While trying to figure out height clearance with my Offy turbo thrust 360 tunnel ram for my boat 455, I realized that it's not meant to run with an HEI distributor, so that comes to a bit of a problem for me. I can either go back to points, or hope a mini HEI will give me enough clearance to fit behind it all (4" vs 5.5"). Any other suggestions on how to make this mess work? I'm not opposed to going back to points, but I don't know what that will consist of doing.

 

Quality parts and maintenance for points plus a resistor wire. There are multiple small cap options, the MSD being about the only name brand option. The MSD is just as compact as a points distributor.

 

unfortunately I'm on a budget and a $400+ distributor isn't an option right now. What do you think of this?
https://swapmeetparts.com/product/sm...tributor-coil/

 

For the same money you can put a Hall Effect breakerless module in a regular distributor. They work flawlessly and put em in and forget them. There are several vendors for them,American Auto Wire, M&H Electric/wiringharness.com. They are a one wire unit and works just like a points hookup. You will have to run a OEM coil for the correct ohms.

 

That looks pretty good for the price. Curious what module it uses. Nearly everything electronic is hit or miss, even some of the more expensive stuff.

 

^^^^ this

^^^^and this.

Pertronix is cheap and easy…unfortunetly they pretty much own the hit or miss market

that distributer you linked to is interesting, assuming the pic is accurate the shaft is not a points lobe shaft but has vanes like an HEI. It also lists. 10* adjustable vac advance and bushing adjustable mech advance all desirable features.

my guess is its a chinese knockoff (ish) of something like the MSD RTR.

 

That looks like a Ford DuraSpark EEC (IV(?)) style pickup with a “vane” style wheel. Reliability? Roll the dice, like most electronics used in the aftermarket.

​​​​​​….

 

If price did not matter this would be a fitting choice.

 

Actually it looks like a Ford dura spark pickup. The pickups were pretty reliable. The modules were the problem back then.

 

To be honest, going back to points would be the simplest and least expensive route for you. You can always change later when funds are available.

 

Well I ordered what I linked earlier. Hopefully I won't need it at all, but I'd rather be prepared.