GM Style HEI Distributor Upgrade on 302

mahanja · 03-03-2008, 04:20 PM

I installed a GM style HEI distributor on my 302 this weekend. For anyone looking to upgrade, I highly recommend these. I found them on ebay for about $60 and it is worth every penny. It did take some modification to make it fit. Because it has a larger diameter, it required that I replace/modify the heater hose elbow on my Edelbrock Air-gap manifold. I'm not sure how it would be with a stock manifold. Because of the height difference, I had to add a 2" air cleaner spacer. The air cleaner is VERY close to the hood now but not touching. It will be fine once I get a 427 hood for it though!
As I set the timing, I began to realize how much of an improvement it is over my worn out points distributor. A few revs and I couldn't believe it. The power increase and overall running is amazing. This is probably the single best upgrade I have done to my 302! And only one wire! And no more coil! I'll try to post pics soon.

jonmark1985 · 03-05-2008, 07:45 AM

How accurate is the new dizzy, have you tried taking a timing light to it and watching it on the revs?

mahanja · 03-11-2008, 09:23 PM

I hooked a light to set the timing but what exactly am I looking for during the revs? Idle it higher and check it again once the vacuum catches up?

jonmark1985 · 03-12-2008, 06:04 AM

Nah, unplug the vacuum advance and hit the throttle. The curve will still advance, but it shouldn't "scatter".

On my Firebird the timing will jump back and forth about an 1/8th inch. Thats not bad, but the next car i do, I want the tming to be solid, and not bounce around everywhere.

mahanja · 03-13-2008, 02:34 PM

Put the timing light on it today. VERY little "scatter." If I wasn't looking for it, I wouldn't notice. I would call it solid.

jonmark1985 · 03-13-2008, 04:34 PM

good deal, I'm still gonna stick with Duraspark II

mahanja · 03-13-2008, 06:31 PM

And it doesn't have that huge GM cap!

jonmark1985 · 03-13-2008, 08:18 PM

yeah, this summer I'm gonna build a 351C with 4V and a tunnel ram, and I don't really see the HEI cap clearing on it, plus duraspark is easy to wire up.

mahanja · 03-16-2008, 06:30 PM

What are you putting the 351C in? You don't see many with a tunnel ram. Cool motor.

jonmark1985 · 03-16-2008, 06:34 PM

Not sure yet, I've had the motor sitting in my shop for some time lying in pieces, I wanna get it back together and rebuilt before I move out. Then I just plan on crating it and keeping it somewhere it won't rust or sieze up.