. You might try to swap them and see what happens. Get yourself a good vacuum diagram and it shouldn't take you any time at all to get them going
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 1
From: OKC Oklahoma
Re: Intro... and a question or two (gregsintx)
Welcome to the Forum!! :chevy You can buy aftermarket distributors that mechanically drive your tach. MSD has one for $287, the ignition control(6A or 6AL box) for $150 and a Blaster II coil for $35-all through Summit. If you are concerned with looking original, you will have to hide everything, or you could go with the previously mentioned solution of switching your tach and going with HEI.
[Modified by 79VetteMike, 2:12 PM 9/25/2003]
[Modified by 79VetteMike, 2:12 PM 9/25/2003]
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Peyton CO
Re: Intro... and a question or two (79VetteMike)
Thanks for the info and the "welcome's" everyone.
I will looking into that idea of swapping to HEI and putting in the later model tach. I'm not overly concerned with originality - I'll just keep any original parts I swap out.
Where can I get one of those AIM manuals? I agree that those generic ones are pretty worthless.
Greg
I will looking into that idea of swapping to HEI and putting in the later model tach. I'm not overly concerned with originality - I'll just keep any original parts I swap out.
Where can I get one of those AIM manuals? I agree that those generic ones are pretty worthless.
Greg
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Re: Intro... and a question or two (gregsintx)
Thanks for the info and the "welcome's" everyone.
Where can I get one of those AIM manuals? I agree that those generic ones are pretty worthless.
Greg
Where can I get one of those AIM manuals? I agree that those generic ones are pretty worthless.
Greg
[Modified by 6t9l4t6, 8:57 PM 9/25/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Re: Intro... and a question or two (6t9l4t6)
You can keep your original mechanical tach drive distributor and install electronic ignition (not HEI) in it for about $100 +/-.
If you want HEI AND your mechanical tach drive, then you'll have to buy an aftermarket distributor with HEI and mechanical tach drive for about $300 +/-.
On the lights... the best expert you'll ever find is "you" after you buy the diagram & troubleshooting guide. These things are known for the weirdest cause & effect side-show that I have ever seen. Lots of component failure (including unseen cracked hoses) and combinations of component failures can cause the same ills. If you get enough responses here... one of them is bound to be right... but which one? :)
Good luck with them. The force is with you.
If you want HEI AND your mechanical tach drive, then you'll have to buy an aftermarket distributor with HEI and mechanical tach drive for about $300 +/-.
On the lights... the best expert you'll ever find is "you" after you buy the diagram & troubleshooting guide. These things are known for the weirdest cause & effect side-show that I have ever seen. Lots of component failure (including unseen cracked hoses) and combinations of component failures can cause the same ills. If you get enough responses here... one of them is bound to be right... but which one? :)
Good luck with them. The force is with you.
