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Pertronix vs HEI

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by bucont, Jul 18, 2006.

  1. bucont

    bucont Next Project!

    I have weeded through a couple hundred posts on this subject as Iam getting ready to go in one direction or another. There is a ton of pros to both, and it seems the consensus is both are a good upgrade.

    Has any of you had both of these on a Buick V6 at any given time to get a good comparison? Of course not at the same time.

    Is the extra cash and work for HEI worth it over the Pertronix?

    Thanks
     
    bucont, Jul 18, 2006
    #1
  2. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Personal preference IMHO. Keep in mund though, the Pertronix conversion is NOT and HEI setup, only a hall-effect trigger mechanism to eliminate points. It is a quantum leap up from a points-type setup, but the HEI parts are more readily available from your FLAPS should you have a failure, since it is all GM OEM parts.

    Should you choose to go the Pertronix route and want the higher-energy ignition, you'll need to go to a hotter coil and perhaps an MSD unit in order to maximize the potential of your ignition setup.
     
    w3srl, Jul 18, 2006
    #2
  3. MOP

    MOP Active Member

    Or you can go the overkill route like myself and get the HEI with MSD. I have no experience with Pertronix, but when comparing a high quality HEI (DUI) alone to the same HEI plus MSD, the MSD did add a very smooth acceleration response, better idle, and probably more go-power.

    Similar to what Steve said, I would go for the HEI given the parts availability combined with performance improvement. The "extra cash" required for a HEI is perhaps not true, given many people get them cheaper than it would cost for a Pertronix setup.
     
    MOP, Jul 18, 2006
    #3
  4. bucont

    bucont Next Project!


    You have my attention here. The cost for pertronix without a coil is $65 .... the cheapest I have found a HEI rebuild is $150. Where does one pick up HEI for less than $65?
     
    bucont, Jul 18, 2006
    #4
  5. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    I've bought and sold 'em for $50 or so in working condition.
     
    sparky, Jul 18, 2006
    #5
  6. linckeil

    linckeil Member

    you may want to consider this guy. i'm sending my buick 215 distributor to him to convert. all reviews i have read about his work have been great, but i can't speak from experience.

    http://www.davessmallbodyheis.com/
     
    linckeil, Jul 18, 2006
    #6
  7. mtndewmaniac66

    mtndewmaniac66 Down to Earth!

    I use to sell the pertronix kits through Champion Auto Stores, Parts Plus, Big-A, Carquest, and this unit is a good replacement to points. The draw back is being that it is only a trigger replacement. It does eliminate the points, but does not produce a hotter spark. If at all possible, go HEI. I swear by HEI, and upgrade parts, like the cap/rotor kit, coil, module, pick-up coil, are readily available.
     
    mtndewmaniac66, Jul 18, 2006
    #7
  8. tdobson

    tdobson Tom

    I ran a pertronics for a while in my '66 225. It was like night and day difference. My main concern was I didn't know how reliable it would be. When I destroyed my timing gear I thought that might be the problem and decided to convert to HEI. I got lucky and found the complete distributer with cap and wires in a junkyard for $35 I believe.

    If the difference between points and pertronics is like night and day then the difference in HEI and pertronics is like winter and summer. It is definately worth it in my opinion.
     
    tdobson, Jul 18, 2006
    #8
  9. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    No HEI avalable for a Go-Devil 4. :( <sniff>
     
    w3srl, Jul 18, 2006
    #9
  10. Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Same for an F-head I assume?
     
    Rondog, Jul 18, 2006
    #10
  11. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    <sniff> Yes, unfortunately. :cry:
     
    w3srl, Jul 18, 2006
    #11
  12. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    I heard tell some time ago of a guy who took a HEI from a GM 4 cylinder and mated it to the Willys distributor in a F-head...

    I know it's been done with the 226, so it might be possible. I don't have an F-head close enough to tinker with though.
     
    sparky, Jul 18, 2006
    #12
  13. dohc281

    dohc281 It is what it is.

    Read my question from a few days ago, I've eaten 2 pertronix on my F head. I'm still not sure why.
     
    dohc281, Jul 18, 2006
    #13