New HEI Problem
 

I bought a new HEI for my Pontiac 400 and I noticed something I haven't seen before. Looks like a bad part. Want to check and see what the consensus is on this rotor that has the contact pointing up instead of out. Will post a picture link in the next post.

That needs to be bent over 90 degrees , but still have the arc to it.
Do not use it the way it is!

By they way why did you not post that picture right to this web site?

That's what I thought.

Also, the set of plug wires I bought, the shortest wire doesn't reach any plug.

I hate returns.

The reason I posted the pic the way I did is because it's on my phone.

This is becoming more and more prevalent these days.

I'd say that one is more of an extreme that I've seen so far. Used to be two rotor tiplengths for the points distributors, early and emissions. Emissions being he shorter of the two. Nowadays it seems almost as if all points rotor tips are the "emissions" length.

That's an HEI rotor obviously, but they too seem to be using shorter tips(larger rotor air gap).

For educational purposes take an old cap and cut a window in the side exposing the cap terminals. Put it on that distributor and see how far away the tip is from the terminal.

Amazing what we are paying good money for and being supplied these days. It's just pathetic.

That's the worst I've seen so far, and I've seen one or two ...

Comparing a working rotor with the defective one there will be about an 1/8 inch extra gap.

Another thing I didn't like about this HEI is the driver for the oil pump doesn't have a chamfer on it like a GM one. This is definitely a reject.

And as Steve said it should be bent over, but it's not , and you should not. Just get a different rotor.

Even bending that one won't get you close enough to the cap terminals like it should be.

Although the ol HEI will jump the gap, it'll be hard on the coil, and cause it to start hard frequently.

No way I'm putting a different rotor on this. It's heading back where it came from. How and the heck can a manufacturer not notice this obvious defect? I get the feeling they just are flinging junk at us. I'm flinging it back.

Hell, while your at it....
Look inside and tell us if you see what's lubricating that top bushing.

Go ahead. Have a look.

Tell us what else you don't see up top in there.

You're right, most of these places are just slinging stuff at the wall just to see what sticks. Not all... but most.

Kinda sad. Keeps me busy but, theatres a reason some of this stuff is as cheap as it is.

It can be made suitable for use though.

WHAT BRAND of HEI is this?

WHO did you buy it from?

Right. Should have posted that.
It's this one;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pontiac-V8-...gAAOSwRUdbv3H6

Please post the brand name so that we can all stay away from this kind of junk. Thank you.

Here is the plug wire set that one wire is so short it doesn't reach any plugs;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Dragon-...pe!48706!US!-1

Check out the item on eBay with the link above. In the description it says Gearhead brand.

Missed your post by a second. Those appears to be overseas sourced junk conspicuously in colors similar to a good name brand. Stick with well known brand named parts, especially for ignition and you'll get many years of worry free service. I've rebuilt factory GM HEI's and typically used delco or accel parts with good success and longevity on mild performance builds. If you cannot find a factory distributor or need more performance, I also recommend MSD distributors and have had zero problems with their parts.

Missed your post by a second. Those appears to be overseas sourced junk conspicuously in colors similar to a good name brand. Stick with well known brand named parts, especially for ignition and you'll get many years of worry free service. I've rebuilt factory GM HEI's and typically used delco or accel parts with good success and longevity on mild performance builds. If you cannot find a factory distributor or need more performance, I also recommend MSD distributors and have had zero problems with their parts.

Reading all the bad feedback would have been enuff for me to look elsewhere.......:gag: