I was looking into getting rid of my points and ran into all this HEI distributer with msd controller etc what's it all mean? Looks like about 400 bucks is it all that much better? Just putting together my build sheet I'm a newbie.

 

Nope.

The question is, What do you want to achieve?

Are you building a 6,500 RPM motor, or are you doing things to a motor that you're going to keep basically stock, or something else?

- Eric

 

If your engine is not going to raced, stick with a regular HEI or one of the billet HEI's with a rev limiter. I would not go all out with MSD boxes.

 

The only advantage to going with HEI (High Energy Ignition) is you won't have to maintain your points, dwell, etc., so it's a little more maintenance free. But you don't have to have MSD for that. I suppose it depends on what your building, street, strip, whatever. I bought mine on eBay and paid something like $40.

 

I'm not racing just looking for some good peppy performance.

 

A good performance tune will wake it up. Just throwing parts on there will not.

 

Oldcutlass speaks the truth. As I said, HEI is lower maintenance but won't increase performance over a well tuned points system. Look at timing and a good performance carb tune. Do you have duel exhaust?

 

If you want to get rid of the points for ease of maintenance, there are other solutions as well, such as Crane and Pertronix, and they don't require bashing your air cleaner with a sledgehammer.

- Eric

 

i have converted it to dual exhaust and now I'm looking at a 4bbl conversion which is another bunch of data i have to look at. which carb, intake etc.
id like to just do without the points and not spend money i don't need too thanks guys

 

In that case, save your money. You can convert to an electronic setup of one sort or another when you're ready.
Meanwhile, check your points, and set your dwell and timing.


- Eric