I am rebuilding my 67 400 engine and wanted two cents worth of advise. Should I use a stock distributor or go to a MSD or some other type??

I used a stock type distributor and had it converted to HEI & curved to my set up. Still looks stock.

You need to ask yourself if you are looking to keep stock appearance. Hei would be most efficient and reliable. A GM Hei or even a summit brand would be just fine. I am assuming you are not looking for horsepower. Keep in mind those points did work just fine for the last 40 years. If you go HEI you need to be sure you have 12 volts at the distributor. Many point systems lowered ignition voltage. If you are looking for power the best system you can afford would be best.

You already have all stock components, I have a stock distributor you can use and convert it. A caveat to HEI is the clearance between firewall and cap. It's not pretty and you may (likely) have to push back the firewall.

I've used the PerTronix converion, distributor looks
stock and has the power of a HEI.

also check out web site i found ( breakerless se igntion) . its a kit that can convert your stock distributor to hei. i have been thanking of going to it.

I installed an HEI distributor. The firewall had to be relieved. The engine was out and I was painting the engine compartment anyway. Would have been a pain otherwise.

I've had 3 1st gens with a hei dist. None needed the fire wall massaged.
Is it because you use the top plug wire retainer?

It's a tight squeeze, but they fit. You can also move the subframe forward a bit if you get ambitious enough. Of course do this with not front sheet metal on.

Doesn't someone make a small hei distributor?

I'm not using the wire retainer. Mine was difficult to stab and impossible to adjust w/out relieving the firewall. I tried a test fit before I swapped out the engine a few months back. Was able to mark the firewall in the area that needed adjustment.

My HEI is not OEM but one I bought new off ebay. Don't remember the company but I do remember the girl in the ad

I am a big fan of Mallory electonic Unilite distributors. There are several big advantages:

They are definitely plug and play with a stock wiring system. Unilites do NOT like a full 12 volts.

They are incredibly simple and reliable. They use light as a trigger.

There are no firewall clearance issues.

They are happy with all ignition coils.

If you want a stock look, paint the cap black.

There is but one drawback: If you fry the module in the unit you are 1) completely stuck and 2) out about $100.

So I install the recommended filter from Mallory have had years of problem free operation.

As said above, use the stock one with Pertronics and you get the stock look and the efficiency of HEI. Mine has performed flawlessly for 3 years now, combined with a Flamethrower Coil.

MSD

Use msd and hei in mine for n2o(need more spark).
But prefer points for stock to lightly mod'd engines and dailey driving.
Only things go's wrong are the points or condenser.
Cheap and easy fix if your away from home.
Plug wires are cheaper too.
BTY, i've never gone faster NA one over another.

I went with MSD billet ready to run. Fits better than hei. You can put a black cap on it and it looks stock.

I have a points distributor rebuilt and curved for my car done by Suntuned. After talking to him if your rpms don't exceed 6000 rpm a points distributor will be as accurate as any of the others. He also builds them with NOS points which are better than anything from the aftermarket. Distributor with cap of my choice curved for my car was around 90.00. The cars idle is smoother and pulls stronger than it ever did.