After 15 years I am changing from the old points to HEI.

I would like some suggestions of equipment that looks stock, acts with much better performance and reliability, and will work with the Pontiac hood tach without blowing it up. I just replaced that a couple years ago with one purchased from National Parts Depot and don't want to smoke a $240 gauge. I've read that HEIs can blow the hood tach.

I would like something that will work with a 326 and be interchangeable with a 400 that I plan on building in the future.

I was thinking the entire distributor and of course the coil.

Thanks for your inputs!

Bill

HEI distributers do not look like stock in any way because they were never stock for FGF's. they are noticeably bigger and some people run into clearance issues with the firewall (and some do not) if you want to stay relatively stock-looking and and improve reliability and performance just upgrade your internals with something like a pertronix and new cap, rotor and coil. They worked fine with my hood tach.
http://www3.telus.net/68bird/engine_ignition.htm
Kelly

I agree with Medhat, but if you do go HEI try to get a GM one off a 70s Pontiac. They seem to be a little better made than some of the aftermarket ones, my experience anyway.

Whatever you do, do not forget to replace the high resistance wire from the ignition switch to the coil. Ran into that a couple of months ago when I went from Mallory dual point to HEI and it drove me nuts trying to resolve the issue until a guy on this site told me what I missed.

medhat68 is correct I have a 67 that I used the petronix it worked great you will still use the stock body and cap. it will have 2 wires coming from it instead of one.Also on one of my other firebirds I have a MSD stock replacement it does use the factory cap and sits like a original it isnot cheep. but it does perform well.So my advice if it is a point issue only go with the petronix. If you need more spark(as in a built motor)I would go with the MSD.I never had anyone know it isnt stock..