HEI question from the new guy

[thenewguy65]

This car has an HEI distributor, how can I tell if it's vacuum advanced or mechanical. If it's mechanical I'd have to switch it to run the Autolite 4100 since it has vacuum secondaries correct ?

 

[thehueypilot]

Look for the silver can sticking out the side if the dist w/a vacuum hose running to it which is the vacuum advance. If its not there you have just a mech advance only dist. but it has nothing to do with vac secondaries.

 

[67bluestang]

Vacuum advance on the distributor should have nothing to do with the vacuum secondaries on your carb, not that i'm aware of anyway. Its been a long time since i messed with the autolite but i think the secondaries should be a function of the carb itself. The HEI vacuum advance uses ported vacuum from your carb to advance ignition timing.

 

[thenewguy65]

If that's true then it doesn't matter what HEI distributor I have correct ? I appreciate the patience helping a new guy out. I am learning as I go. I am enjoying the satisfaction of learning and doing this myself. I would have been screwed 10 years ago, thank God for the internet.

 

[66moneypit]

I found a good article that helped explain it.

http://www.ask.com/webcp?q=how+do+v...m/techarticles/135_0402_carb/&page=3&o=0&ws=1