My HEI has just about bitten the dust. I'm ready to upgrade to an ignition with a rev limiter.

I'm thinking about another HEI distributor with the MSD 6AL HEI kit, but I'd love to hear any other suggestions.

The trick here is that I have to have it shipped overnight tomorrow (Monday, 2-2-04), to have it here by Tuesday.

Is there a better alternative with good performance, streetability (aka "vacuum advance"), and a limiter?

Chad,the new Mallory HEI's look good IMO

Not really what you're looking for, but I used a Crane XR-1 module to convert a normal points distributor to electronic, it has a built in rev limiter that you adjust with a screw on the module. I used a MSD 'points' cap with HEI terminals so I wouldnt have to change my plug wires over to the points style. The reason I went with this setup rather than my HEI was because the HEI wouldn't clear my tunnel ram. Plus this would get your coil out of the cap. For some reason I can't remember if I had to use a ballast resistor or not, but any parts store has them for a couple bucks.

I have been extremely pleased with the XR-1, cant beat it for $65

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=CRN%2D750%2D1710

and

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=MSD%2D8433

Shoot, Adam, that's exactly what I'm looking for. I'm gonna wait until tomorrow morning to make the decision, but right now that looks great. I can pick up a single-points distributor at the local O'Reilly for about $35 and get the items you pointed out, plus an MSD coil and wire to finish it off. Saves me a ton of money and I still get an electronic ignition with a rev limiter. Probably works great with a tach, too.

I still want to hear from others on this though. Someone may come up with a better idea.

Also, do you have a part number for the coil wire to use with the HEI style cap? I plan to use the MSD 8200 coil.

If you want to go the 6AL route, then get a MSD dist. with Vac adv and p/u coil only. No module. Very easy to tune the curve.

It's only $80 or so to replace all the electrical in a stock HEI. I did it on the side of the road once. Lucky I was 2 blocks from an AutoZone. I would've prefered to find the problem on the first try though. Your dist shaft must be bad or the adv plate.

A points dist will require a different plug wire end or a MSD cap to use HEI ends. The new MSD dist's come with an HEI style cap I think.

Summits price on 6al's went up recently to 180 or so.

Since you have the advance curve optimized in your HEI, you could replace the module and pickup coil in it and if the coil is bad get another used or aftermarket new one. You can get separate non-cap mounted (desirable) coils for HEI's. Then if a rev limiter is desired, add an MSD 6AL later.

If you have to have it overnight this probably won't help, but I am real happy with the small-body distributor conversion I bought from Dave Ray (Ignition Man). I use it with MSD6AL, and the only problem I have ever had in over two years of street, highway, and strip driving was a bad MSD Blaster coil. I just sent him an old points-type GM distributor core, and he converted it. Really nice quality work.

OK, the plan is rolling along.

First of all, I found out that the problem is definitely in the pickup coil. I have a spare, but it's older than religion.

I've been in contact with Dave Ray this whole time, and his turnaround is two weeks right now.

So I got a standard points distributor from O'Reilly for $35 and the XR-I conversion (as recommended by Adam) will arrive tomorrow morning, along with the MSD HEI terminal cap, MSD coil wire, and MSD-8200 coil kit.

I'm repairing the HEI to carry as a spare in case the XR-I should fail while I'm on the road. I work with power electronics, so I know that it's a good idea to have backup when you're in the middle of nowhere.

Thanks everyone for your help.

You can get an HEI pickup coil at Advance Auto Parts for around $15. I assume the same goes for other major chain stores.

Thanks Von. I'll pick one up tomorrow after I get the "small body" electronic ignition installed and running.

I got tired of piddling with the carb, then I got tired of piddling with the HEI, and having it 1/8" from the firewall.

I've been wanting to do a small body conversion for a long time. Now I have an excuse. Not a good one, but it's enough to get me to do it. One of those experimental urges, I guess.