I dont know why on the HEI

[Dan83]

I got my 83 GT 5.0 about a month ago, and am trying to learn a few things. The PO told me that another PO had a slight fire, and installed an Edelbrock 4 barrel carb and the motor also has an HEI distributor. Did this year come with a EFI? Right or wrong this is what I have, but I would like to know why the change and why they didn't just go back to what it came with. I have read some on here that it seems to have been the thing to do. The motor does run pretty good. Thanks for and info

 

[jrichker]

The 83 was a carb system with a mechanical advance distributor.

 

[90sickfox]

The HEI distributor is an upgrade over the ford factory duraspark. I've done them before. The HEI is tunable with springs and weights on the distributor body under the rotor. It also allows the coil to sit directly on top of the rotor getting rid off that 3 foot wire we usually have to the coil. It's also simple to wire in.

 

[2 cam sam]

I would take that GM crap HEI off . They look horrible on a Ford . You can recurve a Duraspark for $ 7 .

 

[Dan83]

Thanks for the response.

 

[JD1964]

Yeah they modify HEI to fit various applications they were not originally designed for. Must mean the HEI is pretty good. My neighbor bought an HEI for his 340 '71 Cuda. I have experience with HEI on various GM vehicles I've owned in the past. Some aftermarket ones are made pretty crappy though. Get a quality one and your good to go.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

The HEI distributor is an upgrade over the ford factory duraspark.

In what way? They function very similarly except the Duraspark box has cranking retard.

The Ford Duraspark distributor can be used with a four-pin GM HEI module if desired. That's what I have in my '68. The Duraspark still has vacuum and centrifugal advance mechanisms so tuning is a non-issue.