Easy HEI Upgrades

1. Here’s a grungy HEI...        read full caption 1. Here’s a grungy HEI distributor we had left over from a used engine. Since it was coated with engine snot to the point where the mechanical advance was stuck at “no advance,” we tore it down to the bare housing and thoroughly cleaned it with carburetor cleaner. Chances are you won’t have to do this, but if you decide to, simply use a small punch to drive out the pin that holds the gear to the shaft. From here you can pull the shaft out of the housing. Otherwise make a mental note of how the mechanical- advance weights are sitting (see “Tech Tips”), then remove the vacuum canister, module, wire harness, and capacitor.

2. With the cleaning out of...        read full caption 2. With the cleaning out of the way, install the new canister, apply the supplied dielectric grease evenly to the module mounting area, and install the new components with the original mounting screws.

3. When taking apart the vacuum-advance...        read full caption 3. When taking apart the vacuum-advance weights, start with the springs and carefully remove the E-clips (arrows)—and we mean carefully because you’ll need to use them again. We managed to carelessly fling ours about 3 feet across the shop floor. Once everything is removed, place the new center plate and the weights in the appropriate orientation. Using Pertronix’s recommendations (see chart), pick the springs that will best fit your needs and install them onto the advance pins.

4. All that’s left to...        read full caption 4. All that’s left to do is mount the cap and rotor. If your motor will be used for high-rpm operation, be sure to replace the metal retaining rotor screws with the supplied Teflon screws and washer. Just don’t overtighten them. Not bad for rising from the dead, eh?

Stock HEI distributors are like you-know-what. Everybody’s got one. Stock HEIs generally work well in stock applications, and for the guy who doesn’t plan on running his motor much past 5,000 rpm, they’re perfectly fine. However, for those looking to have some fun with spirited driving, stock just won’t do.

Fortunately for HEI users, Pertronix Performance Products offers an HEI ignition upgrade for only $119.95. It comes with everything you need for the ultimate HEI tune-up. In every kit you’ll find an adjustable vacuum-advance canister ranging from lockout to 22 degrees of advance, a new module with wiring harness and capacitor, a selection of high-performance advance springs, and a new weight kit. Also included is the Pertronix patented coil that develops 67 percent more energy over the OEM units. This means forcing your back into your seat with misfire-free performance up to a minimum of 7,500 rpm. And for underhood details, Pertronix has red, blue, or black caps with solid brass terminals and rotor. It may not be the billet distributor you’ve been drooling over (although Pertronix has those too), but the cost is substantially lower, and a better HEI system like this can allow wider plug gaps, which leads to larger sparks, and ultimately more power!