Which distributor to use for HEI swap on '67 327

[jumpsoffrock]

I have read this write-up: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=13698
I have also spent hours searching google and read countless other threads and write-ups on this subject of converting late 60's SBC's from points to HEI, on every vehicle platform known to man.

I still have one rather important question I have failed to understand though, how can I physically tell which HEI distributors will correctly install and bolt up to my engine--just by looking at it?
Are they all the same and will all work as long as they don't have the "four wire plug"?
Quote from write-up I posted a link to:

Fast68Chevy: any HEi distributor on any chevy V8 without the extra 4 pin flat wiring plug will work, make sure it has the vacuum advance diapragm on it

There is a 1978 Chevy van in a local junkyard with an intact HEI, full setup with Vacuum advance just begging me to scoop it up, but I don't want it if it won't work for me.


Thank you very much.

[71swb4x4]

You got it, the new four wire plug won't work, but the older ones will. The 78 van should work just fine.

[jumpsoffrock]

Alright! I might just go do that today! Thank you very much.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

As much as I am an old Points man, I know the early HEI's were problematic. Not sure the exact year they got improved though.

Bill

[Softpatch]

I'm a big fan HEI
the early one had issues were with the Brain and the china stuff off ebay
the drive gears are not sturdy and wear out
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Which one to get.?
if it has a vacuume can on the side thats the one to get also pop the cap look at the inside top of rotor ware is good...... Realy dirty inside ...PASS
there called "One wire" because litrally just plug one wire to the block on side of cap tp battery your good to go( ignition switch)
the other hole is for the Tach hook up
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Please note the shaft in the picture thats what they look like long ...Sp
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[colgad]

Swap the dist gear off of the original to your new HEI. The intermediate shaft is different on these engines.

[Softpatch]

Originally Posted by colgad

Swap the dist gear off of the original to your new HEI. The intermediate shaft is different on these engines.

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how so.?
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[JonnyC10]

Subscribed.

[jumpsoffrock]

Yes, I'd definitely like to know, I've not heard of anyone doing this in the many other HEI swap in a SBC threads.


I got a unit from the junkyard and will install it soon-ish....most likely before end of summer.

[colgad]

Originally Posted by Softpatch

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how so.?
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On my 72 C50 with a 350 the Dist Gear had a female slotted gear.
Normal SBC's have a Male gear end. The normal intermediate shaft has male for the oil pump and female for the dist end.
Mine had a Male Male configuration. (really, I am not making this stuff up) So the dist gear was female style.
I had a thread a few years ago and I will try to find photos.

[Softpatch]

Originally Posted by colgad

On my 67 C50 with a 327 the Dist Gear had a female slotted gear.
Normal SBC's have a Male gear end. The normal intermediate shaft has male for the oil pump and female for the dist end.
Mine had a Male Male configuration. (really, I am not making this stuff up) So the dist gear was female style.
I had a thread a few years ago and I will try to find photos.

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I've never heard or seen this always a slot in the oil pump drive and a blade in a dish on the end of the Dizzy shaft
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Very intersting I looked at all my dizzy and non were diffrent 1960-1984
283,327,396, -350,454,
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yes please if you could dig up pictures of this anomaly that would be great
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....Sp
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[colgad]

Originally Posted by Softpatch

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I've never heard or seen this always a slot in the oil pump drive and a blade in a dish on the end of the Dizzy shaft
.
Very intersting I looked at all my dizzy and non were diffrent 1960-1984
283,327,396, -350,454,
.
yes please if you could dig up pictures of this anomaly that would be great
.
.
....Sp
.
.

I have looked and cannot find photo's I have another 67 C50 now and sometime next week Ill pull out the dissy and see if it is the same. If so Ill post the pics.

[mrolds88]

One other thing. When you wire the HEI up, do not use the original power wire from the original distributor. They have resistance built in and don't deliver the full 12 volts. There are two ways to do this. First is to find a key on power slot on the fuse panel to hook the distributor power wire to, or using the original ignition power wire, run a relay to power the distributor. Like here.http://www.hoigto.com/tech/powerHEI.htm

[jumpsoffrock]

^Yes, I had read about that. In general, people advise to simply run a wire from the "unfused ign" port on the fuse panel, and run an inline fuse.