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I'm looking in to replacing the stock H.E.I. distributor on my small block. The H.E.I. that i have right now was a 60.00 deal that got the truck to work. But it has it's problems. I replaced the weights, bushings and springs to eliminate the pinging. It helped alot but it still isn't quite right. So i decided that the new motor should get a new distributor. It already has a new carb so it only makes sense.
I've elected to go with a MSD system. The motor itself is just a slightly modified stock motor so im not looking for an elaborate setup but it would be good to have the option to add upgrades to the components i've got. If anyone can shed some light on this, it would be most helpful. Thanks!

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

Blue, I'm not exactly an ignition expert, far from it, but I can tell you what I use. I have a stock rebuilt HEI with a hypertech coil. I run a MSD 6AL box with adjustable rev control. Pretty simple, and it works. I've never run one of MSD's distributers, although I'm sure they're great. When I installed this stuff, I noticed the plugs burn cleaner and the truck starts easier. I'm also running Accel 8.8 mm wires. Now, I know you don't race yours, but my setup is very mild. I know plenty of guys who run stuff way more radical on the street. Anyway, there ya go.

The thing about the distributor i have right now is a very used unit. I was told that it was rebuilt. In all actuallity it was a distributor built from a bunch of spare parts. It needed a new cap and rotor right off and the weight bushings were shot. It does have an MSD coil so that led me to believe that it was going to work flawlessly. It does function well enough to drive but there's some slight pinging at part throttle that i just cant get rid of. So im looking to get out from under the problem by replacing the ignition. This motor is very fresh and i dont want anything to go wrong with it, plus i want it to run at it's best for what it is.

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

just a personal opinion!!

get a MSD 85551 dist.
get a 6AL box
get a MSD coil

problems with ignition will be gone

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if you aint skeered just a little bit THEN YOU AINT GOING AS FAST AS YOU SHOULD BE!!!!

GOTTA GET A NEW LUV!!!!!!!!!

How much would that sent me back?

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

close to $500.00

but well spent

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if you aint skeered just a little bit THEN YOU AINT GOING AS FAST AS YOU SHOULD BE!!!!

GOTTA GET A NEW LUV!!!!!!!!!

Well, I have the 6AL, so I guess I have that part covered. I understand what your saying, Blue, about your HEI. I rebuilt mine myself with all new parts-so I knew it was good. If I had the bucks at the time, I probably would have considered a better distributer. But, it ain't cheap. Spanky is right, chances are your probs would be a thing of the past. I have a mild small block that freely revs to 6800, so my stuff seems to work. If you can spend the $$$, I would buy good stuff.

I just bought a whole new ignition system for mine. Accel breakerless, billit distributor, Accel 300+ box and Accel 375+ control module. It is awesome, should have done it a long time ago.

Pinging? Pardon my ignorance, but what is pinging?

tapping in the valves caused by the timing to be off... usually because of advance problems... or bad gas.

Whats the difference between a 6A and a 6AL box? After doing some research, i have to agree with Spanky on going with the 85551 dist. This particular dist can be used with a number of boxes and it seems that the AL unit is most common. Whats the reason for going with the 6AL?

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

i think the 6al you can install a rev limiter chip and the 6a you cant. again i think. bryan

Yep!

yea the 6al has the rev limiter built into the box. with the 6a you would have to run an external rev limiter if you wanted one that equals more wires and hassle. im not sure with dist. your looking at i don`t have the catalouge in front of me. but if you plan on mostly steet driving get one with the vacuum advance it will help with gas mileage in cruise situations.if it was just a weekend cruiser i wouldn`t worry about the vacuum advance.some companies make there vacuum advance canisters adjustable as well

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don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.