HEI Distributor Issue

[Camar068]

Got an 86 K10 with a 75' 350 in it. It had an 87' in it until last month....lost oil pump. Anyway, after the engine swap, it had the distributor that came with the used motor. It had the 4 pin cable that goes to the ECM (from what I'm reading). It left me stranded so I stuck the 87' dist. in it and vroom.....fired right up and I've been on the road since. The 87' doesn't have the "ECM" connector. Both have vacuum advance.

While installing the 87 I noticed how thin the pins the weights pivot on were compared to the 75'. They are half the size of the pins on the other, while the weights have the same size holes as the other. I thought wow....not secure and a lot of slop to play with the timing.

So here's my question.....Can I pull the shaft with the "normal" pins and put it in the other distributor?

Trying to save as much $ as I can as I'm about to go get a 5.3, hopefully this week. Be a while to install though.

Thanks In Advance
'maro

 

[Camar068]

came across Skip Whites distributors on another forum reading up on rebuilding HEI. Experience anyone? $48 shipped. I've got a leery feeling.....get what you pay for feeling.

http://www.skipwhiteperformance.com/listview.aspx?Product=A&Sub=A

 

[74 Shortbed]

I've got two of them, only thing I had to do was fix the curve in them, had them for a year now so far so good, maybe I'm just lucky?????...

 

[Daveo91Burb]

I had an Ebay special HEI in my '76 Vette for several years. I don't know if it was Skip White or not, but it seems like the budget HEIs are all pretty much the same. It did OK - I think I burned thru a module or two, but the quality wasn't there. I had trouble with some of the connectors and I just never really trusted it. I ended up rebuilding my OEM HEI with a new pickup coil when I had the engine out and that's what's been in it since.

 

[74 Shortbed]

Friend of mine bought an E-Bay deal(can't remember from who though), housing was quality but that was about it, I ended up gutting it and put all Delco parts in it for him, it has close to a 100,000 miles on it now and never missed a beat.

 

[Camar068]

I've got two of them, only thing I had to do was fix the curve in them, had them for a year now so far so good, maybe I'm just lucky?????...

thanks for the reviews guys. Do you know if a store bought cap will fit? I saw a review of a different one that said it was slightly different.

 

[74 Shortbed]

Yes, there's nothing special about them, any large HEI cap will fit, never seen any that were different?, what is supposed to be different about it???

 

[bucket]

Some '85-'86 TPI motors used a large-cap HEI that didn't have the regular 1/4 turn hold-downs, but threaded screws instead. But those also didn't have vacuum advance either.

 

[74 Shortbed]

Ahh yes, the electronic ones forgot about them..

 

[Camar068]

It's a different one than mentioned above. Anyway, look at the reviews, third one down by kingnothing. He states that it wouldn't fit w/o modifying the distributor. He may not have had it lined up right though so take it with a grain of salt. Just an FYI regarding this one.

http://www.amazon.com/CFR-Performan...id=1458744409&sr=8-2&keywords=hei+distributor

 

[Camar068]

Regarding HEI tuning....I'm learning. This comment in the post below made me yell "I knew I wanted a vacuum gauge in the dash.....but didn't know why!" LOL.

Guess I could put the comment in: "How much engine vacuum is produced at cruise? If max vacuum at cruise, on a car with a radical cam, is only 15 inches Hg, a vacuum advance control unit that needs 18 inches to peg out would be a poor selection."

http://www.460ford.com/forum/42-general-tech/117504-timing-vacuum-advance-101-good-article-gm-engineer.html

Skip Whites distributor is on the way. I'll post results and experiences. Hope it has an adjustable vacuum advance, if not....it will in the end LOL.

 

[74 Shortbed]

That is a very good article and it's all over the net,lol.. They do have adjustable vacuum cans it even comes with an allen wrench, at least mine did anyways..

 

[rich weyand]

Or you could just use an AR23/VC1856 or equivalent, and not screw around with adjustments.

 

[Camar068]

Ordered it Thursday night, received it today via fedex. Was really surprised. They are only about 120 miles from me, but I was still surprised they shipped it Fedex. Kudos.

After installing, I couldn't tell a difference up to 65. I'll hit the interstate tomorrow when I run get some spacers for it. Then I'll look at adjusting the vac adv and possibly adjusting the curve.

 

[74 Shortbed]

Spacers?????. Centrifugal and vacuum are two different worlds, you need to dial in the curve first..