[ponyakr]

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&postcount=33

Wondering what is the LATEST info on which(if any) CURRENTLY AVAILABLE 4-Pin HEI modules are decent, up to at least 5500 rpm.

Not interested in old 990's or anything else that is hard to find. Which brands are good, for a street HEI ?

Is there anything under $40 that'll work good ?

Anybody used or tested the Proform 66944C ? Is it just Chinese junk, like the cheaper brands ?

https://www.amazon.com/ProForm-66944...a-803946974809

Is the ACDelco D1906 the same junk ?

https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-D1906...94300342&psc=1

[242177P]

Originally Posted by ponyakr

Is there anything under $40 that'll work good ?

No clue, but at $55 this might be worth considering??

https://performancedistributors.com/...-distributors/

[Half-Inch Stud]

Good Question! Also Was/Is there a Mallory (or similar) drop-in that was supposed to be real good?

[77 TRASHCAN]

Bob will tell us what he knows.....

[HWYSTR455]

Dark ages. Why use clunky, large, outdated stuff on a performance engine? Unless you're building a '74-up for factory-correctness, why bother with HEIs? Module quality, springs & weight sources, center plate issues, I just don't understand.

An aftermarket dizzy can not only be easily and accurately curved, also uses new or newer technology, better caps, smaller footprint, and removes the coil from the cap, which is a known drawback of HEIs.

ALL of the modules are a crap-shoot these days, even the Delco ones can be counterfeit, or sourced from a Chinese manufacturer. No one knows for sure what the source is or the quality.

.

[RocktimusPryme]

I bought the DUI module and coil, they both work. I cant say that I have done any testing or anything at high RPM. I have taken it down the 1/8th mile shifting around 5000 and it seemed to hold up. This is in a Firebird Central HEI unit.

With that said, I sorta agree with HWY retroactively. Not really from a performance standpoint, but I would really like to have the small cap. I actually have an accel billet unit I bought used. Might have even been from HWY, I cant remember. Im thinking about putting it in and selling my hopped up HEI. Honestly the only reason I haven't is I paid to have my engine harness built with clean HEI wiring, and have been loath to cut the wiring for an aftermarket distributor. But when I tried to hook up my heater core, the large cap HEI leaves very little room to both get your timing right and avoid the heater hose port. So I want the small cap.

[ponyakr]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

Dark ages. Why use clunky, large, outdated stuff on a performance engine? Unless you're building a '74-up for factory-correctness, why bother with HEIs? Module quality, springs & weight sources, center plate issues, I just don't understand.

An aftermarket dizzy can not only be easily and accurately curved, also uses new or newer technology, better caps, smaller footprint, and removes the coil from the cap, which is a known drawback of HEIs.

ALL of the modules are a crap-shoot these days, even the Delco ones can be counterfeit, or sourced from a Chinese manufacturer. No one knows for sure what the source is or the quality.

.

So, does that mean that the ONLY ignition system you consider decent is a $500 MSD ready-to-run set-up ?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/m...w/make/pontiac

Or do you consider a separate box a MUST HAVE ?

I once had to replace a $200 box that failed, on a dirt track car.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

AND, these high dollar systems have nothing to do with the questions I asked, and the reason for this thread. I want to know if there has been any RECENT testing done, or if anybody has some RECENT experience with a currently available HEI module that works good, from idle thru 5500 rpm.

Is the consensus here that no self contained big cap HEI is reliable, if it uses a currently available 4-pin module ?

Or, maybe some think only the $300+ DUI HEI MIGHT work OK , for a little while. But, it has been posted here that all aftermarket advance weight springs are junk. So, I suppose that means that the DUI springs must be replaced on a regular basis ?

Since millions of performance street cars have & do run a factory made HEI, I just find it hard to believe that they are now total junk, because of no good replacement modules.

[78w72]

check out MSD HEI modules, they fit under the cap, offer better spark than stock modules & have a built in rev limiter.

i use one on my 500+hp e-head motor & it seems to work very well. i notice better starting, & have no issues at higher rpms, have taken it to 6000+ on occasion & normally shift around 5500. MSD states 50% higher coil current & good to 9000rpm. these modules get great reviews online & seems like the reliability issues of older MSD boxes is not an issue with these modules.... but i keep my original module in the glove box just in case though & its a 5 minute swap out if it dies.

suntuned went through my HEI & curved it to my specs, i run an accell super coil on cap coil & the original 990 MSD module worked great too, bob tested it & a couple others i sent with the dist & they all checked out good to 8000 rpm. the 990's are still easily found in junkyards or ebay etc.

but the MSD is worth a try & seems to be a very good 4 pin module with some added features for ~$100.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-83647/

[HWYSTR455]

There are alternatives to the RTR, Unilight is one, and if you have a box, Dual-Sync, HyperSpark, Summit RTR, and Pro-Billet. If you have a programmable MSD box, you don't need vacuum advance, can use a MAP sensor, and curve with a laptop.

Summit RTR, $244:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...w/make/Pontiac

FAST EZ-Run (RTR) $286:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/f...w/make/pontiac

Pertronix Plug & Play, $292:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/p...w/make/pontiac

Those are all less expensive than the DUI HEI. (Except the MSD ones).

I have personally had issues with the MSD HEI unit, posted here on it. There's plenty of options now, you don't need to run an HEI. Billet housings, NEW hardened shafts, rollerized bearings, much better tolerances and electronics. And they can be accurately curved with the weights & springs they ship with. Most are good to 10k RPM. Done.

IMO, there is no reason to run an HEI.

As for the harness, get a Packard female connector, and some Packard 56 connectors, and make a jumper. Or just go off a diff key-on source.

.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by RocktimusPryme

I bought the DUI module and coil, they both work. I cant say that I have done any testing or anything at high RPM. I have taken it down the 1/8th mile shifting around 5000 and it seemed to hold up. This is in a Firebird Central HEI unit.

With that said, I sorta agree with HWY retroactively. Not really from a performance standpoint, but I would really like to have the small cap. I actually have an accel billet unit I bought used. Might have even been from HWY, I cant remember. Im thinking about putting it in and selling my hopped up HEI. Honestly the only reason I haven't is I paid to have my engine harness built with clean HEI wiring, and have been loath to cut the wiring for an aftermarket distributor. But when I tried to hook up my heater core, the large cap HEI leaves very little room to both get your timing right and avoid the heater hose port. So I want the small cap.

I ran those Accel billet-tech or whatever they were called for a long time, they are good units. Only issue I had with them, which is really not that big of a deal, is I didn't like the caps. They were tan in color for one, but believe they are still available.

.

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

I ran those Accel billet-tech or whatever they were called for a long time, they are good units. Only issue I had with them, which is really not that big of a deal, is I didn't like the caps. They were tan in color for one, but believe they are still available.

.

Sort of. Ive looked recently. You can find them but they usually seem to come out of Australia. maybe Accel is still a live brand there. I have thought about buying two or three cap/rotors and then just being good for a good long while.

My HEI runs fine, but its just a pain with the big cap.

[HWYSTR455]

Packard 56 Terminal Housing:

http://terminalsupplyco.com/Store/Pr...spx?pc=2984528

They have the terminals there, or at WayTekWire.com, some list them as Delphi.

$30 dollar Casper open U crimper and $10-$14 for 50 female and 50 male terminals, and you will be able to interface with almost all the 60s and 70s GM terminals.

.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by RocktimusPryme

Sort of. Ive looked recently. You can find them but they usually seem to come out of Australia. maybe Accel is still a live brand there. I have thought about buying two or three cap/rotors and then just being good for a good long while.

My HEI runs fine, but its just a pain with the big cap.

Yeah, Holley bought Accel, not sure if they still make the caps or not. But I think they are kind of standard, I remember I got a different cap that worked, I just had to trim the indexing 'nub'.


.

[HWYSTR455]

Small caps are the way to go, no more having to 'clock' the dizzy just because the vacuum can hits the firewall or something, and they work with all intakes.

.

[HWYSTR455]

Casper crimper:

http://terminalsupplyco.com/Store/Pr...?pc=OBT-1028CT

56 male terminals:

http://terminalsupplyco.com/Store/Pr...spx?pc=2971962

56 Female terminals:

http://terminalsupplyco.com/Store/Pr...spx?pc=2962447

.

[HWYSTR455]

Summit E-Core coil:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-850500/overview/


.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by ponyakr

Since millions of performance street cars have & do run a factory made HEI, I just find it hard to believe that they are now total junk, because of no good replacement modules.

All I was saying is that it's a crap-shoot. I ran HEIs for a while, just had too many issues and bailed. I hated it, and likes the OE points dizzy better even.

Once you run a small cap, and see all that space you get back there, you will never go back.

.

[ponyakr]

"...Once you run a small cap, and see all that space you get back there, you will never go back."

I ran a factory points type dist in all my Pontiac drag cars, from '69 thru '88, as well as most of the street cars & trucks I drove. So, I'm quite familiar. By the time HEI's got cheap in junkyards, I had been having such good results from the points, I just saw no need to switch.

The 455 '74 Ventura drag car I bought in '08, had a factory HEI. Ran just fine, and a little quicker than my earlier cars. Never bothered to check all the internal parts of that dist. Idled good, ran smooth to 5500 rpm, & never missed a beat.

Could go back to points. But, I no longer have one to build. Plus, after buying a good core, I'd have to buy a coil & mount it on the firewall, run wires to & from it, and add a ballast resistor. Would also have to buy points, condenser, cap, rotor, and plug wires.

I already have a good HEI core, cap, rotor, coil, & wires. Just need a good module.

[400 Lemans]

Originally Posted by 242177P

No clue, but at $55 this might be worth considering??

https://performancedistributors.com/...-distributors/

I have ran this same Dynamod module by D.U.I for years now and it has always cranked and ran very well. The pertronix modules have a built in adjustable rev limiter if go that route.

[ponyakr]

Originally Posted by 400 Lemans

I have ran this same Dynamod module by D.U.I for years now and it has always cranked and ran very well. The pertronix modules have a built in adjustable rev limiter if go that route.

Anybody run that Pertronix D72000 ?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PerTronix-D...0AAOSwO9JaBIKo

The MSD rev limiter cost more, by itself. I added one of those to my '74 Ventura bracket car.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MSD-MSD-872....c100752.m1982