Has anyone taken out their points distributor and dropped in an HEI unit without have to modify the firewall? I have a pertronix set up currently but was wondering if a full HEI unit is the way to go.

Many have a HEI distributor in their 'bird. It's close, but no firewall mods are needed. Unless your sub-frame isolators are worn that is.

A friend of mine sent me a web link to another type of conversion distributor. I'll post it later today, it's on my laptop.

I did it, very close but it fit fine.

They fit good and are the easiest to install.

My car HEI when I first bought it. Personally I did not like the look at all and was a dead giveaway that is was not correct. Went to the Pertronix II and just recently went back to points. IMO I see no difference between the three. Car runs the same no matter what. I am basing this on my own experience as my car has now had all three setups...

I put in a MSD distributor when my parts store told me a points and condenser was $26.00!! I too like the stock look, so I just used my stock distributor cap.

They all work great if installed correctly and maintained. Having said that, the HEI takes the least maintainance. What looks better is in the eye of the beholder..... Some would choose a correct looking distributor but have the wrong valve covers, air cleaner, ect. Some would choose to have the stock valve covers, air cleaner, accessories, number matching but have an HEI(me). You can keep the points distributor around on the shelf for those special times when everything needs to be perfect.

Ok, I have the laptop up and running. Here's a link to Breakerless, but for some reason the pages wont open.

http://www.breakerless.com/

The PDF page for their instructions does work.

http://www.breakerless.com/seinstruct081304.pdf

And you can find the product on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BREAKERLE...1QQcmdZViewItem

Can you guys post some pics of your HEI set up for me or e-mail them to me, just want to see what it looks like.

I'll get you a picture of one of my cars a little later... Do you want one of the mostly stock car or the modified car? They both have HEI.

Here are both;

This one has the Supercoil on top;

done by previous owner. The vacuum advance get's close to the fire wall, but that's it.

I need to r&i mine.
The vac can is up agaisnt the intake, and the engine wants more.

If it's far enough off you can swap the plug wires over one and turn it the opposite way an 1/8 turn. It could save you some time and trouble.

I dropped in an HEI and it worked great. I did come across the same issue of the vac advance hitting the intake. All I did what cut it a bit with a hack saw and but in a vacuum elbow that I picked up at the local auto store, worked perfect.

While on the subject of HEI.

I just purchased a 67 F-bird with HEI installed. Runs great but at cruise speed, light thottle, I have a rattle which I believe to be spark knock. I am using premium fuel. Anyone have any thoughts?

Also: I'd like input on the following.

1. On a stock 326 2V, will the initial timing of 6 degrees remain the same?

2. Can i use the same type plugs and what would the plug gap be?

3. What degree of total timing does the 326 like?

I don't think a knock would be coming because of the HEI. I have mine running at 12 degrees and still runs smooth ! Have you check the plugs themselves? Mine are gapped at 42, I think.....
when you check your timing make sure your vacuum adv is disconnected. You may be running higher than six and have to take it down a bit to stop the knocking.

I'm installing a HEI in my 69 350. Its a petronics unit and it says that I should bump the gap to .005 What plug should I use?

Stock plugs...just bump up the gap. If you still have stock heads...

Still stock heads. I'll give it a try. Thanks BH

Funny how sometimes we dont see the easy simple fix.
Had it out to limit vac can advance and probly reinstalled it off a tooth or so.
Thanks.