I'm tired of messing around with points/counter balance/springs? What would be the best distrubutor/coil upgrade for a 71 Buick 350 engine... Thanks, Pete
can upgrade stock dist with a mallory or similar kit and add good coil and "box" ( $300.00 ? ) - can convert to a hei style dist and can also upgrade from there with better modules ( $300.00 ) or you can step up and spend some serious $$$ and go with custom billet units and upper level control units etc etc . depends what your driving needs are . del
I have to agree with Larry. The difference is like night and day. I'm new to all this stuff and was scared of what i might get myself into but it was relly easy and Dave was very helpful.
could you just get an HEI distributer from a later model Buick PM me with the answer cause I have the same question
What about the Pertronix digital kits that fit in the stock distributor? Does anyone know if these are any good? Brado
shades_o_Grey and preopstud pert... don't :rant: ......Listen here again (Larry70GS just told the same)......http://www.davessmallbodyheis.com/ .....taylor made to your engine requirements. the stock HEI got wrong built in advance and a coil on top heat generating until something fail built in.... E-mail or phone Dave and you understand way. he's a distributor wizard, AND a BUICK lower... this is a better solution... in my bock he's the best ! :beer (Or contact him at http://www.buickstreet.com/, and he can explain... he's easy found at that forum) Lars :TU:
I did go with a GM HEI... and, I'm quick happy with it. However, I have a fairly stock engine. I was lucky enough to have acquired an earlier HEI, which had the 10 degree vacuum advance.
Some people have great success with Pertronix, others absolutely hate them. As far as spark energy is concerned, they are not any better than points. they are maintenance free though. preopstud, Yes, you can use an HEI from a later model Buick, but they typically have the wrong advance curves in them. Also HEI's may interfere with the GS air cleaner, and the coil in the cap can sometimes cause a high RPM misfire due to heat buildup. The best bang for the buck, is to use Dave www.davessmallbodyheis.com Either the magnetic pickup conversion, and run a box, or the full HEI conversion for a few dollars more. Trust me, best money I ever spent on my Buick.
Thanks everybody, I went ahead and ordered the Pertronics unit last week because I thought it might be a cheap remedy. I'll try it out tonight. If it doesn't do it for me...then Dave can expect a call from me. Those MSD HEI units are just way too expensive for my stock 350. Pertronic's claim: "A 2:1 improvement over point type systems in current fall time for increased coil output." I hope I didn't screw-up... Pete
I installed the Pertronics unit last night and What a difference....The low end stumble is GONE under load and this thing is actually driveable. I've rebuilt the carb twice, thinking the accelerator pump was failing. I replaced points and condenser, twice. Replaced the coil with a higher output unit from MSD. And have tried to time this this thing thru the entire range...Now with just this magnetic pick-up, This motor runs smooth. It even fired straight up this morning on the first compression stroke....And I haven't even set the timing yet... Best $75.00 I ever spent.... I'm not putting down the HEI units, But this is what I was looking for. Thanks Guys, Pete
Pertronix Pete - :TU: Now just keep in mind that IF your engine starts to act funny, its likely the Pertonix. Keep a spare set of points in the glove box! - Bill
Distributors are always a pain in the ass especially when they have points. :rant: So what is the concensus here? I have a 68 with a new 350. The motor is ready to go back in. I was going to use a later model HEI which is what I did on my 72. I looked at Daves products and they are reasonably priced when you compare the cost of new components in a stock HEI. In plain english which is the better way to go on a stock 350?? Looking forward to comments
There is absolutely no comparison. You can get one of Daves distributors set up right, for your engine. Then it's just a drop in, set the initial timing, and forget about it. If you get Daves HEI conversion, and want to run an aftermarket box, it's a simple rewiring job. Smallbody Distributor looks stock, and performs better. Just my .02
Larry Thanks for the info. That was the straight forward answer I was looking for. I will be contacting Dave and ordering a distributor. Sounds like thats the best way rather than the kit. :beer If you lead me I will drink Thanks again Larry :TU: Jim
