HEI distributor

[Quinton Bradford #25053]

Has anyone put an HEI distributor on their 63? Any pros and'or cons? My old distributor was melted in an engine fire to nothing and I'm considering an HEI type. Quinton

[Quinton Bradford #25053]

Sorry guys.  It is a 390 for those of you wondering.

[Otto Skorzeny]

Now's the time to do it. I'm not familiar with the '63 engine per se but I'm sure somebody like Bruce Reynold's will be able to give you the straight dope.

You might also pose that question to the Modified Cadillac forum since there are probably members who can give you first hand info from experience.

http://www.modifiedcadillac.org/forum/index.php

[Ted in Olympia WA]

A HEI from a later engine will not fit but I kind of like the looks of this system

http://www.davessmallbodyheis.com/

I never done it myself but it is temping.

TED

[Otto Skorzeny]

Wow!

That's funny seeing a Ford small-cap dizzy like my '66 Mustang had with a Chevy ignition module on it like my Monte Carlo had.

Is the housing still good on yours Quinton?

[Sweede64]

No GM HEI will fit the -63 390, i sugest yuo bay a new (used) stock dist. and renovate this unit, then get a ignitor system for it, loks stock but work just fine. Got one in my -61 and never had any probs.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

With the right amount of material, and where-with-all, anything is possible.

It is correct that the GM HEI System won't fit the '63 390, and people have replaced the Points with a Petronix Unit, and there is another way if the rotation is the same direction.

What is requires, simply, is to get the bottom of a 390 Distributor, and the top of an HEI unit, and join them together, so that everything clears any obstructions on top of the engine.

It is a matter of Welding the two housings together, and fabricating a replacement drive shaft, and making i5t all work together, without breaking.   But it won't be cheap.

Bruce.

[Otto Skorzeny]

I think I'd go with Ted's guy or leave it original.

[Ted in Olympia WA]

Nothing really wrong with the points except if the car sits for a long period you have to clean them a bit before starting.  I have to do this to the Ford Model A every spring.

TED

[35-709]

I have used the Pertronix system on 2 different 429's and had good results with them.
Geoff N.

[mario]

hi quinton:
i am using the version that ted told you about. it's not cheap, but it has been running for 7 years, trouble free. dave is a real hoot to converse with. he really know his business. he does specify that you must use a particular coil and it be mounted the way he says. he will tell you his reasons even if you don't want to hear them lol.
7 trouble free years is hard to beat. never even change the cap or rotor - yet (knock on wood!!!) i know many that have used the pertronix with no trouble. i tried that first and it burned out after 6 months. good luck.
ciao,
mario

[Quinton Bradford #25053]

Thanks y'all!  I will look into it.  I really appreciate everyones comments and advice!!!
-Q