The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - View Single Post - How to replace a points distributor with an H.E.I.?

ron350 · 01-05-2015, 03:02 AM

Gregski I had a 72 LeMans with a 400 motor that ate up points every year or two. I went to the salvage yard and picked up a HEI distributor and cut out a red 12 volt HEI power wire that has the HEI plug on the end. I replaced the factory dist with the HEI and soldered the HEI power wire to the factory resistor power wire and the car ran great. Every one told me the resistance in the factory power wire from the ignition switch would kill the HEI or make it run poorly.

Twenty years later I sold that 72 LeMans and the HEI dist was still working fine. May be I just got lucky or may be the HEI will work just fine on less than 12 volts?

01-05-2015, 03:02 AM	#10
ron350 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Birmingham AL Posts: 250	Re: How to replace a points distributor with an H.E.I.? Gregski I had a 72 LeMans with a 400 motor that ate up points every year or two. I went to the salvage yard and picked up a HEI distributor and cut out a red 12 volt HEI power wire that has the HEI plug on the end. I replaced the factory dist with the HEI and soldered the HEI power wire to the factory resistor power wire and the car ran great. Every one told me the resistance in the factory power wire from the ignition switch would kill the HEI or make it run poorly. Twenty years later I sold that 72 LeMans and the HEI dist was still working fine. May be I just got lucky or may be the HEI will work just fine on less than 12 volts? __________________ Stock 75 C10 step side. 350 2 BBL, 350 trans. 150K miles.