Thread: HEI Distributor

Tweet

My first concern would be firewall clearance. I'm pretty old fashioned but points are not as good. First off they don't make them as good as they used to so the rubbing blocks wear out quickly thus the point gap closes up. And even at best a stock points distributor can't make half the voltage a stock HEI can.
I think HEI are kind of ugly though.

Well, here’s my 2 cents - I have a Mallory Unilite distributor in my 63 Nova. It is not an HEI, rather a photo-optic,LED trigger that allows the use of the stock (pre-HEI) size cap. There are no points and the timing stays rock solid. Mine has vacuum advance (however mechanical is an option) and it appears to be flawless in operation. They’re about $250 so I may be inclined to keep what you’ve got until there’s a problem and if clearance and ultimate reliability are a concern, the Unilite may be one to consider. You'll still need a coil (I used the Mallory Promaster) and a ballast resister - I was able to mount mine on the firewall. Snug, but accessible and it really shouldn't need a lot of attention.

Regards All,
Glenn