Can Anyone Here ID This RPO Code?

[GregL]

1974 GMC Custom Deluxe half ton, two wheel drive.
Found this odd "Delete High Energy I" code on the SPID, B2J
Searched all over but can't find a reference.
Any ideas?

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[Vbb199]

The customer requested to get rid of the HEI distributor on it and instead use points i assume.

HEI= High energy ignition.

I think like, 73 was the transition year from points to HEI maybe your trucks PO didnt want "new fangled things" on his truck lol

 

[GregL]

That was my first thought as well but it seems like a very odd thing to request. I wouldn't have thought GM would've let a customer make that choice for an engine component after the HEI was introduced.
This is not my truck, it is one I came across for sale on craigslist. In the pics it appears to have an HEI distributor now, but I suppose that could have been changed out over the years.
https://santabarbara.craigslist.org/cto/d/santa-barbara-1974-gmc-pickup-custom/7260937665.html

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[GregL]

Hmmmm?
I guess that is correct Vbb. I just found an old post from a member on a different site who said:
"my 74 Cheyenne had an option of HEI DELETE, on the options sticker"

 

[Turbo4whl]

......... it seems like a very odd thing to request. I wouldn't have thought GM would've let a customer make that choice for an engine component after the HEI was introduced.

Back in 1973 most GM cars were built with an HEI and like so many newer features of the day, they were not in trucks yet.

I ordered my 1974 Jimmy in January of 1974. I did not take delivery until July of 1974 because of the steel strike. I can assure you I did not order it with the delete item. I believe because of the slow down in production and many other reasons my truck was built with a point ignition.

The brochure may have stated something about HEI and this may have been the way the factory could prove the truck was built without HEI.

 

[Keith Seymore]

Agree. Similarly - when transistorized ignition was made available on the early GTOs more conservative buyers could opt out for the traditional points style ignition.

K

 

[WesN]

When they first came out many people were afraid that this new gizmo would leave them sitting and had them pulled and replaced with point distributors. Turns out they were pretty good for the day.

 

[idahovette]

When they first came out, around here they DID leave some stranded!! We had one farmer that brought his 454 C10 back in to install a point distributor in it to keep it going. There were a couple of others, too. Not real trustworthy at first for some people.