is an hei odd fire dist worth the change over from the prestolite dist?

logic would say yes
you also increase the plug gap for that bigger spark
the HEI can kill you if your not careful with it

 

It will make a difference and can make a considerable difference if you're engine is older and tired or has dirty combustion chambers and the carb is not tuned right. Lets put it this way, platinum tipped plugs aren't gonna last 100k in an old carb fed slush box like these motors are but it will be a big improvement over you standard plug, the ignition voltage in most cases is gonna do the same.

 

It aint voltage that hurts you, its amperage, but be careful when working on any ignition system.

 

k. that makes sense.

heck i've been zapped by a standard ignition in the late 60's. i learned that lesson fast! i have touched the auto with only ONE hand and not leaning against the car when working around the high tension side ever since. not about to repeat the mistake with hei.

( i also learned a healthy respect from rebuilding and repairing high powered vacuum tube guitar amplifires)

 

HE HE HE, I think we have all learned that one, Maybe not on a vacuum , i learned it with an alarm clock, but got the same lesson never the less.

 

Great topic, I enjoy hearing other peoples opinions and gathering facts and different experiences. This is probally the most active thread I have seen in a long time. Right topic, right time. I hope this helps you make an informed decision whatever you decide, And with that I will shut up

 

ok ok here's one..... how many of us when we were little kids have actually shoved something like a paper clip in a wall socket and lived? (caution.. doNOT try this at home!!! those who have attempted this were TRAINED IDIOTS)

sometimes i wonder how i ever made it through childhood and my teen years.....

 

I wired a lamp cord to a slot car motor when I was about 8, plugged that baby in, for a millisecond I'm sure that was one awesome motor until it disentagrated in my hand and blew the fuses in the house.

 

lol. i did the same thing with an electromagnet meant for a 1.5 v d cell from an old erector set at about same age.

i can still smell the burnt tape, wire and insulation when i remember it. the flash and pop scared the s--t outta me

 

I mowed the back yard with an electric razor. Quickest trip across the yard I ever made.

 

Tim,
Who'd you go thru for the Pertroix? Jegs has the Ignitor II (Buick) listed for $109 and the coil for $42 with free shipping. How does this stack up to your cost?

 

Nope. Cause you're not going to burn anything up if you have an HEI system.

Seriously though, with a cheapo multimeter (under 10 bucks) you can check the module for power in the same time you can check your points (maybe quicker)....

 

is that for an 225 oddfire? all i could find for the ingnitor2 was for even fire.

they did have the ignitor 1 for the odd tho.

 

I knew I had read this somewhere,
maybe one in a million chance
ymmv

"be careful when jumping batteries or making sparks. If you creat a big spark anywhere in the system, even the tail lights, it COULD blow the module if the key is left on, running or not. ........... When jumpstarting someone, leave the key off while you hook it up and he starts........."
by Rich Mott

With that being said, I know you can just as easliy blow up a battey or alternator on almost any vehicle while jump starting
For the record, I carry spares; ballast resistor, coil, coil wire, dist cap, rotor, points and condenser, and dist wire lead to coil. If I owned an HEI,
I would carry the cap, coil, rotor, module, almost the same as listed above but for the HEI.
Hate tow trucks and long walks.

 

From the Jegs catalog online:
P/N: 751-91181 fits Buick 68- 74, all 6 cylinder. I guess I just "assumed" it would fit the OF since the EF didn't start until after '74 (I think). When I'm next ashore, I'll try calling to find out...

 

The difference is you wouldnt ever need those spare parts, unlike points , condencer, coil, and resistor. this is a discussion that was already heard. Again facts are facts. They wouldnt put stupid warnings on things if some dipstick hadnt done it before. IE. dont operate heavy machinery on the back of childrens tylenol. (my 3 year old was heart broken).Anything is possible, but hei is way more reliable and a proven performer over points condenser.

 

Like you said, I think the odds are probably one in a million (or more).

I have a similar dislike for tow trucks or walking when I should be driving. That being said, I've got an HEI ignition in my new Jeep engine and I will carry a spare module just in case since they take up almost no room.

 

Some corrected info. The Ignitor II is NOT available for the OF. Per "Steve" at the Jegs technical service number, the above P/N is a typo and should be for a Chevy small block. The Ignitor is available for $80, Delco distributor only. Sorry for the bad gouge...

 

Just read all this thread. Whew-ee! FWIW, I've been driving HEI equipped vehicles for over 20 years. Never had a module go bad. Did have my Blazer die on me once. It was after a night of mud bogging, and when I pulled off the coil cover, it was packed full of mud HAHAHA. Used warm beer from the cooler to clean it out HAHAHA and drove home. We still laugh about that one. How that mud got in there is beyond me!
I currently run a MSD box on a HEI dist, just cause I got the MSD cheap. Been about 4 years now, no complaints, other than my HEI mechanical timing wieght bushings are always wearing out, making the timing erratic. Just got my new motor in and was having a HECK of a time setting the idle, finally determined that erratic timing behavoir was the culprit. Still not fixed. Thinking of locking out the timing, but thats a new thread.