Electronic Ignition?

Need some opinions. I am going to go to electronic ignition, much more reliable, and I'll carry the old stuff for emergency supplies. Would you use the old dist body and replace the guts with the Pertronix ignitor and high output coil? Or, replace the whole dist with a new aftermarket late model style with the coil in the cap and 8mm wires? It seems that the cost is about the same ether way. What have you guys done?

I changed both mine to HEi But why does a v8 cost 50- 100 and a six cost 250-300 ?? (cause there are more v8's ) thats kind of steep for a 250.....
I remember looking at your van, The lady Donna, swore the was no rust as I poked my fingers through it , and showed her the gas filler area. She had a list of modifications, I kind of thought HEi was one? are you gonning to keep those plexi side windows?

JUNK YARD = HEI CHEAP!

Stock Old original Chevy Electronic is the ONLY WAY TO GO.........( for electronics)

Saying that.............I still love my points best.

wdaguy wrote:I changed both mine to HEi But why does a v8 cost 50- 100 and a six cost 250-300 ?? (cause there are more v8's ) thats kind of steep for a 250.....
I remember looking at your van, The lady Donna, swore the was no rust as I poked my fingers through it , and showed her the gas filler area. She had a list of modifications, I kind of thought HEi was one? are you gonning to keep those plexi side windows?

She was kinda clueless, she had been sellin parts off it for awhile. It may of had one but it didnt when I got it. There was a few good things that she didnt know about though, she said it had a powerglide trans, when in fact it has a 700-R4. Those side windows are glass not plexi, and I havent decided if I'm keepin them or not yet. Still havent decided if I'm gunna go panel doors on the back ones yet either. I was gunna go to the local pic-a-part this weekend and see if I can find a dist.

I have a 2nd edition now, but its bent, and wiggles around when the van is rinning. It runs like crap too, has a real bad miss. I figured I could replace the guts and stuff till I saw the wiggle.

The tip of the shaft on the 2nd Edition has an intentional "wiggle" built into it. I was worried when I first noticed it but Don says that's the way it's supposed to be.

And Don says you can buy a new weight set for these. I can see that the holes in mine are a bit oblong, which could affect how it runs. Don, where does one find these new parts? Chevy dealer or just a parts store?

So Don, where can I buy an advance weights rebuild kit like this? Chevy dealer? Couldn't find them at Napa online.

I did find this good guide to HEI distributors on eBay:
http://reviews.ebay.com/HEI-Ignitions-A-primer_W0QQugidZ10000000002053885

Interesting stuff. And some specifically for "hot rodders" like us!

Don, I'd like to know too.

Thanks,
Rip

i randomly purchased an electronic ignition set up from c&g. its for the 144 sewing machine. i have no idea what will show up in the mail. hopefully its all good.

I got mine from CRT. It works great!!!!

yeah hopefully it will smooth things out a bit. i bought the van last month from a nice guy. he begged the previous owner to sell it to him and finally paid him 2 grand. then his wife got pregnant again. i bought it off him for 1500. the poor guy tossed a lot of change into it. doors, engine parts, lots of stuff, but he called it quits. so i got her towed home and what do you know, a bit of machine oil down the cylinders and she lit right up. so far so good. changed the aft rope seal, drop the crank, tranny etc... stoped leaking and just have to mend the brakes and we can license her. still a lot to do, had to put a bench seat in to haul the chimps around, also removed a ton of wood and insulation from the back. it had been camperized, infested by mice and wasps, and also molested by customs judging from the slashes in both seat backs. should be a good ride, and i haven't seen another in my area for years, they are really rare up here. she's going to break a lot of hearts!

Well Steve, sounds like you got a great deal on it. Keep us posted on your progress and as always we love to see pic's...

Dan