Hi all,
Looking to upgrade the ignition/points on my '69 Cutlass S with a 350 any recommendations? Looking at a Pertronics 1181LS and matching coil right now.
Thanks!

 

MSD 8529 - a drop in 3-wire electronic ignition distributor. You can install either an HEI-wire style cap or standard (points-type) style cap on it. a good coil to go with it is the MSD Blaster 2 - this is the current setup on my '72 350 and it's been flawless for almost 3 years now

Opinions vary on Pertronix but I personally wouldn't touch one again even for free.

 

Awesome thanks, $480 is a little rich right now I just spent a bunch on replacing the front end and disc brake conversion. Might have to wait a bit, looks like a great set up.

 

Summit has HEIs for about $100 if you have points now HEIs have a different wire end so youll need new wires.

i had a very old GM HEI i ran in my car for years only recently replacing w a new non GM HEI.

 

I found this on summit with just a one wire to IGN https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Oldsm...tor,10180.html for $150 just worried about the height don't want to have to modify air cleaner etc

 

Stay far, far away from Pertronix. Maybe their distributors are better but their conversions a total junk.

 

Ive heard of some clearance issues w stock air cleaner. Ive got an open air filter w drop base on mine w a performer intake on a bbo, no clearance issues.

i know they made stock offset air cleaners

 

I have no more love for Pertronix distributors than their conversion kits - have tried them both with same ultimate fail results - each within short time of warranty expiration.

 

Thanks for all the responses, good stuff!

 

If height is a problem you can get a spacer that goes between the carb and the air cleaner. That is what I did when I had an HEI in the 72 Cutlass I had.

 

I'm running a DUI HEI on mine right now but will switch to Progressive Ignitions set up next year. Just way to easy to tune from your phone.

 

Just buy an OE HEI distributor from the auto parts store. It will have a lifetime warranty and is the exact same unit as the Summit/Jegs/DUI/Accel etc. distributors.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b.../cutlass?pos=0

 

That is not entirely true because some of the distributors named may be curved for performance. I do however agree that the OE replacement is suitable for his application.

 

Right you are Eric. I suppose it's a case of pick your poison. Any distributor can be re-curved with different mechanical advance weights/springs and vacuum advance dashpots. The OP just needs to decide if he wants to spend more on a performance distributor.

 

He did say he has a 69, therefore the curve on the parts store unit will be off. Those distributers are replacements for late 70's early 80's smoggers. The vacuum advance is like 15 to 17 degrees. He'll have to add and adjustable vacuum advance kit for rate, limiter for travel and possibly springs.

That's why I said Progressive Ignitions and be done. Do it once, do it right and have infinite adjustability in your timing, from your phone via bluetooth connection. At this point its a no brainer.

 

You can also choose between small cap and standard HEI cap so you can use your stock air cleaner if you want.

 

I've had this one for 10 years now.

 

Avoid the cheap Chineseum HEI units like Proform....JUNK

Have a GM points distributor set up by Ken at Everyday Performance.

Much better in the long run.

 

Would any of the 3 of these (or all), work on a 1965 330?

Thanks,

Doug

 

Which 3?

 

Any of the distributors mentioned in this thread.

Thanks,
Doug

 

Any of the distributor types in this thread will work. HEI small or large cap, any points replacement, or just sticking with points.

 

Thanks for the reply!! Doug

 

Any electronic distributor replacement suggests you should carry onboard circuitry replacements. Points fail slowly, electronics can die in a second and leave you dead right there until replaced.

 

True but condensers will flake out pretty quickly.

 

I don’t regret going to HEI but have had 2 failures. One bad pole piece on OE, one bad Ford EEC pickup on my Mallory. Because of this I keep a whole spare HEI (can’t remember if OE or Tong Yang anymore) in the trunk and quickly swapped it out on those 2 occasions, back in transit in 10 minutes.

 

mallory unilite conversion been in my car for 15 years and bolts right in stock distributor.I think it was a 501 part #.

 

I've had really good luck with MSD 8529, I'll probably be listing it for sale since my 463 is out of commission.
Avoid Cheap Chinesium, oil find the way through the shaft and floods everything inside the cap.