What is the best way to convert to electronic ignition, and how much will it cost? I want to start with my 73 3/4 2wd 350 ci and then my boy will do his 66 3/4 2wd 327ci if Dad doesn't fry his pickup.

Thanks

i think the 73 should have an hei ignition from the factory// check out the FAQ section for changing from points to hei

I know 73 still has points... 74 or 75 converted.

FWIW My 74 vette is points and the 75s are HEI. I have heard that some late 74 GM vehicles might have been HEI.
I would buy a new unit if I were converting, rather than dropping in a used one unless it is a known good one. JMO

The easiest way to convert to electronic ignition is the Ignitor or Ignitor II setup. The ignition box sits inside of your dizzy and looks stock from the outside. I put one in my nova wagon. Took a couple of hours plus the time I spent fishing out a bolt I dropped down the distributor hole. I went with the Ignitor II design. It requires a new coil as well. Total less than $200.

Everyone with this unit, carries points in the glovebox. They are known to just quit. I ran mine for three years no problem, then one day at work it wouldn't start. I still plan on installing another one on the pickup. I'll just continue to keep some points handy.

my .02

Run a 12v sourse from the fuse block to the dizzy,pull the points,and drop in the HEI,put on cap,wires,and fire it up.Shouldn't take longer than an hour.Be sure to point the rotor in hte same place,and put the #1 wire in the same cap location.

Peice of cake.

I converted my '73 to HEI. I bought a new GM hi performance HEI from Summit when I installed my new crate motor. It was no problem. Since then I have had times when it would get a little miss in it 2 or 3 times a week. I replaced the module inside he distributor and that seemed to have fixed the problem. Well, it turned up again after a couple of weeks. I ended up replacing the wire that goes to the distributor with a new one straight from the fuse box. I guess I had an intermittant problem in the wire because it hasn't happened in a few weeks. I originaly used the original wire that went to the coil on the old points style distributor. I did not have a wiring diagram for the truck that was accurate enough to show everything but I had heard that there was a resistor inline with the points style distributor. Which would limit the current going to it. Whether that had anything to do with it or not I don't know but I would put in a new wire if I was going to do it again. I have heard to always carry a spare module with you in cae of it going bad.

Personally, i have never had amodule go bad. Get a good GM unit, and not some auto zone crap imported from where ever...keep your plug gaps reasonable, and it'll last for ever.
Your old coil wire was a resistance wire, and that will in fact keep it from working right.

i converted my 71 by using a distributor wire from a 6cyl buick motor just have to follow the coil wire out of the fuse block and replace it with the buick wire also changing the distributor itself

there is a couple of good threads in the faq section on this i did the conversion today and i couldnt believe how easy it was i ran a new power wire from the ignition un fused slot rite off of the fuse block , i puit a in line 30 amp fuse , plugged the wire into the dizzy , cut and terminated the old yellow wire that went to the coil and cut and terminated another (same wire ) yellow wire at the starter and was ready to go . i got a hei dizzy from ragenrat 638 (he has more) it cost 35 bucks shippped . i changed all the spark plugs to truck heavy duty pluggs champion #4025 and used a set of 1975 vette wires and was ready to go i used a 10 gage power wire and some female wire connectors . it was really easy .

One thing I like to do is to shim the shaft to get .010 play.I have been told for every .013" of play,timing will change 1 degree.The HEI I put in my BB 2 weeks ago had .070 clearance.Shim kits are around $3.
I have had 2 modules go bad over the years.One was an aftermarket,one GM.