Need advice of experts:
The previous owner made the move to an HEI on my '72. I believe it's the big, black-capped one sold by eckler's which hampers the use of a 14" air cleaner base. Anyone know who manufactures this unit?
Another question: What is the criteria for choosing an aftermarket Dist. such as an MSD or Pertronix. The choices seem endless. HEEEEELLP!!!

JR

I did a similar swap on a 1970 Camaro with a BB. Went with the MSD Billet distributor - very simple set up and used a later model air cleaner to get the clearance needed. I am in an "emissions" state, so it has to have "original type or equivalent" equipment - thus the later model A/C. I have used Petronix before and will never use it again ~ go with Mallory MSD or Accel distributors (I prefer MSDs as there is a lot of info available and parts). Very easy to set curves and very high quality. MidAmerica sells distributors with the curves already set up for performance or OEM standard - which makes it easy.

Good luck!

I'm going to say that the unit is probably one of the following.

A stock GM piece (most Likely) or an Accel Piece. If it was a Davis Unified unit it would say DUI on the top of it.

Most people make the move to an HEI for Several reasons. One is to get rid of the points and secondly for the hotter spark. You also get a better spark curve.

The unit you have that has the large cap is the distributor that contains the coil in the cap. These units are very simple to install because there is only a two wire hook up. GM also makes a unit that is HEI that has an external coil. These are not very common, but they have the much smaller cap.

Which way to go?
All depends on what you want to spend. With Todays technology there options are unlimited. What you choose can also be directly tied to how your engine is built, meaning performance. If your engine is mostly stock with only a cam, intake, and headers, you can keep with a fairly stock system and be very happy with it. If you start playing with heads, compression ratio, power adders like nitrous and superchargers then you need to really start upgrading the ignition system.

If your engine falls into the stock to mild category here is what I would do, and is what I am doing, but you can do what ever you feel like best fits your needs and your future needs. If you plan for major changes to the engine in the future plan ahead. Although I will have aluminum heads, my compression is going to be a conservative 9.3:1. Headers and a decent cam. I chose to run MSD's new Ready to run Distributor with a matching hi output coil and plug wires. The coil is the round type so it will fit into the stock coil holder.
In my situation and the technology engineered into these new distributors I saw no need to go with the trouble of installing an ignition box. Crane has some really nice stuff as well. You may want to check out there new dial adjustable distributor. MSD told me they are going to have a new ready to run that has adjustable spark and rev limiter built into it some time in the first qtr of 05. These are smaller cap distributors and will clear the air cleaner.

Like I said its what ever you want and how much you want to spend.

Shane: Thanks for the tip on Pertronix....helps narrow down the choices.

Matt: Will use your recipe....we have similar plans and phylosophies for mods. I'm taking my time and treading cautiously thru this performance upgrade.

I'd like to thank everyone in advance for all the questions I'll be asking during this endeavor. For the expert "wrenches" out there, this is child's play...for me, Ha!

JR

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I actually reviewed my ignition selection with a guy at MSD, just to confirm my selection. I don't remember the part numbers, but I can get them and let you know what they are.

However, if you want the new distributor they will have out with the dials you will need to get that info from them. Not sure if joe public should know about it or not, but I have an inside contact that shared this info with me.

Thanks a bunch!

JR

I think matt has it right..

I went with an MSD on my current car..

I listened to someone recommendation on a mallory unilite on my last one and had bad luck with it.. the optical trigger module failed on me twice. (100$) each..

my experience with msd through the years has been top notch.

Sent you mail on the Dupont Zinc Chromate.
Boatman

I also give a vote for MSD.

I've got the MSD tach drive distributor Blaster II coil and 6A module.

A few years back (before I replaced the engine) I put a pertronix unit on the old distributor. Anything to get rid of points. It worked perfectly for the 1K miles I had it before the old engine just died altogether.

With the new engine I went all new and in the case of creating a spark I went all MSD.

Looks like MSD is the overwhelming choice.

JR