I run a GM HEI distributor in my '67 with a 350. It's tight, but will go without having to modify the firewall and still gives me enough room to turn the distributor to adjust the timing.
HEI dizzy does fit. Some are right up against the firewall. Another alternative is to use a Pertronix kit in a stock Dizzy which is what I have
Whatever one you use you will need to either run a new 12 gauge wire to coil from IGN tap on fuse block or cut the white wire that goes to the coil at bulkhead and splice in a new wire as from the bulkhead block forward that white wire is a resistance wire for points dizzy which is about 9vdc. You want full 12vdc. If you run a new wire, I did, you can just tape back the stock white wire back into wire harness
Great advice Here /\.
I ran an HEI (coil in cap, old style) in my first 68, and it fit fine. But it just depends, some are tight, some have plenty of room, others need massaging it seems.
The old stock coil in cap HEI have their weaknesses though, I would recommend something like the Pertronix module in the stock small body distributor/cap configuration as described above. I will say though, I had hit and miss luck with the Pertonix stuff when it was fairly new on the market, so if there are other options you might look at those also.
I don't know whats out there anymore or if Pertronix has improved some because I've been using an MSD set up for years.
I ran a stock gm HEI but was tight and the torque of the motor would break the cap when hitting the firewall. Ended up going with the small body HEI with ext. coil. Works great and looks somewhat period correct.
The Pertronix kit instructions were specific about eliminating any resistor wire if the car has it which is why I did it. Would it start and run if I didn't, yes. But providing only 9vdc the module of the Pertronix is not happy. Typically the symptom would be RPM breakup at higher RPM's
IDK if this applies to aftermarket HEI distributors but suspect it would unless there are instructions with it that say otherwise. Check the 411 that came with your HEI dizzy
I'm running a stock GM HEI distributor with an Accel module. I run my engine up to 6,500 fairly often when I do get it out and haven't noticed any issues that way, although the tach bounces onces in a while that it didn't do before.
I ran a large GM HEI for a while after massaging my firewall. Then switched to an MSD ready to run. Just make sure you remove your resistor wire if you're switching from a Points Distributor.
I'll run that wire, the next time I bring my '67 home, sounds like a good idea. I keep it at my vacation home about 150 miles away. I've heard many times about having to clearance the firewall, but I didn't need to do that in my case and I know it hasn't been done in the past, as I've owned the car since it was new. It's still all original, other than some mild engine modifications and wheels that I put on in '67.
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