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Classic/Antique Car Repair/distributor conversion

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Expert: - 4/14/2010


Question
The stock distributor in my 66 Corvette (327/350hp) needs rebuilt and I was considering an HEI Distributor conversion instead of the rebuild. Can you give me the positives and the negatives to this conversion? The engine is stock (original hump heads) with the exception of the cam. Because of a bad lobe, I just replaced the stock cam with a 218-224 duration/469 lift Comp Cam (stock was 222 duration/447 lift).

Answer
I can't think of any down side to that conversion. Just make sure that you have enough hood and fire wall clearance. I would suggest that if the original shielding will not fit that you get the metal shielding from a later year car to cover the distributor and wires. With the fiberglass body secondary shielding is needed to prevent radio static.
Brad

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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